Beckhoff Automation (www.beckhoff.com) has added the EQ series EtherCAT Box I/O modules in V2A stainless steel housings to its range of I/O systems for “hygienic design” applications.

The new Beckhoff EtherCAT Box series of stainless steel I/O modules is especially designed for direct use on machines which require high hygienic standards such as the chemical, packaging, food and pharmaceutical industries.

The EtherCAT Box series, which comes in a wide range of analog and digital units, meets the IP 69K protection requirements.

The high performance of EtherCAT allows the machine to directly measure, evaluate and control the processes and signals in hygienically critical areas.

The cylinders’ key hygienic design features include screws fitted flush without grime-collecting contours, stainless steel housing and screw connections as well as distributed I/O boxes attached to the plant or machine through mounting brackets to avoid unwanted joints and cavities that attract dirt.

The EQ series EtherCAT Box I/O modules is made with stainless steel housing and can be used in extreme climates with its extended temperature range of -25°C to +60°C (storage temperature -40°C to +85°C).

Its integrated EtherCAT interface allows direct connection to an EtherCAT network even without the need for an additional Coupler Box.

Each EtherCAT Box is a 100 percent self-contained EtherCAT device as well as EtherCAT slave that can be directly connected to any other EtherCAT device using an Ethernet cable with 100BASE-TX.

Beckhoff’s “Hygienic Design” stainless steel devices also include panel PCs with gap-free and flush fitting housing design as well as stainless control panels.