Switchgear in the industrial production of tomorrow

>A demonstrator has been built especially for this purpose, where an 'e-Kanban system' for assembly work stations automatically registers when an operator removes a container from a moving shelf. When this happens, a rocker switch is actuated in a wireless position switch powered by a long-life battery.

>Wireless switches like this are already state of the art. Steute says that what is fundamentally new is the way in which signals are processed. The switching devices are equipped with a software platform, developed by Steute, which permits integration in customer-specific communication networks. This facilitates the greatest possible flexibility when assigning functionalities and providing information.

>The user can decide whether the wireless switching devices using this technology should communicate in the 'Internet of Things' via their own IP address, using Wi-Fi or via other local networks. Here the software platform is fundamentally versatile.

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>Steute says its demonstrator is ideal for visualising the integration of wireless switchgear in Industry 4.0 production plants.