SMART SENSOR BUSINESS 4.0 THE SENSOR PEOPLE magazine EditionCustomer 1.18 magazine | Customer 2019 magazine ON SAFE PATHS RSL 400 safety laser scanner | Page 04 Compartment fine positioning | Page 34 Industry 4.0 – dual channel principle | Page 58 LEUZE ELECTRONIC Editorial Dear Reader, You are reading the 2019 edition of our sensor The positive growth trajectory of previous years also people magazine. In this issue, we would like to continued in 2018 throughout all market segments. review our highlights from 2018 and share with you The sales volume of Leuze electronic crossed the our new challenges for the year 2019. threshold of 200 million euros for the very first time. The high number of orders in the production and The past year was an eventful, exciting and very warehouse logistics areas has pushed us to the limit successful year for Leuze electronic during which – in a good way that is. As a result, in the coming the sensor people had plenty to celebrate: in 2018 months we will start the construction of a new and Leuze electronic looked back on 55 years of compa­ central logistics center for Europe at our headquar­ ny history – the both significant as well as rapid ters in Owen/Teck. development from the weaving loom to Industry 4.0. Our subsidiary in Turkey turned ten years old in 2018. We are also making investments internationally and Leuze electronic Spain celebrated its 30th anniver­ intend to continue this trend: At the beginning of sary as one of our first subsidiaries. In China, new 2019, we acquired ESDISA in Mexico, who has been offices were opened in Shenzhen and Shanghai. our distributor for many years, and transferred it to In addition, we have successfully completed the its own subsidiary of Leuze electronic. SAP implementation. We are currently building a central logistics center for Asia in Singapore, which will operate within its local time zone. Join us in celebrating the successes that are possible thanks to good and longstanding relationships with our customers and partners. We look forward to a continued good collaboration with you and to per­ sonally welcoming you at one of around 50 trade fairs we attend around the world every year! Kind regards, Ulrich Balbach, Managing Director CONTENTS TITLE STORY THINK EASY On safe paths SmartCore Technology Page 28 RSL 400 safety laser scanner Page 04 New distance sensors Page 31 Optical guidance Page 32 SHARE EXPERIENCE Always in front of the right rack Page 34 Automatic pipetting Page 38 High-speed quality control Page 41 No chickens for you, Mr. Fox Page 44 Every second counts Page 46 BE CLOSE Always close to you Page 48 A COMPANY WITH PERSONALITY Promoter of sport, 55 years of company history Page 06 culture and social causes Page 52 The latest from our international Construction of an orphan school branches Page 10 in Uganda Page 56 International logistics Page 20 Awards Page 23 CREATE THE FUTURE The dual channel principle Page 58 Industry 4.0 practical workshop Page 62 Industry 4.0 – our partnerships Page 63 SENSOR PEOPLE INSIDE Training at Leuze electronic Page 64 Fit with a healthy diet Page 66 Something’s cooking at the sensor people Page 68 Party atmosphere at the sensor people Page 70 LEUZE ELECTRONIC ON SAFE PATHS … The RSL 400 safety laser scanner not only ensures that automated guided vehicles (AGVs) are operated safely by means of protective and warning fields, but it also simultaneously captures the measurement values for the navigation software. 4 THINK EASY RSL When using the triangulation principle for navigation, an automated guided vehicle (AGV) is often equipped with two different scanners: 400 One for safety, the other for navigation. The new RSL 400 safety laser scanner from Leuze electronic offers a true alter­ native: not only is it capable of handling the safety aspects, but it also provides all measurement values for the AGV’s navi­ gation based on the natural­navigation principle. In addition to that, the mea­ surement values have an extremely high angular resolution and accuracy. This is important to precisely determine the po­ sition of the AGV. This means that only The RSL 400 safety laser scanner combines one scanner is needed for safety AND safety with a detailed measurement value navigation. Measurement value output of output for AGV navigation. the RSL 400 is optimized for navigation software that functions according to the principle of natural navigation with SLAM (Simultaneous Localization and Mapping). With each revolution of its deflection unit, An eye on obstacles which last 40 milliseconds each, the safe­ ty laser scanner emits 2700 light pulses. How far away is the obstacle? In addition ways. In 4­field mode with 50 switchable These are scattered in all directions on to the angular resolution, the distance field sets, the device can monitor up to obstacles. Parts of the scattered light are values