PATLITE Corporation has announced the upcoming release of its GL10 series flashing beacon. This innovative beacon brings multi-color signaling, robust durability, and advanced integration options to industrial applications.
PATLITE has long been recognized for its reliable and forward-thinking industrial solutions, and the newly released GL10 series is no exception. This compact flashing beacon is designed to provide exceptional performance in environments where clarity, versatility, and durability are paramount. Unlike traditional signaling devices, which often require multiple units to display different colors, the GL10 combines red, yellow, and green illumination in a single unit. This capability simplifies installation and reduces costs, making it an ideal choice for industrial facilities aiming to optimize efficiency without sacrificing functionality.
PATLITE’s GL10 series outdoor-rated flashing beacon combines multiple colors in a single unit. Image used courtesy of PATLITE
Features of the GL10
Durability is a core feature of the GL10. Built for industrial environments, the beacon is engineered to withstand dust, moisture, and constant vibration. This rugged construction guarantees consistent operation over extended periods, addressing the critical need for dependability in high-demand settings.
Another standout feature of the GL10 beacon is its advanced control options. The beacon supports CAN communication and voltage input control, allowing integration into various industrial setups. These control specifications ensure simplistic operation, enabling users to customize signaling functions to meet specific application requirements.
The CAN communication control model is compatible with the SAE J1939 protocol, making it suitable for construction machinery. It supports 13 flash patterns and four dimming levels, all configurable through CAN communication, and allows for monitoring of the light color and flash pattern. It also features automatic detection and connection at 250kbps or 500kbps. In contrast, the Standard Voltage Control model is a non-communication type that uses conventional voltage applications. It has three fixed flash patterns optimized for red, amber, and green status indications but does not support monitoring or acquiring the operating status. With this level of adaptability, the GL10 is well-suited to both new installations and retrofitting into existing systems.
Three pre-configured flash patterns are available in voltage-controlled models. Image used courtesy of PATLITE
Application Uses of the GL10
The GL10 Series is designed to address the needs of multiple industries, each requiring dependable and efficient signaling solutions. In factory automation, the beacon provides clear visual indicators for machine statuses, safety warnings, and process updates, helping to improve operations and enhance workplace safety. In logistics and warehousing, the beacon can deliver reliable signals that will improve workflow efficiency and reduce the potential for errors. The GL10 ensures that alerts are clear and immediate, providing prompt and effective emergency responses.
The GL10 Series represents a step forward in industrial signaling technology by combining multi-color illumination, rugged durability, and flexible integration options. PATLITE’s attention to functionality and reliability ensures that this beacon will meet the demands of challenging applications. Whether used for process optimization, safety enhancement, or emergency communication, the GL10 provides a dependable and versatile solution that industrial facilities can count on.
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Automation & Control Products
Two new automation products are now available: one geared towards sensing and one towards safety.
Autonics has recently announced two new lines of highly customizable components to improve automation. First, their BS5 Series photomicro sensors can detect thin objects as they pass, making them suitable for machine tooling, parts counting, alignment, and other such tasks. Autonics has also released a new line of emergency stop buttons that can quickly and safely stop automation equipment if life or limb is in danger.
The BS5 Series Photomicro Sensors are designed to quickly detect an object that passes through its visibility window. These sensors are available in two styles: the light emitting line (marked with an M) detects when light is reflected to the sensor, and the shade lighting line (marked with an S) detects when light is NOT reflected into the sensor. The usage case will determine which is most suitable for a specific application.
These sensors are available in many styles and sizes, making them versatile across industries and processes. In particular, they are available in K, T, V, L, Y, F, R, and TA styles and with wired or pin-type connectors.
The BS5 Series Photomicro Sensor. Image used courtesy of Autonics
One of the key features of these sensors is their ruggedness. They can withstand up to 1500 G shocks and have high vibration resistance. This makes them suitable for machining operations, such as positioning the xy stage of an end mill or laser cutter. The thin profile means they can be used in more compact spaces and also limits the possibility of malfunction due to the detection of foreign material instead of the object that needs to be detected.
SF2ER Emergency Stop Button
Autonics has also released a new product geared towards making automation equipment safer. The SF2ER Emergency Stop Button is designed to reliably stop and de-energize equipment in an emergency. With a large (up to 60 mm) red pad, the button is clearly visible from across the room, meaning anybody in the facility can see and operate it. Once the button is pressed and the machine is stopped, it must be forcibly separated to start the machine again. Safe operation can be verified before the machine restarts.
The design allows three separate contact blocks to be wired to the same switch. This simplifies wiring designs and allows operators to deactivate larger sections of equipment as needed.
