insight

1/2002 INFOcard

1/2002 INFOcard

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2 0 0 2www.sick.com1

Report from Seoul

Seoul now ready to ffootball’s World Cup

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TALKS

Hall 9, Stand F 54

How to find SICK’s stand

Simon KöpferDate: 15th April, 15:15 - 15:35Room: FrankfurtIP 67 enclosure rating and safety sensor tech-nology! Analysis, experience and perspectivesAndreas HöllDate: 16th April, 16:00 - 16:20Room: FrankfurtA solution for the safe integration of sensorsusing ProfiSafe. Does it make sense to use bus nodes in orderto integrate safety sensors, or is it just an ad-ditional device in my plant?Patrick BornsteinDate: 17th April, 13:30 - 13:50Room: HeidelbergThe total solution: Safety relays with interlocksand light curtainsHeike HaarmannDate: 17th April, 15:15 - 15:50Room: LeipzigResponsibility - Product liability - Safety of ma-chinery. Solutions through safety engineeringConstanze HornerDate: 18th April, 11:30 - 11:50Room: FrankfurtEntry/Exit-guarding – Reducing the complexitythrough modular system solutionsOtto Görnemann Date: 18th April, 15:30 - 16:05Room: LeipzigSafe engineering with SafexpertHeiko KahleDate: 19th April, 12:15 - 12:50Room: FrankfurtApplications of opto-electronic safety sensors Dr. Georg PlasbergDate: 19th April, 13:30 - 13:50Room: FrankfurtBenefits of IEC 61508 for machine buildersand system integratorsAll talks take place in the Convention Centre

SnapshotsSnapshots

insight

The new ICS 100 conceptPage 9

Interview with Gustav Schulte-Sutrum

Continuity and value-addedservices lead to success

Page 32

2 0 0 2www.sick.com1 SICK’s customer magazine

Report from Seoul

Seoul now ready to facefootball’s World Cup

Page 19

Ever-faster, ever-better: The possibilities of microelec-tronics are almost limitless. With ever-newer challenges forelectronic automation. SICK,as one of the leading manufac-turers of sensors, is ever-pres-ent. Whether with miniaturesensors, Auto Ident systems,or safety technology – wemake a major contribution toinnovative solutions. Comprehensively, for all tasksand in all high-end applica-tions. Always in close co-operation with customers and end-users throughout theworld.

SICK AGSebastian-Kneipp-Str. 179183 Waldkirch /GermanyPhone +49 76 81 202-0Fax +49 76 81 202-38 63

Maximum possibilitiesfor microelectronics

www.sick.com

insightTELEGRAM++As part of its strategy of consolidating itsmarket position in Asia, SICK AG is partici-pating with 51% in the newly founded SICKCo., Ltd. in Seoul. This replaces the formerbusiness relationship with the Korean im-porter Kabela and distributor Wooil with ajoint venture in which SICK has a majorityholding.+++Interesting info on robotics: The“World Robotics 2001” yearbook providescomprehensive information on the world-

wide robotics market, including prices,facts and figures, as well as forecasts. Itcan be ordered at unpubli@unog.ch for US$120 (in English). The “World Robotics2002” yearbook will appear in Octo-ber.+++Former SICK AG trainee, MartinGrafmüller, won the gold medal in IndustrialElectronics for Germany at 36th WorldSkills Competitions that took place in Seoul(South Korea) from 6th to 19th Sept.++++

03Editorial

Dear Readers

I am pleased to present our customer magazine with a new appearance, newname and new layout structure. It is appearing for the first time in this form onthe occasion of the 2002 Hanover trade fair.

Up to now SICK Aktuell has provided information on factory automation twice ayear. Following our recent reader survey in Germany, our new concept is intendedto take your comments into account.

As before, our reporting will, in line with your wishes, concentrate on the newdevelopments in the area of industrial sensors for factory automation, and onapplication reports from all over the world. There will generally be more inter-national topics. Furthermore, sector news, current developments at SICK, andthe introduction of people of interest to you will make up more of the range oftopics than was the case before. It is our aim to give you a comprehensivepicture of our company and our abilities. The newly selected name SICK insightis intended to underline this impression, associated with a receptive viewoutwards.

The acquisition of information has changed enormously for all of us, as a result of the Internet, during the last few years. A targeted search is now almostimpossible without the help of various search machines in the World Wide Web.E-mail newsletters provide current information. Despite all the predictions, how-ever, printed publications have not suffered any loss of status. Only their taskshave changed.

It is in this point that we have adapted our SICK insight: regular concise informa-tion with the SICK insight online newsletter (only available in German at present)every 4-6 weeks and the customer magazine SICK insight for the HMI in Hanoverand SPS/IPC/DRIVES in Nuremberg. More detailed up-to-date information onproducts and new developments, applications and the company itself can befound at www.sick.com.

I hope you enjoy reading this first issue and would be pleased to welcome you atour HMI stand in Hall 9.

Best wishes

Walter Schmitz

Executive Member for Marketing & Sales, Factory Automation

Applications

04 Contents

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The new Opel Vectra: production as safe as the vehicle . . . . . . . . 6

Curtain up for safe riveting machines . . . . . . . . . . . 6

Easier asparagus-handling . . . . . 7

Inductive, not intuitive: punched part detection on a conveyor belt . . . . . . . . . . . 8

ICS 100 – detects like a camera,switches like a photoelectric cell 9

BMW’s 7-series: inspection of for-med parts solved formidably . . 10

User-friendly safeguarding of analysis systems . . . . . . . . . . . 11

Perfectly packed with CLV 432 bar-code scanners . . . . . . . . . . 12

Measurement technology moves mountains . . . . . . . . . . .12

Hermes opts for safe investment in Ident technology 13

Non-contact billet positioning – no “hot potato” for the LMS . . . 14

Works traffic with “virtual” drivers . . . . . . . . . . . . 15

Reliable alignment detection by a line of laser light . . . . . . . . 16

Lasers optimise creative automobile production . . . . . . . 17

3-D orientation detection throughscanning and swivelling . . . . . . 18

Seoul now ready to face football’s World Cup . . . . . . . . . 19

Meeting point: factory automation at SICK in Hall 9 . . . 20

New AS-i product programme for Version 2.1 . . . . . . . . . . . . 22

Positioning portal cranes using light-pulse time-of-flight measurement 23

Supersmall and superstrong – the new W 2 series of photoelectric switches . . . . . . . 24

Mini-scanners on the march . . . 25

MZT1 with universal adapter: one for all and all for one . . . . . 26

Small and speedy – the CLV 420 CAN! . . . . . . . . . . 26

Adjustment tolerance prevents total failures . . . . . . . 27

Safexpert 4.0: CE-designation andoperating instructions in a singlework process . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 28

Intelligent interfaces for safety-oriented automation . . . 29

SICK Safety Interlocks on the offensive . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 29

C 4000: A safe investment, technologically open . . . . . . . . 30

Heureka – where science creates knowledge . . . . . . . . . 31

Continuity and value-added services characterise successful distributors . . . . . . . 32

Safety expertise through Training & Education . . . . . . . . 34

30 years in the land of boules, baguette and Brigitte Bardot . . 35

SICK Auto Ident Inc., USA . . . . 36

SICK awarded ISO 14001 environmental certification . . . . 36

Optimising utilisation through inter-national sector management . . 37

“The Art of Small Talk” . . . . . . . 38

Imprint . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 39

Trade fairs . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 39

Service . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 39

Book Corner

Products

SICK Tour

HMI Special

Info

SICK insight 1/2002

9TITLE: The new ICS 100 concept

“Creative” solutions at Renault

The Heureka Museum in Finland

Meeting Point HMI 2002

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Museum

Interview

Editorial

insight BOOK CORNER

Smalltalkby Frank NaumannDo you sometimes find it difficult toslip into conversation with strangersat a party, when shopping, or on thetrain, and thus miss out on thechance of a nice, useful acquaint-ance? Then maybe the book byFrank Naumann can assist. Thereare helpful tips for good small-talktopics, warnings about potentialtraps up to and including taboo sub-jects, and “first aid” on how to sortout small-talk clangers.Read more on page 38.

