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BST ProControl is leaving its mark on the sensor market with the PC16S-wave transmission sensor, based on non-ionizing technology
Thursday 13. October 2016 - With the brand new PC16S-wave transmission sensor, BST ProControl, a subsidiary of BST eltromat International, is expanding its extensive sensor offerings for layer thickness and basis weight measurement with a new highlight for K 2016. The innovative sensor is celebrating its world premiere at BST ProControl in Hall 10 (Stand E46), and does not work with ionizing electromagnetic waves. Therefore, neither its operation nor its transport and its disposal require national or international permits.
Thanks to its outstanding EMC characteristics, the PC16S-wave guarantees smooth operation and fulfills all legal requirements. With its touch-free absorption measurement procedure in transmission, it measures polymer-based monofilms particularly quickly and precisely. Typical examples of implementation are the measurement of basis weights, measurements of flat web materials, and the control of calenders and flat film extrusion systems.
The PC16S-wave offers some special characteristics that offer BST ProControls customers additional possibilities for help when measuring polymer-based monofilms. That is how with this transmission sensor, among other things, materials can also be measured if large amounts of fillers were added to the polymer in production as a colorant. For instance, white films are frequently filled with titanium dioxide and black films with soot. While these fillers often strongly influence the measurement results of traditional measurement materials, such as x-ray or infra-red technology, for example, the influence is typically negligible with this new transmission sensor.
In comparison with sensors with ionizing radiation, the PC16S-wave achieves extremely high measurement accuracy of up to 0.05 g / m². In addition, the innovative sensor covers a large measurement area of up to 2,000 g / m². And because its measurement method is based on non-ionizing technology, with the PC16S-wave, the inevitable costs for radiation protection that come with traditional transmission sensors are gone.
In addition, its use is versatile. Thanks to its modular construction, it can be efficiently adapted for various applications and outfitted with the respective, necessary components for these tasks. Even with service cases, the modular construction, in combination with technical innovations, guarantees a high availability of the new transmission sensor. Therefore, the PC16S-wave has a quick clamping device for mounting the sensor and a quick changing device for measurement windows, among other things. Because measurement windows are typically made of thin plastic films that can tear or get dirty, simple interchangeability was sought after here. Thanks to the quick-change mechanism for the measurement window, this market demand is fulfilled in a particularly intelligent way on the PC16S-wave. In addition, the emitter module, including the transmitter, can be changed in about five minutes. The exchange of the complete unit barely takes five minutes. All components of the new transmission sensor are very easily accessible, which additionally simplifies its replacement and further increases system availability.
The measurement data, transferred at a sampling rate of 100 Hz, are quickly transferred via the Profinet protocol, because the PC16S-wave is equipped with an open analysis unit from Siemens. That is advantageous for many customers because they are confident in using the programming language of the analysis unit, which is very widespread in this market, and, in the event that service is needed, replacement parts are easily acquired. Ultimately, for BST ProControl customers, both aspects mean cost benefits. Additional advantages of the new transmission sensor are its compact construction, the possibility of combining it with other types of sensors, and the ease of integrating it into existing production systems.
“With the performance and flexibility of the PC16S-wave transmission sensor, based on innovative, non-ionizing technology, BST ProControl is making a mark in the sensor market once again. And the PC16S-wave offers our customers more value with its reliability as well, as one knows about our companys sensors in the market,” explains Geritt Block, authorized representative and technical manager of BST ProControl in Wenden.