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It has been reviewed against IEC 61508:2010 and ISO 13849-1:2015 and found capable of achieving SIL 2 and Performance Level d when used correctly within a safety system for measurement of position and velocity. Applications include safety functions with hydraulic cylinder feedback on aerial work platforms, man-lifts, cranes and other critical measurements. 

“The new FLEX Safety sensor sets the standard for safety position sensors, offering unmatched accuracy, safety, and serviceability,” stated product manager Aaron Sabino. "We continue to see an increase in demand for safety rated sensors as customers in the EU and globally design for the Machinery Regulation 2023/1230/EU, which replaces the Machinery Directive 2006/42/EC. The FLEX gives design engineers the ability to meet the Machinery Regulation with a single SIL-compliant sensor, while replacing multiple non-rated sensors".

A key aspect of the FLEX Safety’s serviceability is its innovative modular design consisting of an outer housing, electronic module, and featuring Temposonics’ SMART SE (patent pending).  The SMART SE combines Temposonics’ patented flexible sensing element with integrated memory and allows for seamless interoperability between any SMART SE and FLEX Safety electronic module. The other key benefit of design is being able to service the position sensor without breaking the hydraulic seal on the cylinder. The sensor is designed for the outer housing to be externally threaded into the cylinder keeping the field serviceable electronic module and SMART SE out of the cylinder.

“Embedded sensors are protected from the external environment, but they require dismantling the cylinder in order to be serviced,” said product manager Aaron Sabino. “This introduces logistical problems for vehicles with long extensions and little clearance. The new FLEX Safety solves this problem because the SMART SE can bend around obstructions from other machine components requiring only 200 mm of clearance regardless of stroke length. Getting spare parts to the field is also more efficient as even a 10.5 meter long SMART SE can be coiled and shipped economically.”

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