The button can also be supplied with a guard ring, which prevents accidental activation without compromising safety. This guard ring meets SEMI-S2 safety standards by allowing easy access to the button and preventing nuisance activations. The button head can be ordered with a label, such as EMO for Emergency Machine Off, so that operators who experience color blindness can safely stop equipment as well.
The SF2ER Emergency Stop Button features a large red pad for easily stopping equipment. Image used courtesy of Autonics
Who is Autonics?
Autonics has been manufacturing automation components for nearly half a century. They specialize in sensing, safety, SCADA, and controller technologies and are used in virtually any manufacturing industry. The latest products continue to serve engineers and industrial workplaces.
Banner has introduced the TL70 Pro Tower Light series, which allows for a fully customizable visual or auditory indicator system to communicate the status of automated systems or facility issues.
Banner Engineering has introduced the TL70 Pro Tower Light series, offering customizable configurations ranging from one to six segments. This versatility enables users to tailor the tower light to meet specific signaling needs. Additionally, the TL70 Pro supports multiple communication protocols, facilitating seamless integration into various automation systems. 
The TL70 Pro Light Tower can be used for visual or auditory signals in automated systems or daily facility activities. Image used courtesy of Banner Engineering
Tell Me About the TL70 Pro Tower Light
The TL70 Pro Tower Light features modular segments that can be customized according to application needs, ranging from one to six segments. Users can choose from an array of fourteen colors, complemented by various animations such as flash, strobe, and rotate, to effectively convey machine information. Additionally, adding an audible segment with selectable tones intensifies the alert level, ensuring those working near equipment remain aware of operational statuses and changes. Using multicolor light segments like RGB-blended colors and animations like run and level modes provide a more dynamic beacon.
The TL70 Pro Light Tower can be customized for up to six segments, with five light and one audio. Image used courtesy of Banner Engineering
The TL70 Pro Tower Light Series offers versatile communication options, enabling seamless integration into various systems for dynamic indication across facilities. It supports multiple protocols, including Modbus RTU, Ethernet communication via EtherNet/IP, Modbus TCP, PROFINET, and IO-Link. This flexibility allows for efficient equipment monitoring and real-time status communication. Power over Ethernet (PoE) further simplifies deployment by eliminating separate power supplies, enhancing scalability, and reducing installation complexity, while IO-Link users have custom configuration options. If you select Modbus RTU as your communication protocol, the TL 70 Pro can be integrated into Banner’s Snap Signal ecosystem. Banner’s Snap Signal Ecosystem can simplify equipment monitoring and status communication without requiring a PLC, further simplifying installation.
Banner’s Pro Editor Software
The Banner TL70 Pro Tower Light offers robust customization capabilities through its Pro Editor Software. This tool enables users to tailor their indicators to suit specific needs, especially when hardwiring is preferred over a communication protocol such as IO-Link. With the software, a single control wire can manage various parameters, including multiple color configurations, animation sequences, intensity levels, audible notifications, and many other features. This degree of flexibility optimizes the TL70's functionality in diverse industrial manufacturing applications.
Simplify programming your TL70 with Banner’s Pro Editor Software. Image used courtesy of Banner Engineering
Banner has created a unique and customizable stack light. The TL70 Pro Tower Light offers modular customization with up to six segments and fourteen color options, enhancing operational awareness through visual and audible alerts. It supports multiple communication protocols, including Modbus and Ethernet, and features versatile configuration via Pro Editor Software tailored for any industrial or manufacturing applications.
Balluff's new IO-Link masters in Entry, Standard, and Advanced classes offer high performance, robust construction, and advanced features.
Industrial automation requires communication between sensors, actuators, and controllers to maximize efficiency and productivity. However, the need for faster, more flexible, and reliable networks often challenges manufacturers to find solutions that align with specific operational demands. Balluff addresses these challenges with its new lineup of IO-Link masters, available in Entry, Standard, and Advanced classes. Each class provides distinct capabilities to ensure compatibility with various industrial applications while maintaining performance and ease of use.
Balluff’s new IO-Link masters come in several different configurations and classes. Image used courtesy of Balluff
The new IO-Link masters feature enhanced communication protocols, multi-protocol support, and designs capable of withstanding demanding industrial environments. From basic sensor integration to advanced applications requiring high current and complex diagnostics, these modules cater to diverse needs while supporting the Industrial Internet of Things (IIoT).
Advanced IO-Link Masters
The advanced IO-link masters are designed for demanding applications requiring high performance and extended functionalities. With features like Class A ports supporting up to 4 amp outputs and Class B ports offering electrical isolation, these modules can reliably control high-current devices such as pneumatic valves and electric grippers.
This is a control schematic structured around the advanced master. The image shows that the master can directly transmit data to IT systems.
