Murrelektronik opens up new business field for vision systems

Vision systems are becoming increasingly important in industrial manufacturing and logistics. With its vision installation solutions, Murrelektronik offers a concept for decentralized installation solutions for industrial image processing. With Murrelektronik, machine and plant builders have a partner at their side when it comes to power supply and signal and data management for smart networking of camera technology in industrial manufacturing processes or logistics. Murrelektronik relies on decentralized modules such as switches, distributors and feeders that can be mounted and plugged in directly in the machine environment, as well as the corresponding prefabricated cable and connector technology. The advantages are minimal installation effort and high performance - for new and existing machines and systems.

Plug & Play for vision systems

Efficient power supply and reliable data communication are the pillars of a functioning installation concept. The aim is to bring together the sensors and actuators of a machine or plant efficiently and economically to form a system. Murrelektronik's vision installation solutions are modular in design. They offer the possibility of integrating industrial image processing not only in the development of new machines and systems in a decentralized installation concept, but also in existing system architectures.
These components include the Xelity hybrid switch, which handles smooth and error-free data communication and to which up to four cameras can be connected, the master breakout box (voltage and signal distributor) and the injection box (voltage and signal feeder). All components are mounted directly in the machine environment, i.e. in close proximity to the respective vision system. "Our decentralized installation concept has the unbeatable advantage that we save our customers the time-consuming and expensive installation in the control cabinet," says Simon Schlichenmaier, Market Development Vision Systems at Murrelektronik. "Switch cabinets can therefore be dimensioned smaller." Another advantage: With Murrelektronik's modular plug&play solutions, vision systems can not only be put into operation quickly and flexibly, the modules also facilitate and accelerate function diagnostics during operation. This significantly reduces plant and machine downtime.

Intelligence where it is needed

Schlichenmaier: "With our vision installation solutions, we focus on all processes that take place between the camera and the plant control system." And where industrial image processing was not possible in existing systems due to overcrowded control cabinets, Murrelektronik's vision installation solutions provide a remedy with shorter cables and less cable clutter.With a data transmission rate of 1 gigabit/second (Gbit/s) via X-coded data lines to the switch, high-resolution image processing is possible for many industrial applications. Network communication takes place at up to 2.5 Gbit/s.
"Data processing takes place directly on site at the machine. So we bring the intelligence to where it is needed," says Schlichenmaier, adding, "With Murrelektronik's vision installation solutions, our customers trim their production processes for greater efficiency and higher throughput. In this way, they increase quality and avoid costly rework. And quite incidentally, we slim down the control cabinets."