Balluff has introduced three new product groups for position sensing: rotary encoders, inductive positioning systems, and laser light bands. All three are contactless and wear-free, targeting precise position detection across a range of industrial automation applications.
The rotary encoders translate mechanical movement into digital electrical signals and cover length, position, speed, angle, angular velocity, and rotary measurements. Available form factors include miniature encoders and multi-turn hollow shaft encoders, with options suited to demanding environments.
The inductive positioning system measures the target position of metallic objects over a range up to 17mm, with analog or IO-Link output. What's new here is the built-in stroke counter, which logs the number of clamping actions and triggers a warning when a user-set threshold is reached. An internal runtime counter tracks total lifetime operating hours, and comprehensive diagnostic data is readable over IO-Link. A separate product listing shows that measurement ranges are adjustable from 0 to 133mm depending on sensor version, and the system requires no mechanical adjustment. Primary applications include drive spindle monitoring, clamping devices, grippers, rollers, and valves.
The laser light bands cover five measurement modes: object diameter, object position, gap width, gap position, and edge position. Absolute resolution reaches 0.01mm. Five band widths are available in both analog and IO-Link configurations, expanding the range of use cases for a single sensor family.
All three product groups offer IO-Link connectivity alongside analog outputs, giving machine builders a path to sensor-level diagnostics without replacing existing wiring infrastructure. The inductive system's operating hour counter is the most machine-monitoring-oriented addition: it points toward condition-based maintenance workflows where replacement decisions draw on actual service data rather than predetermined intervals.