Safety solution for Karstadt distributioncentre presented in European competition

... is appreciated by users whensolving demanding tasks. Equippedwith a fine sense of scanning in theform of a focused light transmitter,the compact and easily mounted de-vices detect even the smallest ofobjects, e.g. marks, tablets or elec-tronic components. The W 160 T

has also already successfully “pre-scanned” in the automotive, timber,food and packaging industries aswell as in automated handling androbot systems. INFO 102

The W 160 T’s great precision ...

No time for the HMI? Then visit SICK at one of the following German trade fairs:Interpack Düsseldorf Hall 11, Stand B93 24th - 30th Aprilident.de Wiesbaden Hall 9 , Stand 931A 15th - 17th May

Current trade fairs

Do not be surprised if you click onhttp://www.sick.deand see completely different pages.SICK has redesigned its Internetpresence and is pleased to be ableto offer you key innovations such asa clear, uniform navigation system,expanded content and new func-tions.The domain http://www.sick.com is also new, and provides you withsimple international access to SICKand its sales partners worldwide.It is well worth surfing through SICK’s world. If you have any ques-tions or comments simply send ane-mail to info@sick.de.

On the Internet

SICK participated in the EuropeanWeek 2001 for Safety and Health atWork with a successful contribution.The personal protection equipmenton narrow-aisle fork-lift trucks atKarstadt Warenhaus AG’s distribu-tion centre in Unna was presented.

The European Week is an inter-national competition (http://europe.osha.eu.int/news), initiatedand co-ordinated by the ministersresponsible in the individual EUmember states. Manufacturers andusers can present solutions herethat are directed towards safety atwork. The solution from SICK – us-ing PLS Safety Laser Scanners tosafeguard 91 narrow-aisle fork-lifttrucks that move from aisle to aisle– attracted great interest. The rea-son: the scanner not only allows

safer plant operation, but also amore cost-effective plant layout withoptimum vehicle utilisation. INFO 101

05News in brief

SICK insight 1/2002

C 4000 at Opel FGS Safety Light Curtains on Hang riveting machines06 Applications

Curtain up for safe riveting machines

>> Making lasting, solid joins hasbeen the task of the Göppingen-based company, Constantin HangGmbH, for more than 125 years. It isstill the case that there is almost noquicker and easier way to join metalparts than with rivets. It is thereforeno wonder that this joining tech-nique remains very popular.Whether universal riveting machineswith manual insertion spaces or riv-eting plants with automatic trans-port slides for riveted parts – thehighest demands are made of ma-chine safety everywhere.

The new Opel Vectra:production as safe asthe vehicle>> The new mid-range Vectra ismanufactured at the ADAM OPELAG works in Rüsselsheim. C 4000Safety Light Grids of the latestgeneration ensure safe productionand transport processes, for in-stance at the inspection stationfor side panels.

The Safety Light Grids em-ployed during work on the shellprevent the risk of crushed legsand feet that can arise as a resultof a person entering the skid trans-port path. A special feature of thissolution is that supplementaryfunctions, connections and evalua-tion possibilities are integrated inthe device. They increase plantavailability and minimise the safe-ty technology’s cost-of-ownership.Furthermore, the compact design

and unequalled short evaluationtimes allow space-saving mount-ing of the C 4000 on the inspect-ion station, and at the exit of thewelding robot line, in the immedi-ate vicinity of hazardous areas.www.opel.com INFO 103

Ring folders and tins of shoe polish, in-liners and pots andpans, brakes and parking disks, airbags and brief cases al-most always have at least one thing in common: the use ofriveting machines from Hang during their manufacture. Toprotect machine operators during refitting, maintenancework, or fault correction, FGS Safety Light Curtains (meetingthe demands of Safety Category 4) have been installed onmany machines.

Hand protection at 6,000Newtons riveting-powerThe machines from Hang operatewith riveting powers of up to 6,000Newtons depending on what is to beriveted. As a result, operators cansuffer serious hand injuries if thereis no protective equipment. As theriveting machines are also designedfor high production capacities (sev-eral thousand riveting processesper day is not unusual) machine op-erators are often exposed to dan-ger. In addition, a variety of toolelements and work-piece uptake

Safeguarding workplaces with FGS light curtains

The Safety Light Grid C 4000

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SICK insight 1/2002

units may require frequent exchang-ing, allowing the machine to bequickly adapted for different work-pieces. As, ultimately, the chancesof evading the danger are practical-ly zero, given riveting times of farless than one second, appropriaterisk analyses have resulted inrecognition of the need to providesafety equipment of the highest lev-el – Safety Category 4.

FGS: safety solution for indi-visible joinsThe FGS Safety Light Curtain pro-vides a range of advantages wher-ever both high safety levels and theeasiest possible machine accessfor refitting or maintenance workare required. The system is ap-proved for safeguarding workplaceswith particularly high potentials forposing dangers. The machine move-ment comes to an immediate stop ifjust one of the curtain’s light beamsis interrupted. The area to be safe-guarded is easily accessible formaintenance and refitting work with-out impediment, as there are nomechanical barriers to be removed.

Its solid design ensures high lev-els of availability even with heavyimpacts or vibrations from the safe-guarded machine. Protective fieldheights of between 300 mm and1,800 mm and usable ranges offrom 0.3 m to 18 m allow work-place-specific layout of the safetytechnology. The choice of resolu-tion, whether 14 mm or 30 mm (de-pending on the safety clearance tobe maintained) determines whetherthe FGS is to be used for finger orhand protection. Moreover, a clock-pulse function can be set up with asupplementary interface module toallow more efficient operation com-pared to two-hand triggering.

Hang gives the curtain top priorityThe FGS now has top priority onmany of Hang’s riveting machines –on a quadruple riveting machine forjoining different layers of cylinderseals, for instance. Operators man-ually position several layers ofsheet metal and sealing blanks onthe riveting bolts of the supportequipment at a manual insertionarea. As soon as the operator’shands have been withdrawn fromthe protective field of the FGS theparts are joined to one another byrivets with a force of 3,000 New-tons. The work piece is then re-moved by the operator and newsealing blanks inserted. A variety ofangular holding fixtures are avail-able for producing different types ofseals, e.g. for 4-, 6- or 8-cylinder en-gines. They can be exchanged rap-idly when the machine is off withoutthe safety equipment impeding acc-ess.

Easier asparagus-handling>>This is the time of year when as-paragus spears sprout fromstrange rows of heaped earth andare harvested by a squad of as-paragus pickers. Asparagus-wash-ing machines with SICK sensorsare increasingly being employed toat least spare the workers fromhaving to wash and sort the veg-etables.

