Pepperl+Fuchs adds RFID read/write heads to IO-Link portfolio

September 30, 2018 – Pepperl+Fuchs is expanding its IO-Link portfolio with new RFID read/write heads.

The RFID IO-Link read/write heads operate in the HF range according to ISO 15693 and offer a read/write range of up to 13 cm. The housing designs are rugged and compact, ideal for use in harsh industrial environments, and come in three sizes.

A standardized IO-Link interface enables connectivity to most common bus systems. The new RFID components can be easily connected to a PLC with integrated IO-Link master or to any IO-Link master on the market. For this purpose, Pepperl+Fuchs’ Ethernet IO-Link master offers optimal connectivity and consistent configuration. The ability to connect up to eight IO-Link devices reduces costs per channel and makes data transfer more efficient, says the company.

RFID IO-Link read/write heads offer users the flexibility to choose between easy mode and expert mode.

Easy mode offers simple commissioning with no programming. With auto-start functionality, it reduces the complexity of RFID. And function blocks are not required, which simplifies implementation considerably.

Expert mode is designed for high-performance data access using a handshake procedure. This mode requires a function block, which is available for download with corresponding instructions from the Pepperl+Fuchs website.