Hygiene-sensitive production and packaging processes require sensors that meet the most stringent requirements. Leuze makes this possible with sensor series intended for the food industry and with its many years of application know-how. There are few industries where the demands placed on the sensor systems are as great as they are in the food industry. Whether sausage or cheese, confectionery or pastries, dairy or beverages: Hygiene is always a key factor when processing and packaging the products. Sensors in these areas must be resistant to intensive cleaning and disinfection cycles. The technology must also be able to withstand considerable fluctuations in temperature. With its new miniature sensors in stainless steel housings, Leuze fulfills all the important requirements of the food industry: chemical and thermal resistance, leak tightness and a hygienic product design. Protection classes such as IP67, IP68 and IP69K as well as Ecolab, CleanProof+ and Johnson Diversey certifications confirm that the devices operate properly at all times even in extremely harsh environments.
In the food industry, hygiene requirements are most strict wherever the food product or beverage is not yet protected by primary packaging. "This places high demands on sensors that are used for automation in these areas," says Steffen Hundt, Product Manager at Leuze. "Sensor systems must be high performance and hygienic, but also robust so that they can operate reliably in harsh environmental conditions." With its new solutions, Leuze ensures the following four key requirements for sensor systems used in the food industry:
Leuze meets these requirements by implementing a hygienic product design and using selected FDA-compliant materials. This means that Leuze sensors for the food industry have a stainless steel housing as well as glass-free and scratch-resistant optics covers.
The requirements make it clear that suitable sensor systems are needed for hygiene-sensitive production and packaging processes. Leuze has specially developed the “53C” and “55C” sensor series for this purpose. They are characterized by the housing made of high-quality, particularly smooth V4A stainless steel and the glass-free, scratch resistant optics cover. The sensors can thus withstand demanding cleaning and disinfection cycles as well as large temperature fluctuations. Steffen Hundt explains: "Leuze not only understands the challenges in hygiene-sensitive environments, but has for decades worked closely with its customers from the food industry. We implement the Sensor People's comprehensive application knowledge in optimum sensor solutions for every requirement." The high-tech product range includes a number of different sensors for the field of automation technology. For example, switching and measuring sensors, identification systems, data transmission and image processing solutions as well as safety components, services and holistic solutions.
Leuze has developed the sensors of the “53C” and “55C” series especially for hygiene-sensitive production and packaging processes. They can be used very flexibly as through beam photoelectric sensors, retro-reflective photoelectric sensors or diffuse sensors. Depending on the model, Leuze solutions reliably detect glass, PET, film or small parts. The fill level of aqueous liquids can also be easily detected. The sensor series are dustproof and waterproof and meet the requirements of protection classes IP67, IP68 and IP69K. The housing is consistently designed to prevent bacterial carry-overs and contamination. Smooth contours without fastening holes prevent deposits. A special fastening concept of the 53C series in hygienic design also contributes to this: The sensor and the machine have a gastight connection via the mounting trunnion. Useful: The sensors can be configured, operated and maintained via IO-Link.