That asparagus thickness isdetermined by laser light (or moreprecisely with a WT 27 L) can beexplained by the detection accura-cy required. When the spear reach-es the sensor, its thickness(required for the classification ofquality) is determined from the sig-nal length and the extent of its ad-vance into the conveyor system.Interesting that the vital tracing ofevery single asparagus on its wayto the sorting mechanism takesplace by means of a WF 50 forkphotoelectric switch (whichsounds like something you wouldfind in a box of cutlery). This maybe the best technical solution, butis it really necessary to preparethe freshly picked asparagus soearly for its subsequent end on theprongs of a very different fork?!Not that the asparagus pickerscare. INFO 105

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insightLINKYou can obtain further informa-tion with the attached card under:INFO 104or on the Internet at:www.hang.de

WT 27 L Photoelectric Laser Proximity Switches on asparagus washing machines 07Applications

SICK insight 1/2002

Inductive, not intuitive: punchedpart detection on a conveyor belt

>> The deburring machines ofNiederberger Schleif- und Polier-automaten AG, Lucerne remove thetroublesome burrs using a variety ofgrinding processes. Up to 24 IM 12inductive proximity sensors per ma-chine ensure that the parts, some-times only 0.5 mm thick, are auto-matically detected on the magneticconveyor belt. The aim of the detec-tion is to determine the number ofparts fed in, to control the deliverymovement for the brushes (drivenby electric motor), and thus to re-duce wear to a minimum.

IM 12 inductive proximity sensors, Niederberger, Lucerne08 Applications

insightLINKYou can obtain further informa-tion with the attached card under:INFO 106or on the Internet at:www.nibru.com

Type IM 12 inductive prox-imity sensors are used

in the deburring machines (see above)

Punched parts are widespread in large-batch production, e.g.in automobile and textile machine construction. The burrsproduced by the punching process are generally undesirableand have a considerable effect on the measurement accura-cy of parts. Deburring machines made by the Swiss companyNiederberger provide help – supported by numerous inductiveproximity sensors from SICK.

From aboveThe sensors, distributed over theentire conveyor width, watch overthe conveyor belt from above. A sig-nal is generated if a punched part ispresent in the active area of thesensors. Combination of the signalsforms the current feed quantity forthe control system of the deburringmachine, serving as both a controlparameter for automatic delivery tothe brush heads and as a startingpoint for brush wear during the de-

burring process. The IM 12 controls the feeding ofpunched parts systematically –leaving nothing to chance.

SICK insight 1/2002

>> The ICS 100 Intelligent CameraSensor represents a completelynew concept for an image process-ing system for industrial use. Thecamera, optics, illumination andevaluation units are accommodatedin a single compact housing. An ex-ternal module can be connected ifthe camera data is to be visualised.Otherwise the sensor, in which upto 16 inspection programs can belaid down, operates as a stand-alone unit that switches like a pho-toelectric switch.

Curved contacts determinesmooth productionKelz and Settele construct specialmachines for the manufacture ofelectrical contacts. Before theircombination with other componentsit must be ensured that contacts ex-hibit a defined curvature. Assemblyproblems, machine standstills andloss of production would result ifthis were not the case. All this, how-ever, is in the past – since introduc-ing the ICS 100. The shape of anN.C. contact is taught-in and saved.Thereafter, all parts are compared

with the expected shape stored.Evaluation of the grey-value imagedetermines which of the switchingoutputs (from up to four) is set. Inthe process, the sensor canachieve a switching frequency of up to 200 Hz. Faulty contacts arereliably detected and have no effect on the subsequent pro-duction process.

For Kelz and Settele the one-housing concept, speedy commis-sioning, and easy handling by theirown personnel, proved to be decisi-ve arguments in favour of the ICS 100.

insightLINKYou can obtain further informa-tion with the attached card under:INFO 107or on the Internet at:www.kelz-settele.de

The ICS 100: camera, optics, illumination and evaluation in a single compact housing

ICS 100 – detects like a camera,switches like a photoelectric cellImage processing with a user-friendly, compact, plug & playsensor has become a reality with the ICS 100 from SICK. Thespecial-machine constructors Kelz and Settele fromBavaria’s Lengenwang make use of the device for monitoringthe curvature of electrical contacts and, by achieving 100 %quality control, prevent machine standstills and loss of pro-duction.

TITLE: ICS 100 Intelligent Camera Sensor application, Kelz und Settele 09Applications

SICK insight 1/2002

BMW’s 7-series: inspection offormed parts solved formidably

>> The DS 60 is employed at themoulded parts inspection station atBMW’s Dingolfing works. This iswhere a total of 18 different partsare attached to the shells of 7-ser-ies BMWs – and there are even sixmore for the longer iL version. Theyare designed, for example, to fix thewater pipe to the drip moulding, oras sealing elements that will foamlater to prevent vibration of vehicleparts. The importance of theformed-part inspection lies in thefact that these areas are no longeraccessible once the vehicle hasbeen fully assembled – mistakes inthe new vehicle can only be correct-ed with great difficulty, if at all.

DS 60 Distance Sensors, checking moulded parts10 Applications

insightLINKYou can obtain further informa-tion with the attached card under:INFO 108or on the Internet at:www.bmw.com

Type DS 60 opto-electronicdistance sensors checking moulded parts

A total of 24 DS 60 Distance Sensors detect the presenceand correct fit of a variety of moulded parts on the bodies ofBMW’s new 7-series at the BMW works in Dingolfing. Thistask, solved for the first time, makes great demands on thedevice’s detection ability and precision

Solved for the first time withthe DS 60 Whereas inspection of the formedparts for the previous model wasstill carried out by employees, opto-electronic distance sensors are nowemployed for this task. They are in-stalled on the inspection station insuch a way that they monitor differ-ent positions in the roof, wing, inte-rior and door sill areas. Blackplastic surfaces, some only 10 mmlarge, must be detected – requiringa correspondingly small light spot.The DS 60’s range is between 0.4and 1.6 m depending on the as-sembly area. Each day several hun-dred 7-series BMWs are checked in

this way for perfect “form”. The in-spection process itself is not justquicker, but also provides objectiveassessment results that can, more-over, be documented automatically.

One for allAs a result of precise object detect-ion over varying distances it waspossible to realise all the inspect-ion functions for the examination offormed parts with the same sensor– considerably simplifying opera-tion, maintenance, stock-keepingand exchange of the devices.

SICK insight 1/2002

>> Whether in cooling devices,aircraft or particular automobilecomponents – leaks in certainassemblies can quickly becomedangerous. So TELSTAR’s IndustrialVacuum Technology Division has de-veloped a leak analysis systembased on a helium mass spectro-meter. Its high level of accuracy is

appreciated by companies active inconstructing cooling and air-condi-tioning systems, and in the aero-space and automotive industries,among others.

Light grid allows safe andsimple operationTELSTAR deliberately decidedagainst mechanical screening of themeasurement chamber and infavour of integrating the C 2000light grid as a Type 2 non-contactsafety device conforming to IEC61496. The principal reasons werethe ease of mounting and user-friendliness of the extremely com-

pact and thus space-saving lightgrid (with a cross-section of just28.5 mm x 30.5 mm). But the C 2000 is not just the right solutionopto-electronically but also optical-ly: the housing design fits harmon-iously into almost any modern ma-chine design.

Beam interruption activatessafety functionTwo operating ranges of 0 to 6 mand 2.5 to 19 m, and differing reso-lutions of 20, 30 or 40 mm meet al-most all industrial tasks where pro-tective hoods have been used in thepast. If just one of the C 2000’slight beams is interrupted, within afew milliseconds the safety devicetransmits a signal to the analyser’scontrol system via safe switchingoutputs.

insightLINKYou can obtain further informa-tion with the attached card under:INFO 109or on the Internet at:www.telstar.es

User-friendly safeguarding of analysis systemsTELSTAR S.A. safeguards the measurement chambers oftheir leak analyser systems with C 2000 light grids. Themain advantage is simple and unhindered access for re-moving or inserting a new test piece. Furthermore, thesearticles can be visually inspected at any time during thisexamination.

