Hilscher and CoreTigo to Demonstrate IO-Link Wireless Factory Automation Applications at the SPS 2021 Exhibition

Designed for Factory Automation

The IO-Link Wireless Master unit enables an end-to-end wireless factory automation connectivity solution for IO-Link Wireless sensors, actuators and devices in machines and throughout the manufacturing facility. It is an industrial-grade IP67 platform that includes interfaces to a variety of Industrial Ethernet protocols and complies with the IO-Link Wireless specifications based on the IEC 61131-9international standard.

The product enables real-time control and monitoring at a low latency down to 5msec. It ensures cable-grade reliability with a Packet Error Rate (PER) of 1e^-9, a million times more reliable than other wireless solutions such as Wi-Fi or Bluetooth. The Master enables coexistence with other wireless networks through a variety of mechanisms such as blacklisting and frequency hopping, in addition to high immunity to industrial environments with extreme noise and interference levels. The Master includes two IO-Link Wireless tracks, each supporting up to 8 devices, for an overall amount of 16 IO-Link Wireless devices simultaneously. A greater amount of IO-Link/digital/analog devices can be supported by using conventional multiport I/O hubs to gather data from the devices and transfer it via an IO-Link Wireless Bridge to the Master and vice versa.

The IO-Link Wireless Master offers a variety of options for simple and intuitive configuration and setup, either via the TigoEngine Engineering Tool, the integrated Web Server on the Master platform, or directly from a PLC. The Master communicates both at the OT level via OPC UA or other Industrial Ethernet protocols such as PROFINET, EtherNet/IP and EtherCAT, and at the IT level via MQTT or OPC UA for communication with enterprise or cloud-based applications and systems. The IO-Link Wireless Master is commercially available with a range of certifications, including CE, FCC, ROHS, REACH, UKCA, ODVA, PNO and more.

“The new IO-Link Wireless Master together with the IO-Link Wireless Bridge forms a unique solution for machine builders to easily integrate wireless technology into their products. The partnership with CoreTigo enables us to enhance our portfolio of IP67 solutions and associated reference designs and simultaneously helps our customers to integrate a robust and proven technology into their automation systems,” says Sebastian Hilscher, CEO of Hilscher Gesellschaft für Systemautomation mbH. "We look forward to further extend the use of IO-Link Wireless solutions in the industry."

Fit for a Variety of Solutions and Applications

The IO-Link Wireless Master, a key component of the IO-Link Wireless system, allows Machine Builders to design smarter machines, Device Manufacturers to unbind their sensors and actuators, and System Integrators to conceptualize and retrofit more flexible and agile production lines. The product enables a variety of intelligent and flexible applications such as:

• Rotating components (rotary tables, carousels), where the Master communicates wirelessly with IO-Link Wireless clamps, valves or sensors on-board the rotating units. This enables simple and flexible setup of devices and reduces maintenance costs and downtime.
• Smart transport tracks and conveying solutions are enabled through wireless communication of the Master with IO-Link Wirelessend-effectors such as grippers and vacuum pumps on-board fast-moving shuttles/movers. Such solutions are allowing minimum changeovers, maximum flexibility without losing real-time capabilities and monitoring while in motion.
• Communication with IO-Link Wireless intelligent machine tools, while rotating rapidly at thousands of revolutions per minute on CNC, grinding and milling machines. Intelligent tooling drives precise measurements during machining, accurate tuning and predictive maintenance.
• Communication with IO-Link Wireless end-effectors on robots and cobots. Wireless end-of-arm devices increase the flexibility and motion range while reducing the overall complexity and cost.
• Wireless data collection from multiple IO-Link Wireless sensors for machine retrofitting and condition monitoring. This enables cost-effective factory-wide deployments, and a reduction of maintenance and downtime.

The IO-Link Wireless Master’s complementary units are the IO-Link Wireless Bridge and other integrated IO-Link Wireless devices. These units turn any class A and class B actuator or sensor on a machine into a wireless device. Together, these components are enabling intelligent and flexible ways to optimize factories.

“The partnership between Hilscher and CoreTigo has enabled us to create a robust and high-performing solution capable of meeting the harsh requirements of industrial environments that other wireless solutions could not cope with until now,” said Eran Zigman, CoreTigo CEO & Co-founder, “We are proud to see Machine Builders using IO-Link Wireless as the enabling technology on machines for some of the world’s largest manufacturers, and Automation Equipment Manufacturers integrating IO-Link Wireless into a variety of their products.”

Demonstrated LIVE

The IO-Link Wireless Master, Bridge and additional products will be demonstrated live at the SPS 2021 Expo, on November 23-25, by CoreTigo in Hall 5, Booth 338 and by Hilscher in Hall 5, Booth 130. The Master will be featured in live demos applicable for Packaging Machinery, IIoT, Smart Clamping, Wireless Robotic Tooling and more. These will be done in cooperation with industry leaders such as B&R, Camozzi Automation, Gimatic, Laumas, Protion, Röhm, Vahle, and the Zimmer Group.

To set a meeting with CoreTigo, please visit https://www.coretigo.com/sps-2021 or email info@coretigo.com

To set a meeting with Hilscher, please visit https://www.hilscher.com/free-ticket-2021/.

About IO-Link Wireless

IO-Link Wireless is a deterministic, low latency (5msec), highly reliable and scalable universal wireless communication protocol. Based on the IO-Link IEC 61131-9 standard. It is designed specifically for factory automation, coexisting with other networks – both wired and wireless.

About Hilscher

Hilscher Gesellschaft für Systemautomation mbH (www.hilscher.com) is a global specialist in network connectivity solutions for device makers, OEMs, and end-user manufactures. Founded in 1986 and with locations worldwide, Hilscher focuses on industrial communications, with solutions spanning single-chip ASICS, embedded modules, PC cards, protocol converters and gateways, along with supporting software and development tools and services.

Hilscher’s own netX “system-on-a-chip” network controller is at the heart of every solution. netX allows for universal Master and/or Slave connection to all popular communications protocols, including: Fieldbuses, such as DeviceNet, Modbus, CC-Link and PROFIBUS; Real-Time Ethernets, such as EtherNet/IP, EtherCAT, PROFINET, Modbus TCP, CC-Link IE, POWERLINK, Sercos and TSN; and IIoT protocols, such as OPC UA and MQTT.

To bring the benefits of Industry 4.0 and the Internet of Things to its customers, Hilscher has developed the netFIELD portfolio, a solutions platform for simplifying IIoT deployment. The netFIELD portfolio comprises: netFIELD Sensor-level Devices; Edge Gateways, such as sensorEDGE; netFIELD Cloud, with a Software-as-a-Service Platform and Portal; and netFIELD Applications to provide functions such as configuration and connectivity to automation protocols and commercial clouds.