wenglor has introduced the P2PY111, a hygienic time-of-flight laser distance sensor for washdown zones in food, beverage and pharmaceutical plants. It combines a long working range of up to 10 m with a gap-free stainless steel housing and ECOLAB and FDA approvals, so it can be mounted directly above open product.
A distance sensor built around hygienic design
Many sensors used in wet areas are standard devices with a washdown-rated enclosure. wenglor took a different route with the P2PY111: the housing is designed according to a seal-to-counter principle, which keeps contamination from collecting in the housing area, and has no gaps where residue could form dirt nests. Markings are laser-engraved directly into the stainless steel instead of printed labels, the teach-in key is made of FDA-compliant silicone and the PMMA optical lens is captive, so no loose part can fall into the process.
The cable outlet uses an IP69K cable gland with a food-grade blue seal, and the TPE cable is specified as resistant to cleaning agents.
Measurement performance
Under the hygienic shell is wenglor’s wintec (wenglor interference-free technology) time-of-flight measurement. High receiver sensitivity lets the sensor handle weak return signals, dark or glossy surfaces and targets presented at steep angles, and it tolerates ambient light up to 100,000 lux. Process data and parameters are exchanged over IO-Link V1.1.
Technical specifications
| Measuring principle | Laser time-of-flight (wintec) |
| Working range | 50 – 10,000 mm |
| Ambient light immunity | Up to 100,000 lux |
| Housing | Stainless steel, IP69K |
| Operating temperature | –40 °C to +55 °C |
| Interface | IO-Link V1.1 |
| Cable | TPE, cleaning-agent resistant, IP69K gland with blue food-grade seal |
| Approvals | ECOLAB, FDA compliant |
Three mounting options are included in the scope of delivery: a mounting console, a console with angle compensation of up to 10°, and a mounting clamp with hygienic screws.
Typical applications
- Pharmaceutical packaging: detecting transparent bags, a classic difficult target for optical sensors
- Food and beverage: object detection directly above open, unpackaged product
- Washdown zones where sensors are exposed to frequent wet cleaning with aggressive agents
Why it matters for engineers
For machine builders working in hygienic areas, the sensor reduces the usual compromise between optical performance and cleanability. A 10 m range and high immunity to ambient light make it usable for longer distances that short-range triangulation sensors cannot cover, such as the wenglor P1PC laser distance sensors, while the gap-free housing and included hygienic brackets save the integrator from designing custom mounts. IO-Link V1.1 allows parameter backup and remote configuration, which helps when a device has to be replaced after cleaning damage.
Full details are on wenglor’s official P2PY111 product announcement and the P2PY111 highlights page. More launches from the manufacturer are listed in our wenglor product news, and related coverage in our food and beverage automation section.