Safeguarding the measurementchamber with C 2000 light gridsfrom SICK

Appreciated by the aerospaceindustry

C 2000 light grids at Telstar S.A., Spain 11Applications

SICK insight 1/2002

CLV 432/MMI Taiwan LMS Laser Measurement Systems at waste incineration plants12 Applications

Measurement technol-ogy moves mountains

>> What still fits into a dustbin in adomestic setting becomes a verita-ble mountain at modern incinera-tion plants – the rubbish. Tons of itis tipped out of refuse collectiontrucks and lands in the bunkerplants from which the incinerationfurnaces are fed. But where in thebunker is the rubbish – and where isit heaped so high that the grabbucket can pack in a good volume?

Modern laser measurementtechnology registers heapsof rubbishData from the LMS Laser Measure-ment System ensures targeted re-trieval by the automatic grab crane.The scanner operates above thebunker and continuously emits lightimpulses that are reflected by thesurface of the rubbish. In theprocess, the shorter the time-of-flight of the light, the higher the fill-

Perfectly packed withCLV 432 bar-codescanners>> Modern computers do not onlyconsist of hardware and software,but are usually accompanied bycomprehensive documentationand CDs. It is annoying whensomething is missing. Thus atModus Media International in Tai-wan about 60 CLV 432 bar-codescanners ensure that the docu-mentation from Microsoft, Com-paq, IBM, Acer etc. is completeand correctly packed.

SICK Taiwan came up with thissolution together with the suppli-ers of the packaging plants, theTaiwanese company WS AutomaticPackaging Industrial. All the partsto be packaged are labelled with acode-39 bar code. They are identi-fied by the scanners during pack-ing. The control system checkswhether the object in question be-longs to the documentation cur-rently being put together and, ifgiven the OK, adds it to the list ofcontents already packed. Packag-ing is brought to a close when thedocumentation is complete. In thisway the bar-code scanners ensurethat only correctly labelled andcomplete documentation and ac-cessory kits leave the company.INFO 110www.modusmedia.com

The rubbish height profile (right) determined from the measurement datadirects the crane and ensures controlled refuse removal

Coping with heaps of rubbish by picking it up correctly is noproblem with the LMS Laser Measurement System. At largeincineration plants it detects the filling height in the rubbishbunkers and thus guides the automatic grab bucket to wherethe heap is highest.

ing level at the particular location. Aheight profile is determined in theevaluation unit on the basis of themeasurement data. The crane con-trol system then receives informa-tion on where the heap of rubbish ishighest in the bunker. This is wherethe grab bucket is positioned.

Automatic rubbish retrieval fromthe highest point ensures a continu-ous supply for the furnace, and rap-id, even removal from the rubbishbunker – and thus improved utilisa-tion of capacity for the entire wasteincineration plant.

insightLINKYou can obtain further informa-tion with the attached card under:INFO 111

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SICK insight 1/2002

>> The Otto mail order company isincreasingly packing its customers'orders in dispatch envelopes ratherthan boxes. This changes the limit-ing conditions for bar-code identifi-cation in the automatic sortingplants of Hermes delivery service,the company responsible for nation-wide goods deliveries. This largelyapplies to the labelling of the pack-ages: the bar code is no longerstuck on the box as a label, but ison the delivery note that is insertedinto the foil bag on the outside ofthe dispatch envelope. Reflectionsarising from the PE foil were in-creasingly leading to bar codes be-ing incompletely detected too oftenand thus not evaluated. For this rea-son a solution was sought that pro-vided a high level of identificationreliability under these difficult readconditions, and could be rapidly in-tegrated into the hardware and soft-ware without any major troubleadapting the system.

Sorting plant efficiencyraisedGiven these limiting conditions,equipping the OPS reading gates(that had already been operating re-liably for many years) with compactCLV 490 bar-code scanners proved

the best solution. Four scanners –in pairs, each offset at 90° to oneanother – allow omni-directionalreading of the bar codes in everyalignment. A fifth scanner, with theoscillating mirror design, provides asupplementary reading of labelsfrom the side. Thanks to its high de-coder frequency of up to 1,200 Hzthe CLV 490 is well-suited for sort-ing at high transport speeds, as isusual in the sorting plants. Integrat-ed real-time autofocus detects dis-patch envelopes and boxes of vary-ing sizes with consistent reliability.The SMART decoder algorithm, withwhich bar codes with gaps can bereconstructed through evaluation ofa virtual scanning line, led to an in-crease in the first-read rate of about15 % in the first test plant -- andthus to a considerably improved per-formance of the automated sortingplants.

Fit for the futureThe OPS systems also provide ahigh degree of investment securityfor the future. Additional scannerscan be integrated into the systemfor the front, back or even, if neces-sary, for a second side reading,without any major technical diffi-culty.

insightLINKYou can obtain further informa-tion with the attached card under:INFO 112or on the Internet at:www.hermes-vs.de

Hermes opts for safe investmentin Ident technologyHermes Versand Service GmbH & Co KG runs 65 depotsthroughout Germany. CLV 490 high-performance bar-codescanners were recently incorporated in the automatic OPSreading stations at most of the depots. This was necessitat-ed by new reading demands brought about by increased useof foil wrapping by the Otto mail order company. What re-mained was the existing mounting mechanism for the scan-ners, the software connection and the safety of theinvestment in the entire solution, that can also still beadapted to meet future demands.

Maximum identification reliabilitywith CLV 490 bar-code scanners

OPS 590 reading gates at Hermes 13Applications

SICK insight 1/2002

Billet positioning with the LMS Laser Measurement System at Salzgitter AG14 Applications

Non-contact billet positioning – no “hot potato” for the LMS

>> Cinders, dust, heat and manyother environmental factors oftenturn automation solutions in thesteel industry into a “hot potato”.Those who employ the wrong sen-sors – systems that are imprecise,only use point measurements, orare difficult to install and maintain –often end up burning their fingers.LASE’s solution is different: LMS220 measuring laser scanners withgreat precision, rapid measure-ment, intelligent evaluation algo-rithms, and easy mounting andmaintenance ensure that the posi-tions of the billets are detected in amanner suitable for the processesinvolved. They thus enable precisesteel insertion and damage-freepassage through the heating fur-naces.

Position detection tasks at the heating furnace of a newrolling works at Salzgitter AG have been solved optimally –precisely and without any major difficulty. Bremen-based sys-tem integrator LASE has opted for the precise and rapid LMSLaser Measurement System for the non-contact determina-tion of the position of billets – square steel profiles, severalmetres long, whose cores are still red-hot.

Continuous access to morethan 700 measurementbeams via Profibus DPA total of five scanners, some ofwhich have a redundancy function,are employed for each walkingbeam furnace (as they are known inthe trade). With a range of 10 m anda high detection capability – just 10 % billet reflectivity is sufficient –they detect the billets’ presenceand measure their positions. Thescanner has a 180° range of visionwith an angular grid resolution of0.25°, generating and evaluating721 measurement beams. Theroller bed control system before thefurnace continuously reads outthese values via Profibus DP andthus receives data on the precisebillet position.

Low-maintenance opera-tional reliabilityLASE has achieved a thoroughly re-liable positioning solution at Salzgit-ter AG, considerably improving theavailability of the entire plant. Apartfrom regular cleaning of the frontwindow of the scanner, the systemrequires little maintenance even un-der harsh conditions. This, its rapidinstallation, and reliable preventionof potential difficulties passing thebillets through the furnace, alsomake the solution particularly eco-nomical. Meanwhile this informa-tion has got around to other steelworks – demonstrated by the neworders received by LASE.