The advanced masters are available in two series: silver and black. The silver line modules include an integrated display for direct device configuration and diagnostics housed in a durable die-cast zinc casing for enhanced durability. These modules also support OT-IT integration, allowing data exchange between operational and information technology systems. With multi-protocol support for Profinet, EtherNet/IP, and EtherCAT, these masters ensure compatibility across diverse network architectures.
Standard IO-Link Masters
The Standard IO-Link masters balance functionality and simplicity. These modules can deliver up to 2 A per port (M12) and support a total current of 16 A. This capacity allows the integration of multiple sensors and actuators into a single network structure. The standard master’s modular design ensures compatibility with Balluff’s established BNI family, enabling users to expand their network capabilities without extensive reconfiguration.
The standard IO-link master being used in a machine tending application. Image used courtesy of Balluff
Entry IO-Link Masters
The Entry IO-Link masters are ideal for integrating IO-Link devices into automation systems with minimal complexity. These modules support basic IO-Link applications and allow the connection of sensors and small actuators to machine controllers. Despite their simplicity, the entry-class masters include essential features like IoT interfaces (MQTT).
With an output of up to 0.25 A per port and a total sensor current of 4 A, the Entry masters meet the foundational requirements for reliable communication and control. The compactness and ease of installation make them cost-effective for straightforward IO-Link integration operations.
Optimizing Industrial Automation with IO-Link Masters
Balluff’s new IO-Link masters offer flexible solutions to improve industrial communication and control. These modules, designed to meet various application needs—from simple sensor integration to complex system diagnostics—help manufacturers achieve more efficient, reliable, and scalable automation.
Weidmuller releases two new PACs in the u-Control series, capable of running widely used automation software and communicating to enterprise-level servers.
A PAC is a computer used for advanced motion control, process automation, and data processing, also referred to as computer-controlled automation. The PAC acts as a gateway between IT and OT, two worlds that typically do not agree with each other. Weidmuller recently released two new PACs designed specifically for IT/OT convergence.
U-Control M3000/M4000
The u-Controllers from Weidmuller are packed with features that allow you to build a stable and secure IT/OT gateway or an automated cell driven by a computer instead of a PLC. All the electrical connections feature Weidmuller’s push-in connection technology, reducing wiring time and troubleshooting. Additional interfaces, such as Wifi or LTE communications, can be added to the provided expansion slot. Under the hood, the u-Control series PACs use Multicore technology, with the M4000 utilizing a quad-core processor, allowing multiple runtime applications to execute simultaneously. Like a PC, PACs have an operating system; however, only the u-Control series of PACs use the u-OS, an open-source operating system capable of running Codesys.
u-Control Software
With the M3000 and M4000 using a non-standard OS, the type of software capable of being installed is limited. The automation industry typically uses software such as Codesys, an open-source programming software. Node-Red is a graphical flow chart editor that creates runtime applications. Each node can be a hardware device, an API, or an online service. These nodes are then wired together in a visual flow chart design. Ignition is another software supported on the new u-Control PACs. The software creates HMI applications used to interact with PLCs and other controllers. Ignition is also used as a communication interface between PLCs and databases.
Edge Computing
An edge computer is a PC that acts as a gateway between two devices, such as a PLC and a server. PLCs typically cannot communicate directly with data collection servers until the software that allows direct or cyclic messaging over an industrial protocol is installed. An edge computer is a small PC that has this software or drivers installed to allow data from a PLC to be extracted and stored in a database. The edge computer might have a database for short-term data storage, with the expectation to push all data out to an IT server. This topology allows machine builders to provide their customers with standard database access to their data without interfering with the automation controllers.
PC Automation
The concept of using a PC to control automation devices is not new. Many companies have tried to convert machine builders to using a PAC or PC automation. By using a PC for automation you gain file management and advanced logging within your controller–things that a PLC cannot do. The downside is troubleshooting and stability; PCs are notorious for rushed updates, crashes, and computer viruses. These disadvantages could cost factories millions of dollars, resulting in physical or personal damage. PC automation has grown in popularity but has not yet become a standard in industrial automation.
Our stainless steel panel PCs are our best sellers and the products with which 2IPS got started. We are very knowledgeable about this market and have built on our extensive experience hand in hand with our long-standing customers over time. This product range is suitable for use in humid and intensive washing environments, especially industry sectors where equipment reliability is a major concern. These include food processing, cosmetics, pharmaceuticals, as well as outdoor uses. Depending on their applications, these products can be installed on stands or hung on a wall, but also recessed on the front face of cabinets. P-Cap tactile technology allows a front face before IP69K to sustain intensive washing during which very thick gloves must be worn. 2IPS also offers a variety of mechanical accessories to go with this product range that features 4mm-thick mineral glass to offer maximum resistance to scratches. The devices’ flat front face makes cleaning easy, with no retention zone.
