Wireless IO-Link portfolio will simplify industrial communications
5 November 2024 
The sensor-maker Sick has joined forces with the wireless IO-Link specialist CoreTigo to offer a series of plug-and-play IO-Link products that communicate wirelessly. Sick says the products will enhance flexibility and ease of integration, and will allow the continued use of existing industrial devices. They will be on show at this month’s SPS exhibition in Germany.
CoreTigo’s IO-Link Wireless technology is an extension of the IO-Link standard (IEC 61131-9) that defines smart, bidirectional industrial communications. It is designed to meet the growing demand for flexible wireless automation in environments where wired connections would be impractical or impossible. Conventional wireless communications are often unsuitable for use in harsh industrial environments.
IO-Link Wireless is a deterministic, low-latency (5ms) technology that offers low synchronisation rates (measured in tens of microseconds) and high reliability. It is designed specifically for factory automation, and can coexist with other networks – both wired and wireless.
The technology’s benefits are said to include low installation costs, easy retrofitting, and scalability. It also allows innovative machine designs that were not previously possible. It makes IIoT applications easier to deploy, and supports real-time streaming of data to enterprise and cloud platforms for analytic and predictive maintenance applications.
Sick’s new portfolio based on the IO-Link Wireless technology includes:
- a two-track IO-Link master;
- an IO-Link Wireless bridge that converts IO-Link Class A, B or digital devices to IO-Link Wireless; and
- an IO-Link Wireless multiport hub that converts up to four IO-Link Class A or B devices, or a combination of six Class A, Class B, or digital devices.
“CoreTigo’s innovative technology was a natural choice for us as they enable seamless wireless connectivity while maintaining the high performance and reliability our customers expect,” says Sick’s head of integration products, Detlef Deuil.
“The integration of IO-Link Wireless technology into Sick’s solutions, significantly drives the market for advanced industrial wireless solutions,” adds CoreTigo CEO, Eran Zigman. “Their extensive reach and impact further enable smarter and more flexible manufacturing, paving the way for innovative applications that meet the evolving needs of the industry.”
The global market for IO-Link is predicted to grow with a CAGR of 35.75%, driven by the need for smarter, more efficient manufacturing processes.
