Rough, tough stainless-steel SICK sensors thrive in washdown environments

With the release of Inox versions of its GR6 rectangular and GR18 cylindrical sensors, SICK has deli…

With the release of Inox versions of its GR6 rectangular and GR18 cylindrical sensors, SICK has delivered rough, tough, high-availability photoelectric performers for detection duties in harsh chemical washdown environments in the food, drink and dairy industries.

Designed for universal compatibility and easy installation in industrial machines, the SICK GR6 Inox and GR18 photoelectric sensors are ECOLAB-certified and feature corrosion-resistant V4A (316L) stainless steel housings rated up to IP69K, combined with specialist screen coatings and seals that ensure high resistance to corrosive chemicals.

While the GR6 Inox is no bigger than a sugar cube, the GR18 Inox offers standard M18 thread-mounting, so the sensors together present versatile options for through-beam, retro-reflective or proximity sensing duties.  Their precision PinPoint red light or infra-red LED light spot options combine with intelligent signal evaluation that is immune to interference from ambient light, dirt, moisture, and electromagnetic fields. So, the sensors reassure with reliable switching, high levels of availability and a long service life.

David Hannaby, SICK’s UK product manager for presence detection, said: “In aggressive environments in the food, drink and dairy industries sensors not only need to cope with acid or alkali chemical cleaning regimes, but the effects of rapid temperature changes during washdown, causing pressure differences that suck moisture into inferior devices.

“For too many operators, the temptation to choose lower-grade plastic sensors in the pursuit of economy has often meant sacrificing reliability and putting up with frequent device changes and downtime.

“Now the release of cost-effective Inox versions of our GR6 and GR18 photoelectric sensors has made available a range of rugged, hard-working sensors that can withstand corrosive cleaning agents and ambient temperatures between -25°C and +55°C.”

The versatile SICK GR6 Inox and GR18 Inox offer complementary choices for electrical connectivity, reflectors and mounting solutions specifically-designed for use in challenging environments and washdown conditions.

The sensors can also be easily identified after years of use because their product name is laser-etched into the housing surface. Set-up and adjustment is easy with a user-friendly potentiometer and highly-visible indicator LEDs.

THE SICK GR6 Inox product family comprises over 40 variants, so that almost any object, no matter the surface texture or colour, can be detected under the harshest of conditions.  Easy mounting is assured with M3 threaded mounting holes.

The standardised M18 cylindrical design of the SICK GR18 Inox comes in a standard length and a space-saving shorter version with both M12 male connector and 2 m cable variants, together with quick and space-saving mounting in either in a through-hole or using a mounting bracket.