Process-oriented billet position determination with the LMS 220 laser scanner

insightLINKYou can obtain further informa-tion with the attached card under:INFO 113or on the Internet at:www.salzgitter-ag.de

SICK insight 1/2002

>> Uzin Utz is one of Europe’s lead-ing manufacturers of chemical-based laying systems for carpeting,parquet, tiles and natural stone. Anew works logistics concept was in-troduced last year, coinciding withthe construction of a new ware-house. Instead of expensive specialvehicles for the transport of145,000 pallets per year betweenthe production area and the stores,the company opted for near-stan-dard vehicles – two Mercedes BenzActros 2531. The trick: drivers are

spared more than 10,000 monoto-nous journeys a year along the 200m transport route – a “virtual” col-league takes over the steering,loading and unloading. Thus specialsteel cases are mounted, each ofwhich can load and unload 14 pal-lets fully automatically. The trucksare driven by means of a guidecable and transponders, with safe-guarding by bumpers and Emer-gency Stop buttons. In addition, theLMS Laser Measurement Systemshave been installed to provide mat-erial-friendly operation through non-contact scanning of the truck’ssurroundings that prevents emer-gency stops.

Weatherproof works transport thanks to the Outdoor LMSOne weatherproof ‘Outdoor’ designof the LMS on the front and one atthe back monitor the vehicle’s sur-roundings – as a supplement to themechanical bumpers and Emer-gency Stop buttons. But it is notjust the device housing that with-stands even adverse weather – theLMS software is also appropriatelydesigned and is not confused bytyres, fog, snow or other environ-mental factors.

Fox GmbH in Lehrte, a systemintegrator specialising in automatedtransport systems, sees various op-portunities for such near-standard,sensor-controlled vehicles. For onething, they are considerably cheaperthan equivalent special vehicles,and they are also highly reliable.Moreover, they are largely cost-neu-tral in multiple shift operation andrelieve employees of having to carryout monotonous transports.

Works traffic with“virtual” driversEvery year, two Mercedes Benz Actros trucks make about10,000 journeys between the production area and the storesin works traffic at Uzin Utz AG in Ulm. What’s so specialabout this? You would look in vain for a driver. Instead sen-sors, including LMS Laser Measurement Systems from SICK,ensure safe transport without any write-offs.

The “virtual” driver at work

insightLINKYou can obtain further informa-tion with the attached card under:INFO 114or on the Internet at:www.uzin.dewww.foxit.de

LMS on Actros trucks (Uzin Utz) 15Applications

SICK insight 1/2002

WT 12 L photoelectric laser proximity switches in wafer loaders at Ingenia, Böblingen16 Applications

The WT 12 L checks wafer compartment occupancy

>> Wafers or substrates are carri-ers for a large number of electronicand integrated circuits, so-calledICs, that are subsequently used inthe production of the most varied ofelectronic devices. Production ofwafers involves numerous steps,whereby the wafer must be exam-ined after every processing stage.This is generally carried out by auto-mated machines with integratedhandling and inspection systems.Thus the Wafer Loader from Ingeniais located in front of a microscopeinspection unit. Removal and re-in-sertion of wafers take place in a

double action. The grasping unit re-moves one substrate disk andtransports it to the camera inspec-tion table by means of a 180° rota-tion. Simultaneously a gripper locat-ed opposite takes the wafer thathas been examined and replaces itin its magazine with millimetre ac-curacy. This double action allows aparticularly high cycle frequency tobe achieved.

Dependable, not random: re-liable detection of edgesThe really special feature of theplant is that the wafers are only

grasped by the edge and not fromunderneath. This significantly re-duces the risk of damage to thewafer – after all it may be worth upto 4,000 euro. Moreover, it is pos-sible to individually remove wafersfrom the transport magazine or putthem back in. Separate work maga-zines with larger storage distancesbetween wafers are no longer nec-essary, so that the Wafer Loader isconsiderably more compact.

Up to 25 wafers are piled in onemagazine. The round, polished,sometimes non-continuous struc-ture of wafer edges, known as“flats” or “notches” in the jargon,require reliable detection, as the re-flective direction of a light point dis-plays a large amount of scatteringas a result of this typical edge struc-ture, thus making alignment of thewafer difficult. The task was solvedwith a W 12 L series photoelectricproximity switch. The presence andalignment of each wafer in the mag-azine is reliably detected and the in-spection unit informed – thus theplant cannot overlook any test item.

Applications beyond theelectronics industryReliable detection of flat, disk-shaped objects is not only of impor-tance in electronic production butalso in many other cases, rangingfrom CD blanks and saw blades toflange seals – and the detection ofbeer mats is also no problem forthe WT 12 L.

Reliable alignment detection by a line of laser light

The precise and non-destructive handling of substrates in In-genia’s Wafer Loader has succeeded all along the line. Cor-rect compartment occupancy of the wafer in its transportmagazine is reliably detected, and the alignment informationtransferred to the grasping equipment, with a WT 12 L laserscanner. This solution has been made possible by a modifica-tion in the optics: instead of a light point, a line of light en-sures that the wafer is reliably detected regardless of thestructure of its edges.

insightLINKYou can obtain further informa-tion with the attached card under:INFO 115

SICK insight 1/2002

Creativity is writ large at Renault. At the “Créateur d’Au-tomobiles” (its advertising slogan) this is not just thecase for the sometimes somewhat different vehicle de-signs, but also for technical production solutions. So PLSlaser scanners at the Le Havre works ensure active safetyand LMS laser measurement technology provides fault-free assembly of parts.

>> The mid-range Laguna 2, and thenew exclusive Vel Satis model intro-duced at the start of 2002, aremanufactured in Le Havre. A highlevel of automation and a variety ofmeasures for quality assurancecharacterise the path from shell tofinal assembly.

Safety for “flying” tankplantsThus Renault uses a mobile tankingplant for filling the brake fluid reser-voir. It is installed on an electricoverhead conveyor and movesalong in tandem with the vehicle onthe transport belt during filling.When the process is over, the tankplant drives back along the belt at aspeed of 30 m/min to the next ve-

hicle to be filled. PLS units installedin both directions of motion ensurethat the mobile plant is safe for thepersonnel employed at these workstations. Monitoring is controlled bythe LSI interface module, which isnot only responsible for direction-and speed-dependent switching ofthe protective fields, but also savesall parameter data, minimisingdowntimes if a sensor needs re-placement.

With an eye to access ...... to the right part for assembly –there is a second laser scanner, theLMS Laser Measurement System. Itensures that the right componentsare mounted on each model despitethe range of vehicles and the corre-

sponding variety of similar, but notidentical, assembly parts. For thispurpose, the device monitors thefront of the small parts shelves, inwhose compartments the variousassembly components are stored.Every single compartment is identi-fied in the control system with an x-and y-co-ordinate and its particularcontent saved in the memory. Whena vehicle enters the assembly workstation, the employees are shownthe compartments from which theparts to be attached must be taken.The LMS monitors this access bycomparing the actual access co-or-dinates of the worker with thatstored for the particular part, thusrapidly and reliably detecting if thewrong part is removed.

Creative solutions at Renault, the“Créateur d’Automobiles”– realisedby SICK, the “Créateur d’Automa-tion”.

