Remote I/O Solutions Improve Adaptable and Distributed Automation. LAPP is introducing its own remote I/O devices for the first time with the UNITRONIC® ACCESS product line. They enhance the current Industrial Communication portfolio of the global leader in integrated solutions and branded products within cable and connection technology, providing new opportunities for decentralised sensor-actuator communication.
This is accomplished without the need for lengthy cabling or intricate integration. However, what is driving the growing significance of decentralisation in factory automation, and what distinguishes LAPP’s solution?
Rob van der Sluis, Chief of Product and Business Development for Cluster West, elaborates.
IO-Link is becoming more significant in industrial automation. What makes this communication standard so appealing?
“IO-Link is a communication standard that is gradually taking the place of traditional digital and analog signal transmission in various domains. IO-Link sends organized data up to 32 bytes each communication cycle. This allows for diagnostic capabilities, capturing process values, and remote management using low-cost unshielded standard cables. IO-Link is thus the perfect answer for the field level, which is the bottom tier of the automation pyramid.
LAPP is a specialist in connection technology but is now offering for the first time active components. Why this step?
“With the new UNITRONIC® ACCESS remote I/O components, i.e. the IO-Link masters and hubs, we are now bringing active components to the field level. This means we now can offer from a single source to our customers the complete infrastructure for industrial- e networks: active and passive components including end-to-end connectivity from the sensor to the controller or even to the cloud.”
What distinguishes LAPP’s remote I/O devices from others on the market?
“The key difference lies in their versatility: our UNITRONIC® ACCESS devices are available as multi-protocol and single-protocol versions. The multi-protocol devices support five common Industrial Ethernet protocols (PROFINET, Ethernet/IP, EtherCAT, Modbus TCP, CC-Link IE) as well as four IoT protocols such as OPC UA, MQTT, REST API and CoAP. In addition, robust metal housings and a wide temperature range from -40 to +70°C ensure reliability under harsh conditions.”
What advantages do remote I/O devices offer for machine and plant engineering?
“Decentralisation, flexibility and cost savings. In many applications, such as intralogistics, it is inefficient to wire each sensor individually in the control cabinet. Thanks to protection classes IP67 and IP69K, our UNITRONIC® ACCESS modules can be installed directly in the plant. This saves space, significantly reduces wiring effort and thus lowers the susceptibility to errors. Another advantage is the simple plug-and-play commissioning and automatic parameterisation when replacing a sensor. This not only reduces installation costs, but also maintenance costs.”
And what developments can we expect from LAPP in the future?
“Our remote I/O devices are not a one-off project, but part of a comprehensive strategy. We are continuously working to expand our portfolio, for example with complementary diagnostic and visualization solutions. This can be experienced live in our LAPP Exploration Centre in Stuttgart.”