Baumer (www.baumer.com), a leading manufacturer of sensors and system solutions for process and factory automation, offers an extensive array of stainless steel encoder designs that is ideal in harsh environments such as in container ship loading facilities, in chemical industry, offshore industry and in food and beverage industries’ bottling processes.

Sensor products utilized in these industries requires specific sealing and housing techniques to protect them from the prevailing adverse conditions. The encoders employed must withstand aggressive media and lubricants, salty air, oils and cleaning agents.

The company’s all-encompassing encoder portfolio comprises absolute and incremental encoders that feature robust stainless steel housings and are specifically developed for operation under extreme conditions. The compact encoders are offered with common housing, as hollow or solid shaft designs and provide IP69K and IP68 protection. Baumer also offers ATEX-certified variants, which are suitable for applications in potentially explosive environments. The encoders deliver the highest degree of flexibility enabling it to seamlessly integrate into automation systems. Customers can select between fieldbus, SSI and Ethernet interfaces such as DeviceNet, CANopen, EtherNet/IP, EtherCAT, Profibus, SAEJ1939, POWERLINK or PROFINET.

One of the highlights of Baumer’s portfolio of stainless steel encoder is the absolute multiturn encoder series “MAGRES hermetic”, which features hermetically encapsulated sensing and electronics. Aside from providing IP69K and IP68 protection, the encoders are also impermeable to fluids. The absolute encoder GE404 comes with optical sensing fitted in robust V4-A stainless steel design, which is compliant to class 1.4435 or class 1.4404. With Viton seals that are ultra-resistant against high temperature and chemicals, the encoders also feature a high 12-bit multiturn and 14-bit singleturn resolution for ultra-accurate position feedback even at speeds of up to 10,000 rpm.