Product information:
Size : 12-, 15-, 17-, 22-in.
RAM : 4Go, 8Go
OS : Windows 10 IoT, Raspberry Pi OS
The new ABB flowmeter offers robust and simplified solution for water and wastewater applications. The ProcessMaster FEW630 is a new robust and easy to use electromagnetic flowmeter for municipal and industrial water and wastewater flow measurement. It has easy setup and operation minimize commissioning time and overcome skills barriers. Digital communications and real-time diagnostics open new opportunities for enhanced lifelong performance
ABB has launched ProcessMaster FEW630, a new robust and easy to use electromagnetic flowmeter for municipal and industrial water and wastewater flow measurement. With this launch, ABB simplifies the selection, operation, maintenance and servicing of its electromagnetic flowmeters in response to the evolving needs of the water and wastewater industry.
The ProcessMaster FEW630 advances water and wastewater flow measurement by utilizing a modular design that can be tailored to meet an extended range of specific requirements in municipal and industrial applications. It meets industry demands for greater robustness and reduced maintenance. Long-lasting, industry-specific wetted part materials offer maximum resistance against abrasion and corrosion, prolonging sensor service life and enabling minimal maintenance in applications such as potable water, wastewater, sewage, sludge, thickened sludge, influent and effluent.
Nanotec has expanded its product portfolio with the high-torque stepper motor ASA5618. This power pack not only meets the highest safety standards, as evidenced by its UL/CSA certification, but also supports even the most demanding applications with particularly precise and reliable performance.
With a flange size of 56 mm (NEMA23), the ASA56 features a holding torque ranging from 140 to 230 Ncm, making it ideal for axis drives of machine tools or robot-assisted applications in surgery. Larger quantities can be supplied with an integrated holding brake.
To ensure high positioning accuracy, the motor is equipped with an integrated encoder, available in both incremental and multiturn versions.
Built to withstand challenging environments, the ASA5618 comes with IP65 protection, providing resistance to dust, water, and extreme temperatures.
The new stepper motor is available in two lengths (88 and 109.5 mm) and is complemented by a wide range of combinations with gearboxes, and customizable shaft designs, to meet diverse application needs.
The FLIR X-series science-grade thermal cameras for research and development (R&D) are available for both the mid-wave infrared (MWIR) and longwave infrared (LWIR) spectrums: the X6980 HS high-speed family and the X8580 high-resolution family.
These new high-speed (HS) models expand the performance capabilities of the popular FLIR X-Series cameras by taking connectivity and on-camera recording to the next level.
New 10GigE and CoaXPress (CXP) 2.1 high-speed interfaces provide more than one hour of lightning-fast image streaming and data transfer, ensuring data fidelity while improving efficiency. At the same time, the on-camera recording option includes a removable nonvolatile memory express (NVMe) solid-state drive (SSD) to ensure lossless recording of critical thermal events. A four-terabyte (TB) high-speed SSD is now included as a standard feature on all X-Series HS cameras, providing the ability to record multiple hours of thermal data on the camera without dropping frames.
Standardize on FLIR Research Studio
In combination with FLIR Research Studio software, scientists, engineers, researchers, and quality assurance managers can leverage the X-series HS infrared cameras to blend data sets and synchronize multiple sensors, including with other FLIR A-series, X-series, and T-series cameras to create integrated, comprehensive analysis for improved decision support.
The ToughNet TN-5300A Series M12 unmanaged Ethernet switches are designed for industrial applications in harsh environments. The TN-5300A Series switches use M12 connectors to ensure tight, robust connections, and guarantee reliable resistance against environmental disturbances, such as vibration and shock. The TN-5300A Series Ethernet switches provide 5 or 8 Fast Ethernet M12 ports, support IEEE 802.3/802.3u/802.3x with 10/100M, full/half-duplex, MDI/MDI-X auto-sensing, and provide an economical solution for your industrial Ethernet network.
All TN-5300A Series models support an extended operating temperature range of -40 to 70°C. The TN-5300A Series also comply with all mandatory requirements of the EN 50155 standard including operating temperature, power input voltage, surge, ESD, and vibration, making these switches suitable for rolling stock and a variety of other industrial applications.
The TN-5300A Series features a single power input with overload, reverse polarity, and inrush current protection. Additionally, the TN-5308A PoE models provide 8 IEEE 802.3af/at compliant PoE ports. These switches are classified as power source equipment (PSE) and provide up to 30 watts of power per port and have a total power PoE budget of 50.2 Watts.
