Automation Made Simple and Highly Efficient
Published on : Friday 01-10-2021
Easy automation with VEGAs clean and colourful pressure sensors and level switches.
VEGA Grieshaber KG, Germany is known for its accurate and reliable level and pressure instrumentation portfolio. VEGA offers sensors based on innovative technologies that help industries to optimise their processes by introducing accuracy in the measuring parameters and thus saving the operating cost. VEGA is known for its radar level sensors – VEGAPULS series that are used worldwide across industries. However, with the introduction of new pressure sensors and level switches in VEGABAR and VEGAPOINT series respectively, VEGA has now been a significant strides in the safety and efficiency of processes in hygiene sensitive industries like food processing and the pharmaceuticals. In addition, standards applications in these industries can be easily automated with pressure sensors and level switches. Integration into the system as well as adjustment are especially easy to carry out. They have been designed according to the principles of hygienic design.
Tailored to standard applications
The product families VEGABAR and VEGAPOINT prove that automation can be quite simple and highly efficient at the same time, without compromising on dependability, hygiene or accuracy. The new measuring instruments are perfectly tailored to standard applications that nevertheless do not tolerate compromises when it comes to quality. Their standardised hygienic adapter system (see info box) provides flexibility and helps keep installation work and parts inventory at a reasonable level. The process fittings can be selected as needed and adapted to local requirements.
Accuracy with longevity
The sensors that are used in food processing industries or pharmaceutical industries have to withstand some of the harsh environments like high pressure or temperature during processes like mixing, filling, evaporating or CIP/SIP or processing ingredients that are sometimes highly alkaline/acidic, aggressive liquids or volatile oils. Hence, when one is selecting sensors for such industries, one needs to check not only the accuracy and reliability of the instruments but its longevity as well.
VEGA offers all these benefits with VEGABAR and VEGAPOINT series sensors. With a surface roughness value (Ra) of < 0.38 µm, these sensors comply with the most stringent hygienic requirement of the industry. Even during the operation, sensors can be CIP cleaned with any chemical or they can also withstand steam during the SIP cleaning process. All metal housing with IP69 rating allows them to be cleaned from outside as well. During these processes these is almost no wear and tear and hence, these sensors are durable.
Universal hygienic adapters
The universal hygienic adapter system provides the necessary flexibility in the adapter selection. It also reduces the cost of installation of these sensors as they can be adopted for the customer-specific fittings and offers a quick and easy replacement with reducing the cost of stocking. The uniform hygienic adapters available for pressure sensors and level switches include collar socket DN 40, clamp, varivent F, etc.
Pressure sensors with ceramic and metallic cell
VEGA offers option of both the ceramic and metallic measuring cell as per the choice of medium. Ceramic measuring cell offers extreme robustness and overload resistance under the testing conditions and media compositions. Ceramic cell is oil free and measures the pressure reliably up to 60 bar.
Metallic measuring cell is fully wielded and elastomer free and suitable for pressures up to 1000 bar. It meets all the material requirement according to FDA, EC 1935/2004, GB standards with hygienic design to optimise cleaning as per 3 A and EHEDG.
Advantage of 3600 illumination ring
For safety and efficiency of the processes, good visibility is very important. To ensure that the status of a process can be recognised at a glance from as far away as possible and from any direction, the new VEGABAR and VEGAPOINT sensors have an illuminated ring. The colour of the illuminated ring can be freely selected from 256 different colours, giving an option to select colours per the environmental needs. With this luminous advantage, the user can easily discern from distance if measurement is taking place, if the sensor is switching or if there is some possible malfunction that needs attention.
Universal communication via IO- Link
There is a lot of sensor intelligence built right into the new compact series: The standard IO-Link protocol ensures universal and, at the same time, particularly simple communication. This means that the instruments have a standardised communication platform that enables seamless data transfer and simple integration of the system. With this tool, sensors can be installed, parameterised and, if necessary, put back into operation faster and more cost-effectively. IO-Link transfers parameters automatically if an instrument has to be exchanged.
Wireless communication
The VEGABAR and VEGAPOINT instrument series can be easily read out and configured via Bluetooth with a smartphone or tablet. Radio technology is making processes more flexible. Wireless communication provides better accessibility. It allows parameterisation, display and diagnostics from a distance of up to 25 meters, thus saving time and avoiding dangers. Especially in environments such as clean rooms, where physical access involves a lot of effort, setup and operation become considerably easier. With all these built-in intelligence, VEGABAR and VEGAPOINT offer distinct advantages and flexibility to users to parametrise, optimise and automate important standard processes easily.