Murrelektronik enters the world of vision systems

With its vision installation solutions, the Swabian specialist for decentralized automation technology now offers customized solutions for industrial image processing.

Vision systems are becoming increasingly important in industrial manufacturing and logistics. When it comes to Industry 4.0 or AI of Things, industrial image processing cameras can't be missing. With its vision installation solutions, Murrelektronik GmbH, based in Oppenweiler, Germany, now offers decentralized installation solutions for industrial image processing. With Murrelektronik, machine and system builders have a powerful partner at their side when it comes to power supplies and signal/data management for the smart networking of cameras in industrial production processes or logistics. Murrelektronik relies on decentralized components including switches, distributors and feeders that can be mounted on the machine, as well as the corresponding high-performance cable and connector technology. These components minimize installation effort and maximize performance for both new and existing machines and systems.     

“Plug and Play” for vision systems

Efficient power supply and reliable data communication are the pillars of a functioning installation concept. The goal is to combine a machine or plant’s devices into a system efficiently and economically. Murrelektronik's modular vision installation solutions allow you to integrate a decentralized installation concept into existing system architectures as well as new machines and systems.

These components include the Xelity Hybrid Switch (which has connections for up to four cameras, handles smooth and error-free data communication), the Master Breakout Box (a power and signal distributor) and the Injection Box (a voltage and signal feeder). Each is designed to be mounted directly in the machine environment near the respective vision system. "Our decentralized installation concept has the unbeatable advantage that we save our customers the time-consuming and expensive control cabinet installation," says Simon Schlichenmaier, Market Development Vision Systems at Murrelektronik. "Switch cabinets can be made smaller." Another advantage, with Murrelektronik's modular plug & play solutions, vision systems can not only be put into operation quickly and flexibly but they also facilitate and accelerate function diagnostics during operation significantly reducing system and machine downtime.

Intelligence where it is needed

Schlichenmaier: "With our vision installation solutions, we focus on the processes that take place between the camera and the system controller." 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. Thanks to a data transmission rate of 1 gigabit/second (Gbit/s) via X-coded cables, high-resolution image processing is possible for many industrial applications. Network communication takes place at up to 2.5 Gbit/s.

"The data processing takes place at the machine. We bring the intelligence to where it is needed," says Schlichenmaier and adds: "With Murrelektronik’s vision installation solutions, our customers can trim their production processes to greater efficiency and higher throughput. As a result, they increase quality and avoid costly rework. And quite incidentally, we slim down the control cabinets."