Lasers optimise creative auto-mobile production

insightLINKYou can obtain further informa-tion with the attached card under:INFO 116or on the Internet at:www.renault.com

The LMS measuring system in use

The mobile filling plant with PLS units

PLS laser scanner and LMS laser measurement technology at Renault 17Applications

SICK insight 1/2002

3-D laser scanners Amtec + Astrium18 Applications

3-D orientation detection throughscanning and swivelling

>> For orientation detection the ob-ject types to be detected are storedusing a CAD model or a teach-inprocess. During operation the LMSis swivelled above a defined area,e.g. a pallet waiting area or the endof a conveyor belt. The two-dimen-sional data from the SICK sensor issupplemented by the path details of

An LMS Laser Measurement System mounted on a swivellingmounting supplied by Amtec lies at the heart of the 3-D laserscanners produced by Astrium. Uses of the system include 3-D object orientation detection, allowing numerous industri-al applications to be solved. Astrium will demonstrate onesuch application, the automatic depalletising of unorganisedobjects, at the Hanover trade fair (Hall 17, Stand E 34)

the swivel process and translatedinto a 3-D image by the analyticalsoftware developed by Astrium. Avariety of handling systems can nowbe controlled using the x-, y- and z-co-ordinates provided by the Astriumsystem via RS 232 or TCP/IP, e.g.cranes for loading containers orbulk materials; automated baggagesystems for package and luggagehandling; grasping robots for pick-ing up particular work-pieces; or de-palletisers.

Particularly suitable for roboticsThe system is particularly well-suit-ed for solving modern tasks in ro-botics. Objects need not be rotatedfor the 3-D image, the 3-D scanneris light enough to be used in mobileoperation, the measurement area islarge and the data capture speedhigh – allowing the solution of in-dustrial tasks.

insightLINKYou can obtain further informa-tion with the attached card under:INFO 117or on the Internet at:www.amtecgmbh.dewww.astrium-space.com

Data from the SICK sensor (above) is converted to a 3-D image

SICK insight 1/2002

Seoul now ready to face football’s World Cup

Six months before the start of the World Cup in June 2002,the last of 31 ALIS Airport Luggage Identification Systemswent into operation at Seoul’s New Incheon International Air-port. The systems are equipped with CLV 295 high-perform-ance bar-code scanners and are used in the transfer andcheck-in areas. Here, among other things, they will ensurethat every team arrives at the right venue in South Korea andJapan with the correct team uniforms and their own footballboots.

>> The systems offer a truly cham-pion scoring accuracy. Regardlessof how the flight baggage labels onthe team bags pass through thereading gate – the bar code is hit ac-curately with every scanningprocess. Whether on the strap or ina label-tag – the available spacehas as little effect on the readingresult as the high “speed of play” ofthe conveyor system at 1.8 m/s.

Fitness constantly monitoredThe evaluation PC for ALIS, knownas the APC, does not merely evalu-ate reading results and pass them

on, but also continuously checksthe fitness of the players involved.The online diagnosis can be evalu-ated statistically so that, if neces-sary, a scanner can be replaced bya substitute in good time – before it“runs out of breath”.

insightLINKYou can obtain further informa-tion with the attached card under:INFO 118or on the Internet at:www.airport.or.krwww.koreajapan02.de

The CLV 295 high-performance bar-code scanner identifying flightluggage

CLV 295 bar-code scanners at Incheon International Airport in Seoul 19Applications

SICK insight 1/2002

From 15th to 20th April, 2002 in Hanover:20 HMI Special

Meeting point: factory automation at

>> See and experience the latestdevelopments and trends in the en-tire sector of factory automation inthe fields of machine constructionand electrical and information tech-nology in an exhibition area of morethan 75,000 m2. You will gain acomplete overview of these fieldswith a concentration of exhibits thatis unrivalled anywhere.

Use this opportunity to gain a com-plete overview of the world marketfor your applications. We look for-ward to seeing you at our stand F 54 in Hall 9, and presenting com-prehensive new technical solutionswith intelligent sensors from ourFactory Automation, Industrial SafetySystems and Auto Ident Divisions.

Everything that matters infactory automation – particu-larly in storage and conveyortechnology -- will be gatheredtogether again in Hanoverfrom 15th – 20th April.

Comprehensibly structured according to sector, we will show you how intelligent SICK sensors master automation, safetyand Auto Ident tasks.

… on the Hanover Factory Auto-mation/CEMAT Trade Fair 2002

Exhibition area: over 75,000 m2

Exhibitors: 1,500Expected visitors: 180,000

Facts and figures …

Materialhandling

The automotiveindustry

New develop-ments island

New develop-ments island

Packaging/foodand luxurygoods

MachinetoolsThe electronics

industry

SICK insight 1/2002

Promotions at the stand

SICK sensors liveWe demonstrate SICK sensors inaction on our conveyor belt. And, asalways, we have a little surpriseready for you.

Intelligent robots in actionOur promotion area has a footballmotif this year. The ROBO CUPteams of the Universities of Bonnand Freiburg, accompanied by anelectronic Coach, demonstrate theworld’s most intelligent football.Other robots show off their abilitiesduring the breaks.

SICK’s conveyor belt in action

ROBO CUP live

IVP shows Vision solutionsfor the packaging and auto-mobile industriesSICK’s Swedish participation isagain taking part this year and pre-senting applications in high-speed3-D camera technology.

It’s party-timeOn the 16th and 18th April we willbe letting our hair down at the SICKstand after the fair closes at 18:00.The very best of music, to whoseaccompaniment food and drinks willbe served.

A guest at SICK:via medici – solutionsfor content and publica-tion management – inprint and online.This year we are againpresenting an external partner atour stand. With via medici we wouldlike to introduce a company thatspecialises in cross-media publish-ing. Those companies with inten-sive internal and externalcommunication profit most from thechance to synchronise, as far aspossible, processes involving onlineand print publication. Have the sys-tem’s opportunities demonstratedto you.

21HMI Special

t SICK in Hall 9

SICK insight 1/2002

New AS-i product programme for Version 2.1Improved diagnostics and expanded addressing possibilitiesare the main advantages of SICK's new Version 2.1 AS-icomponents. Version 2.0 AS-i components can also still be connected to the AS-i circuit thanks to downwardcompatibility.

>> The AS-i concept was developedabout ten years ago with the aim ofconsiderably reducing the time andexpense involved in conventionalsensor wiring. It is now supportedworldwide by more than 250 sen-sor, actuator and control systemproducers, whereby it is not a com-petitor but a supplement to currentfield-bus systems. It is intended forthe lowest level of field automationwhere it is capable of reducingwiring costs for a machine, for ex-ample, by more than 25 %. The new

considerably simplified by the indi-cation of peripheral and configura-tion errors. By this means, the diag-nosis opportunities can beexpanded beyond specific defini-tions by using AS-i Control Tools(ASI-CT210) software in combina-tion with Master and Gateway Mod-ules, so that even sporadically oc-curring errors can be targeted andlocalised, and thus corrected withtime and cost savings.

2.1 Version adapts the perform-ance of AS-i to ongoing technologi-cal developments.

Noteworthy advantages forcustomersThe new AS-i components fromSICK feature state-of-the-art tech-nology and offer users numerousadvantages. The new Version 2.1provides expanded addressing pos-sibilities – the number of con-nectable modules has been dou-bled to 62. Diagnosis has been

Improved diagnosis and addressing – an overview of AS-i components

AS-i components22 Products

insightLINKYou can obtain further informa-tion with the attached card under:INFO 119

SICK insight 1/2002

Positioning portal cranes usinglight-pulse time-of-flight measurementThe new DML laser measurement system offers great accu-racy at long ranges (up to 300 m is possible) for precisely po-sitioning cranes. Thanks to its non-contact measurementprinciple the device requires little maintenance and is almostentirely friction-free. Numerous interfaces for data output,and the possibility of defining switching thresholds, provideall that is necessary for crane positioning and collision pre-vention.

