Semih Asil
Industry Valley
- Thread Author
- #1
✨ SICK Combines Safety and Efficiency at SPS 2026
At the Smart Production Solutions (SPS) 2026 trade fair, SICK introduced adaptive optical protection systems and IIoT sensor platforms to address material handling bottlenecks and safety compliance. The company showcased advanced safety technologies, 3D machine vision, and digital infrastructure solutions designed for discrete manufacturing, logistics, and process automation. These systems focus on critical areas such as access protection, quality inspection, and sensor data integration across industrial production lines.
🛡️ Secure and Intelligent Access Control
SICK's Safe Adaptive Access (SAA) system stands out as an electro-sensitive protective device for material flow points. Comprising two microScan3 safety laser scanners, a SIM1200 interface, and a FlexiNet controller, this system complies with Type 4, SIL 3, and PL d standards according to EN ISO 415-8. The system dynamically and automatically adjusts the protective field based on the geometry of the transported objects, separating personnel from transported goods and eliminating the need for external muting sensors.
For safety light curtains, the DCM4 extension module enhances deTec4 units with Object Pattern Recognition (OPR) functionality. This software function continuously differentiates between human entry and defined material silhouettes during continuous material transfer, maintaining active protection without physical muting barriers.
🧠 Advanced Control Architecture
The control architecture is managed by the Flexi Net safety controller, certified up to PL e level. This unit supports CPU expansion with up to twelve I/O and gateway modules and connects discrete machines across production lines with a capacity for 512 TÜV-certified logic block configurations. Integrated HTL inputs and dedicated Safe Motion function blocks support mobile robotics and automated guided vehicles.
⚙️ Easy Integration and Application
The hardware can be directly integrated into automated production facilities via standardized fieldbus protocols and IO-Link interfaces. Machine-level safety logic is designed using validated software blocks, while the Sentio IIoT platform provides device management and interoperability with existing operational technology. Gateways like the SIG300 connect sensor arrays to higher-level industrial automation networks, enabling multi-stage deployment without replacing legacy control systems.
🏭 Broad Industrial Application Areas
Target sectors include intralogistics, packaging, automotive manufacturing, and robotics. In automated material handling systems, dynamic protective fields allow continuous pallet passage while preventing human access to hazardous areas. In high-speed assembly lines, the compact Lector82x image-based code reader performs automatic identification in tight installation spaces with wide depth-of-field tolerances. For non-contact quality assurance, SICK Nova 3D, Ruler3000, and LMS4000 evaluate spatial metrics such as volume, shape, and surface structure via 3D vision and LiDAR sensors, eliminating the need for manual code writing.
📈 Operational Impact and Performance
These systems enhance process stability by eliminating false triggers caused by load variations in conveyor systems. SICK also addresses upcoming regulatory requirements, including the Machinery Regulation (EU) 2023/1230, which comes into force in January 2027, and the Cyber Resilience Act (CRA), effective in December 2027. Both standards mandate the resilience of hardware and software against degradation.
Tobias Güttler, Vice President of Product Management at SICK Vertriebs-GmbH, stated regarding engineering lifecycle management: "Whether it's a single sensor application or a high-performance system solution, we support our customers throughout the entire engineering process and lifecycle of our solutions. In doing so, we address the current challenges posed by the Machinery Regulation and the Cyber Resilience Act with them from the very beginning.
