As an expert in smart sensor technology, Turck brings intelligence to machines, thereby creating a connection to Industry 4.0 and the Industrial Internet of Things.

In an interview with Andreas Gees of elektroAutomation magazine, Sai, Turck’s Product marketing manager, and Buda, Director of Product Management for Factory Automation Systems, discuss the role of IO-Link as a foundation technology for the product portfolio and look ahead to its further development.

Q:IO-Link is particularly important in terms of the concept of the Industrial Internet of Things (IIoT). What role does this communication technology play at Turck?

Sai: As a founding member of the IO-Link community, we are always committed to working with our customers to digitally communicate the control level to the last meter of the machine. We invested in a technology whose future could not yet be foreseen. Today, IO-Link has become an important part of our corporate strategy. Every sensor and communication product we develop for factory automation has at least one version of IO-Link.

Choosing IO-Link is usually a strategic decision, and IO-Link devices are released first. In addition to its use in RFID, IO-Link is one of our two core technologies for digitizing data for machines and their automation applications. IO-Link is first and foremost an interface between sensors and controllers, but can also lay the foundation for implementing IIoT concepts.

Buda: Turck not only produces numerous sensors for control tasks or process monitoring, but also a wide range of sensors for various IIoT solutions. Our customers will eventually find the complete IO-Link portfolio at Turck, from sensors to RFID reading and writing devices, power modules and lights, to hubs and master stations for I/O systems and modules, and virtually everything from sensors to the cloud. All of this comes with smart software that makes it easier for users to deploy technology. We see IO-Link as the interface between control and the IIoT domain, so we are also heavily involved in the condition monitoring domain.

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Q:IO-Link initially had user acceptance problems. But that has now changed. Why did Turck develop such a broad portfolio of IO-Link devices?

Buda: For Turck, even the efficient networking of simple switches on machines to enable two-way communication with the field level is an important use case. IO-Link is an open protocol that is not restricted by fieldbuses. Our main site’s Ethernet multi-protocol strategy also supports this technology. Our sensors range from simple proximity switches to complex devices that provide information about operating status and environmental conditions.

With IO-Link, Turck can build an ecosystem and support the use of standard actuator solutions from other manufacturers. Therefore, we are ready for the actuator technology on the IO device side. We connect the IO to the master station via IO-link, thus collecting simple sensor signals, as well as using a larger current to drive the valve.

Sai: With the increasing availability of actuators that support IO-Link, many device manufacturers have discovered this interface themselves. Initially, there was interest in condition monitoring and the IIoT space, but the ecosystem was imperfect. Today, we talk about a wide range of sensors, valve islands, or power module ecology. It is clear that IO-Link is not just about sensors, I/O and controllers. Manufacturers no longer need to integrate different interfaces. In addition, users can also benefit from this single interface and can use only the same cables, connectors and software.

Q: When the first IIoT-oriented concept appeared on the market, IO-Link won recognition. In the past, users used IO-Link to configure sensors.

Buda: IIoT, condition monitoring, predictive maintenance, process optimization, and asset management have all contributed to the acceptance of IO-Link. We have always believed that IO-Link is also a cost-effective infrastructure. IO-Link uses low-cost standard cables for communication. Although the valve island or hub can also be networked using industrial Ethernet, the cost is significantly higher, and the cost of the sensor is not increased due to the integrated IO-Link. Moreover, the transfer of process, identification, and access data will ultimately form the basis of digital twins and asset management.

Q: How important is IO-Link to business models such as condition monitoring and predictive maintenance?

Sai: The classic automation structure provides connection to the PLC. For example, data can be transferred from a PLC to an MES system. However, different customer groups are increasingly demanding parallel access to data directly from the IO-Link master. This allows the condition monitoring system to be expanded or modified as needed over the life of the plant.