>> The DML can either be installedfixed to a runner rail or mobile onthe portal crane itself. The deviceemits rapid laser impulses, meas-ures the time until the light is re-ceived again from a reflectorlocated opposite, and calculatesthe exact crane position from thistime-of-flight.

Suitable for outdoor useWith its protective weather hood,heated front window and housing,appropriate protection rating, wide

operating temperature range, andmeasurement range of 300 m, theDML is not only suitable for deter-mining the position of cranes in longworks halls, but also for outdooruse, e.g. on long-good or containercranes. An integrated laser pointerallows the sensor to be quickly andreliably aligned for these distances.Fluctuating light conditions have aslittle effect on distance measure-ment accuracy as adverse weatherconditions. Depending on the de-vice version, data transfer is carried

insightLINKYou can obtain further informa-tion with the attached card under:INFO 120

Positioning container cranes? No problem with the DML

out via a selectable RS 232 or RS 422 interface, a 4 - 20 mA outputor an optional Profibus DP coupling.Two switching outputs allow the set-ting of maximum and minimum val-ues, e.g. for preventing collisions.

The DML laser measurement system 23Products

SICK insight 1/2002

Supersmall and superstrong – thenew W 2 series of p/e switches

Lack of space is now no longer an argument when it comesto integrating photoelectric switches in the optimum positionin a machine. The new W 2 sub-miniature series delivers theproof. Its laser-like light source, precise optics, and uniqueextrusion housings meet almost all automation require-ments.

>> SICK, as a sensor supplier, hastaken a completely new path by us-ing extrusion technology for sub-miniature components. Housingsmanufactured in this way are hardlylarger than the end of a cable – butusers can still benefit from theirgreat robustness and high perform-ance; provided by metal-reinforced

Precision work – the accurate optics used in the W 2 series of photoelectricswitches is continuously being further developed

The W 2 series of photoelectric switches24 Products

mounting bore-holes and a protect-ion rating of IP 67, and the special-ly developed optical ICs, highly ac-curate placement of transmitter andreceiver elements, and the pin-pointLED, whose precise laser-like lightspot allows detection of the small-est of parts.

The first sub-miniature scan-ner with precise backgroundsuppressionThe W 2 series consists of athrough-beam photoelectric switchwith a range of 1000 mm, reflexsystems for detection distances ofup to 800 mm and two differentscanner versions. Apart from theenergetic scanners available withthree scanning distances, for thefirst time there is also a sub-minia-ture device with precise backgroundsuppression for 15 mm and 30 mm.This means that interfering effectscaused by moving or reflective ob-jects in the background can belargely suppressed. Furthermore,objects are reliably detected regard-less of their surface colours – e.g. ablack IC in front of a metallic back-ground.

All W 2 sensors are suited forprecise detection tasks and set newstandards in many applications.

insightLINKYou can obtain further informa-tion with the attached card under:INFO 121The W 2 series

of photoelectric switches

SICK insight 1/2002

Mini-scanners on the marchThe new mini-series of colour, contrast, and luminescencescanners from SICK offer trail-blazing technology in thesmallest of spaces. Moreover, they are electrically and me-chanically compatible with one another. So a better-suited“mini” can quickly be brought into action if the detectiontask changes.

>> Compact machines, e.g. forpackaging purposes, often only of-fer little space for mounting. Anoth-er aspect is the variety of differentpackaging materials, colours anddesigns that need to be detectedwhile the machine is in use. Com-pact and compatible – both de-mands are met by the new scannerswith their identical housings andconnection technology.

Colour, contrast and lumi-nescence detection in miniature formatThe new CSM 1 colour sensor iden-tifies, sorts and checks objects onthe basis of their colour, which isquickly and easily taught-in. There-after, switching frequencies of up to1.5 kHz allow colour detection evenat high throughput rates.

The KT 3 Mini contrast scannerconvinces through its ease-of-usewith 2-point teach-in on marks andbackgrounds, high contrast resolu-tions, and integrated switching-threshold adaptation for highlyreflective target objects. With scan-ning distances of 12.5 mm andswitching frequencies of up to 10kHz the device is predestined foruse for contrast detection of pack-aging in tight spaces, without theneed for complex designs.

Instead of a minimum opticalcontrast or colour, the LUT 2 Lumi-nescence Scanner detects visibleand invisible markings that are firstautomatically excited using UV light.Thanks to its high switching fre-quency the device, with its scanningdistance of approx. 12.5 mm, is al-so suitable for high levels of ma-chine performance.

There’s always one that'ssuitableAll three sensors are mechanicallyand electrically compatible. As a re-sult they can easily be exchangedwith one another should it becomenecessary.

insightLINKYou can obtain further informa-tion with the attached card under:INFO 122

Objects are identified, checked andsorted on basis of their colour

LUT 2, CSM 1, KT 3 mini-scanners 25Products

SICK insight 1/2002

Small and speedy –the CLV 420 CAN!

>> The CLV 420 supplements theproduct family in the intermediatereading ranges around 550 mm.Special applications, e.g. for largerdistances or particularly "dense"codes, can be solved with a long-range – or high-density – version ofthe laser scanner. The device is al-so available as a line or grid scan-ner. Proven programming tools,such as Auto-Setup and Profile Co-de Programming, allow rapid simpleparameter-setting. During opera-tion, numerous diagnosis and visua-lisation functions provide efficientopportunities for system monitoringand optimisation.

High speed bar-code identificationWith a scanning and decoding fre-quency of up to 1200 Hz, the CLV420 can also reliably identify veryfast-moving bar-code labels. This isan important product feature forachieving high reading rates in bothstorage and conveyor technology,

The new CLV420 bar-codescanner

MZT1 mounting adapter CLV 420 bar-code scanner26 Products

MZT1 with universaladapter: one for alland all for one>> Those who use magnetic cylin-der sensors from SICK with thematching mounting adapter find itmuch more cost-effective. This isnot just the result of the approx.30 % lower price of the package it-self, but also the cost savingsmade possible by its universal ap-plicability, the reduced variety oftypes to be purchased and stored,its rapid mounting, and its tight,maintenance-free fit.

The electronic MZT1 Cylinder Sen-sor, like the RZT1 Reed Sensor,can be mounted on a variety of dif-ferent cylinder types. This is madepossible by special mountingadapters that ensure easy assem-bly and a secure fit. They make itpossible to use the sensors onprofile, pull-rod and round cylin-ders as well as on dovetail groovecylinders. INFO 123

insightLINKYou can obtain further informa-tion with the attached card under:INFO 124

The new CLV 420 bar-code scanner is small in design and bigin user-friendliness and reading performance. End-users inthe most varied of sectors not only profit from the particular-ly short reading times and great depth of field, but also fromthe integrated CAN-bus interface.

and in the area of document hand-ling.

CAN-Open and other data interfacesThe CLV 420 CAN also achieve a lotwith data. A variety of serial interfa-ces for host connection or functiondiagnosis are supplemented by CANinterfaces for the CAN-Open fieldbus, as well as for integration of theCLV 420 into SICK's CAN-scannernetwork. With external switchingmodules the scanner is also suitedfor the worlds of Profibus DP, Inter-bus-S, Device Net, and Ethernet.

This is all offered by the newsmall CLV 420: bar-code power froma 130 cm3 device.

NEW

S

SICK insight 1/2002

Adjustment tolerance prevents total failuresLarger switching distances of up to 20 mm, an evaluationunit integrated in the reading head, friction-free semi-con-ductor outputs, and the possibility of cascaded connection ofseveral systems are the main advantages of the new elec-tronic T 4000 Compact Safety Interlock.