are also important. With a typical four protective fields simultaneously. This transmitted back to the scanner and used error accuracy of < 30 mm, these are enables safe and reliable reduction of the to calculate the distance to the obstacle. highly precise. In addition to that, the val­ speed of the AGV. With a scanning angle ues are not affected by the reflectance of of 270°, the RSL 400 can also cover the Similar to a map, the navigation software the object, whether it is a reflector or a front and side areas of AGVs at the same contains an image of the respective room, black wall. The additional output of the time, i.e., around the corner. With these including all fixed boundaries. The current received signal strength value for each features and a maximum operating range position of the AGV is then calculated beam allows autonomous detection of of 8.25 meters, even large AGVs can be by comparing the measurement values reflectors by the navigation software. fully safeguarded with only two RSL 400. to the map. This concept is referred to When beams strike a reflector, the values The safety laser scanner is available in var­ as natural navigation. The more detailed differ greatly from any other environment. ious models. The product range includes and exact the measurement values of This makes simple and reliable detection nine functional variants, three of which a scanner are, the more precisely the possible. In addition to the navigation with data output for AGV navigation. AGV can navigate. With an angular res­ aspects, there is no lack of safety: the All variants are available for the four olution of 0.1°, the RSL 400 can capture compact RSL 400 safety laser scanner operating ranges of 3.0, 4.5, 6.25, and the environment in high detail over the offers up to 100 switchable protective 8.25 meters. entire measurement range up to 50 m. and warning field pairs. This is achieved through a particularly nar­ Models available with PROFIsafe/ row laser spot that maintains its perpendic­ Thanks to this high number, the protective PROFINET interfaces make it much easier ular shape over the entire scanning angle. fields can be adapted to the respective to integrate the devices, particularly when It also reduces incorrect measurements, movement and load conditions as well as many different protective field configura­ the likes of which can occur on edges. the speed of the vehicles in many different tions are used. L 5 LEUZE ELECTRONIC FROM WEAVING LOOM TO INDUSTRY 4.0 The story of the global player and leading innovator in optical sensors, Leuze electronic, began in 1963 in the factory section of 1963 the weaving mill Leuze textil. The first product produced was made for in­house use: the “cono­pack”, an electro­mechanical packaging machine. This device was used to automate the packaging process of textiles on­site. 6 A COMPANY WITH PERSONALITY FROM WEAVING LOOM A short journey through 55 years of company history, TO INDUSTRY 4.0 innovation and customer orientation Figure: The company C. A. Leuze in Owen 7 LEUZE ELECTRONIC With the development of what at the time was the world’s smallest retro­reflective photoelectric sensor, the key step into the market of industrial automation was taken. New products and the higher number of employees necessitated a new construction. The new building was moved into in 1969. Figure: Office and first factory 1969 The groundbreaking “first generation of full container control” had entirely different dimensions than today. Advertisement text from 1976: near perfect automation of the beverage industry! The electronic evaluation system of the optronic 09 full container system checks and registers the contents of beverage crates or open or closed cartons as well as shrink­wrapped containers of any kind, by means of a target/actual comparison in the selected program with special light and inductive sensors. 1976 But over the years the sensor systems became more compact and the product variety larger. Even back then, Leuze electronic developed many innovations. For example, the ASi bus is a Leuze electronic in­ vention, as is the safe ASi. Safety monitors of a wide variety of labels come from the production facilities of Leuze electronic. Figure: Advertisement from 1996 The world’s smallest 1996 industrial bar code reader. 8 A COMPANY WITH PERSONALITY Many years of double­digit growth have meant not only an increase in turnover figures, but also the number of employees. Today, more than 1,200 sensor people at 22 locations are involved in development, production, sales and service – supported by more than 40 sales 2016 partners around the world. Figure: Anniversary celebration – 10 years Leuze electronic Trading (Shenzhen, China) Co, Ltd. 2016 The company was directly involved in the development of the I/O link and is also playing an active role as a driver and pioneer of Industry 4.0.