Hilscher, a leading solutions provider in the industrial communication and automation sector, announced today the launch of two Edge IO-Link master products: sensorEDGE FIELD and sensorEDGE.

These IP67-rated devices combine computing power and standardized IO-Link sensor connectivity in a single housing.

Unlike conventional IO-Link master devices, sensorEDGE FIELD and sensorEDGE can be directly connected to Ethernet-based IT infrastructure without the need to intervene in existing communication networks and controllers.

Additionally, Hillshire offers a centralized edge management platform that enables device management locally or over the Internet.

Hilscher's IO-Link master devices are available in two versions.

sensorEDGE FIELD is an open computing platform for your own software with optional centralized management capabilities.

sensorEDGE is a complete solution for remote transmission of sensor data via a central platform.

Both devices are based on the Linux operating system, which complies with IEC 62443.

Application software is encapsulated through container technology and installed and operated safely. Devices can be configured and managed centrally through the platform or locally through a web interface.

“Devices in the sensorEDGE family run autonomously, allowing users to collect data from connected IO-Link sensors and either process it locally in custom applications or pass it on for post-processing data intelligence – both aimed at turning raw data into business-critical data required in typical IIoT-enabled setups,” says Armin Beck, Product Manager at Hilscher. “Whether it’s anomaly detection for predictive maintenance purposes to prevent unexpected failures or manufacturing process exploration for optimization potential in revamp scenarios, these setups can be easily implemented with the devices and additional sensors.”