steute Technologies

The steute business division Controltec will be kicking off its new fair year in February, exhibiting for the first time at the aaa – all about automation in Friedrichshafen. The company will be showing different new series of industrial switchgear able to meet special requirements – for example durability, explosion protection, machine safety and (wireless) signal transmission.

Both new and established product series will be presented “live” using – also new – functional models. Functions range from assembly and handling technology (monitoring tensioning elements on turntables) to robotics (positioning of grippers and work pieces) to plastics processing (monitoring of injection moulding tools) to process technology (valve position monitoring).

For these and many other automation applications, steute offers a wide range of robust and durable switching devices, including inductive sensors, foot switches, command devices and position switches. Their functions which will be demonstrated using the booth models.

One focal point at the fair will be switching devices which transmit their signals via the bidirectional steute sWave technology. This makes sense when sensors or switches are installed on e.g. moving machine components (Figure 1).

Here are just two examples of the new products which steute will be showing “live in action” in Friedrichshafen. First, the (Ex) STM 515 solenoid interlock (Figure 2), which has been developed especially for reliable operation in adverse environments.

Its design features include a robust and corrosion-resistant die-cast aluminum enclosure, a high locking force of 4000 N and suitability for use in gas and dust Ex zones (1, 2, 21 and 22). This switchgear series therefore complies with both the strict regulations for machine safety and the strict regulations for explosion protection.

An additional combination of technologies and features has been realised in the steute ZS 92 SR series of belt alignment switches: here heavy duty meets wireless. A separate RF I/O radio module facilitates signal transmission of the data from two belt alignment switches to the corresponding wireless receiver over a range of up to 400 metres.

The principle underlying the entire organisation of the aaa – all about automation in Friedrichshafen is also the motto for the steute Controltec booth: a short visit for a wealth of information.

steute Controltec at the aaa – all about automation in Friedrichshafen: Booth F 605

Further information:
steute Technologies GmbH & Co. KG
www.steute-controltec.com

With the Ex STM 515 series, the steute business division Controltec recently introduced compact and robust solenoid interlocks for explosive zones to its range of safety switchgear. This series is now being further extended to include an “Extreme” variant. As always at steute, this means: the STM 515 “Extreme” can be used in adverse ambient conditions, such as dust, dirt, wet and vibrations.

Prerequisites include a robust die-cast aluminium enclosure with a long lifetime even when exposed to severe mechanical wear and tear. The multiple coating (passivation, primer, powder coating) guarantees a high degree of corrosion protection, while the effective sealing achieves protection classes IP66/67. Wet and damp are thus not a hindrance when using the STM 515 Extreme – especially since the electrical connections are well protected inside a terminal compartment. Shocks and vibrations are additional ambient conditions in which this STM 515 variant continues to function reliably.

Independently of the Extreme variant, the complete STM 515 series includes practical features such as an actuator head which can be repositioned by 4 x 90°. Equally typical of steute switching devices is a modular design with diverse additional functions. For example, users can choose between the spring-to-lock and the power-to-lock principle (for tasks which are non-safety-related), and also opt for auxiliary release (from the access side) and/or escape release/emergency unlocking (from the danger zone).

Applications which can benefit from the new steute STM 515 Extreme include machines and plants in the bulk goods industry with no explosion protection requirement.

Further information:
steute Technologies GmbH & Co. KG
www.steute-controltec.com

New accessory: flexible pulley for multiple deflextion of pull wires over longer distances

Emergency pull-wire switches have become established as “extended emergency-stop” buttons, especially along conveyor belts: one pull on the wire, and the relevant part of the machine comes to a safe halt. As long as the conveyor is running in a straight line – as is usually the case – the wire can easily be tensioned within the maximum approved deflection over distances of up to 2 x 100 metres. For this task, the accessories range from steute includes both closed and open eye bolts.

But how can an emergency-stop function which complies with the standards and is easy to operate be realised along conveyors which go round bends, or in other extensive and non-linear hazardous areas? This question was brought to steute by a manufacturer of airport luggage conveyors. The developers in the steute business division Controltec came up with an equally simple and effective solution which has now been added to the steute range of emergency pull-wire switches: the Multiflex 4R pulley.

The head of this pulley, guiding the wire, can be rotated to any position. The Multiflex 4R thus provides a wire guide suited to conveyors which twist and turn in different directions. The important thing here: even when the pulley is deflected multiple times, the friction is minimal, helped by the mobile rollers in the cavity of the pulley. The system complies with a maximum deflection force of 200 N in conjunction with a maximum deflection of 400 mm, as required by EN 60947-5-5. Pulling the “ripcord” to actuate the emergency-stop function is comfortable, wear and tear is minimal, and even longer pull wires can be deflected multiple times without requiring a high actuation force.

An M8 thread in the foot of the pulley facilitates simple and universal mounting of the Multiflex 4R. Alternatively, it can be fixed to conventional profile systems, e.g. conveyor systems for transporting packages and luggage, using a slot nut.

There has also been interest from many other areas of industry using conveyor technology – for example tunnelling. Here conveyor systems transport the stripped material out of the tunnel. An emergency-stop function is guaranteed by robust emergency-stop pull-wire switches. Sometimes the conveyors have to go round bends inside the tunnels, and then the Multiflex 4R is the perfect solution – additional support for the “extended emergency stop” in combination with an emergency-stop pull-wire switch from the steute Extreme range.

Further information:
steute Technologies GmbH & Co. KG
www.steute-controltec.com

TÜV Süd is hosting a new congress of experts, aimed at the manufacturers and marketing authorisation holders of products for explosive zones. The “Explosion protection for manufacturers forum” (Forum Explosionsschutz für Hersteller) will take place in Munich from 27 to 28 February 2024. There will be an exhibition accompanying the congress, and the steute business division Controltec will have a booth showing switching devices developed especially for the requirements of gas and dust explosion protection.

This will include switching devices for the complex field “explosion-proof machine safety”.

In Munich, as an extension to its product range in this particular area of competence, steute will be presenting its Ex STM 515 series of Ex solenoid interlocks with ATEX/IECEx approvals. They are deployed to keep guard doors and maintenance flaps securely closed until all dangerous movements in machines and plants have come to a complete halt. They are able to assume this task – typically for steute switching devices in the “Extreme” range – even in adverse ambient conditions and explosive zones.

The new Ex solenoid interlocks have a robust die-cast aluminium enclosure which guarantees durability even in conjunction with considerable mechanical wear and tear. This enclosure has multiple coatings (passivation, primer, powder coating), guaranteeing a high degree of corrosion protection, as well as protection class IP 66/67 thanks to highly efficient sealing.

Additional practical features of the Ex STM 515 series include an actuator head which can be repositioned by 4 x 90^o. Together with the compact design, this makes installation flexible and possible in any position. Also typical for steute switching devices is a modular design with diverse additional functions. Users can choose, for example, between spring-to-lock and power-to-lock action, while both an auxiliary release (from the access side) and an escape release (from the danger zone) are optionally available.

In accordance with their ATEX/IECEx approvals, the new solenoid interlocks in the Ex STM 515 series can be used in explosive zones 1 and 2 (gas Ex), as well as 21 and 22 (dust Ex). Typical application fields taken into consideration by steute during the development phase include guard doors and maintenance flaps on agitators and screening machines, as well as packaging plants for powdered or dust-producing goods.

Further information:
steute Technologies GmbH & Co. KG
www.steute-controltec.com