>> One of the world's leading auto-mobile manufacturers uses largenumbers of the friction-free and low-maintenance devices on their newlycompleted production and assem-bly lines.

Tolerances prevent total failuresThe main reasons for this changewere the difficult adjustment andfrequent breakdowns of the me-chanical interlocks with separateactuators used in the past. Theywere not only difficult to install (as aresult of requiring accurate fitting),but also subject to wear: vibrationsin the area surrounding plants, andparticularly the changing tolerancesof the steel protective barrier and

cell constructions over time, fre-quently led to the mechanicalswitching connection being broken.The T 4000 is a friction-free low-maintenance solution, whereby thedoor and interlock are no longer me-chanically connected, but "commu-nicate" with one anotherelectronically and thus monitor thestate of the door.

Operates like a car’s security deadlockThe functional principle (a readinghead identifies a coded actuator) isthe same as that of the electronicsecurity deadlock found in vehicles.The entire monitoring process isthus free of contact. The energy re-quired for transmitting the transpon-

insightLINKYou can obtain further informa-tion with the attached card under:INFO 125

der codes is transferred inductivelyfrom the reading head to the actua-tor. Contamination emanating fromthe plant has no effect on reliabledata transmission. The hazardousmovement of the machine isstopped immediately if the code isno longer detected, i.e. when theactuator moves out of range of thereading head when a protectivedoor is opened. The same happensif the power supply of the T 4000Compact is interrupted or if the ac-tuator is damaged.

Whether a compact machine orlarge plant – the T 4000 is suitablefor a huge variety of protective con-structions involving physical parti-tioning.

T 4000 Compact Electronic Safety Interlock 27Products

SICK insight 1/2002

CE-designation and operating in-structions in a single work process

Safexpert, Operating Instructions Assistant28 Products

Screenshot of risk assessment (German version)

The principal features of the new version 4.0 of Safexpert,the software for the safety engineering of machines andplant, are an even more user-oriented risk analysis, optimisedoverview functions, project-specific definable access rights,and an Operating Instructions Assistant that can be integrat-ed.

base. Depending on the project-re-lated access rights defined, staff indifferent departments have accessto the entire pool of knowledge.This multiple usability of solutionapproaches that have been definedonce, leads to considerable savingsin time and money.

Instructions Assistant uses safety engineeringknow-how The new Operating Instructions As-sistant, that can be integrated inSafexpert 4.0, is offered parallel toSafexpert 4.0. This makes it possi-ble to take particular instructionsfor operation, maintenance, serviceor other aspects directly from therisk analysis and insert them at pre-defined text marks in a document.The creation of instructions be-comes more efficient and simpler.Above all, no instructions are lost!This prevents subsequent searchesand the troublesome compilation ofinstructions.

SAFEXPERT is a networkable softwaresystem for the CE-designation of machi-nes and plant. The software provides astructure leading users through the con-formity process, taking relevant stan-dards into account. The combination ofproject management, CE-guidelines andstandards in the original text, and com-prehensive full-text searches,enormously simplifies the work requiredon safety analysis and documentation.

Safexpert 4.0: in brief

>> The update from 3.1 to 4.0 con-tains fundamental improvements.The user can now select the methodof consideration that provides thesimplest and best risk analysis:based on the danger involved, thehazardous point of operation or thephase of the machine’s life. Viewsare linked to one another and canbe changed at any time. Evaluationand overview functions ensure thatno points that have not been dealtwith are overlooked. This thus sup-ports the meeting of deadlines andproject planning.

A pool of knowledge savestime and moneySolutions worked out during consid-erations are laid down in a data-

insightLINKYou can obtain further informa-tion with the attached card under:INFO 126

SICK insight 1/2002

UE 10 safety relays meet basic demands>> The basic requirements of“safe” automation are met by themodern safety relays of the UE 10series. They act as evaluation andtest devices for opto-electronicsafety sensors, as well as switchesand interlocks.

Expanded functions with theUE 100 seriesThe UE 100 series offers more log-ic, more functionalities and applica-tion-specific variants. For machineswith a low level of networking theyallow simple integration of safety

SICK Safety Inter-locks on the offensive>> With more than 20 new SafetyInterlocks, SICK now has an evenwider programme of these deviceson the market. The spectrumranges from switches for less de-manding environments up to ex-tremely robust devices for theharshest of operating conditions.

Mechanical systems such asactuators, hinge or ripcord inter-locks are as much a part of therange as programmable and non-contact switching solutions. Theuse of different modules fromSICK’s “Intelliface” family of intel-ligent interfaces allows monitoringsolutions of varying complexitiesto be realised.

Reaching safety destinations better with a one-stop strategy Users can obtain individually de-signed complete solutions fromSICK, with opto-electronic safetysensors and a safety-related serv-ice package, ranging from trainingto accredited safety inspectionscomplying with DIN EN 45004. In-creasing numbers of users are opt-ing for this one-stop strategy and,as a result, reach their safety des-tination quicker – just like Formula1 teams. INFO 128

Intelligent interfacesfor safety-orientedautomationWith Intelliface, the family of intelligent interface compo-nents for a variety of network levels, SICK has realised a con-cept that allows safety sensors to be integrated into relay,PLC and safety-oriented field environments.

insightLINKYou can obtain further informa-tion with the attached card under:INFO 127

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technology in the machine controlsystem. Each of the various UE 100modules has five operating modeswith parameters that can be set, anRS 232 interface for diagnosis andsetting device parameters, LEDs, 7-segment functions and operatingmode indicators on the housing, aswell as safety interfaces and out-puts up to Category 4.

UE 1000 – the professionalmodule for all marketablesafety busesThe IP 67 input modules of the UE1000 series are the bus nodes fordemanding tasks. The devices aredesigned for machines and plantwith high levels of networking andprogrammable logic controllers.Their alignment towards ProfibusDP, in particular, gives the UE busnodes a wide potential area of oper-ation -- this bus having a very highmarket share in Europe.

With the components of the In-telliface concept users benefit fromrapid commissioning, simple main-tenance, and uncomplicated sensorreplacement – minimising the costof ownership and ensuring highly ef-ficient safety technology and plant.

Intelliface interface components Relaunch Safety Switches 29Products

SICK insight 1/2002

A safe investment, technologically open

Unique solution in three versionsThe Micro, Standard and Advancedversions of the C 4000 conform toEN 61496, Type 4 and are used forsafeguarding hazardous points-of-operation. The products of the C 4000 family are the first devicesthat are certified according to EN61508!

C 4000 Safety Light Grid30 Products

At the Hanover Industrial Trade Fair 2002 SICK will presentfor the first time the new family of safety light grids with theC 4000 Micro, C 4000 Standard and C 4000 Advanced. Theyare the first modules of a comprehensive safety solution con-cept that is open for all current and future control systemlandscapes – from relays to conventional and safe PLCs andsafe field buses – and thus a secure investment for the fu-ture.

Numerous additional functionssupplement the basic advantagesand make this safety technology aneconomical solution. All current andfuture peripheral technologies canbe catered for via standardised in-terfaces. In control terms, then, on-ly one device version is necessary –considerably simplifying acquisition,operation and stock-keeping. Withthe C 4000, the aim of achievingconsiderable reductions in installa-tion and wiring costs, and the spacerequired in a switching cabinet,have been realised directly on thedevice itself through connectionsfor a reset button and/or an Emer-gency Stop button. Suppressingparticular protective field areas orreducing resolution (both may beneeded, for example, for work-

>> Simple installation and opera-tion, flexible configuration, a highlevel of user-friendliness and con-sistent, uniform diagnostics are themost important features of the C 4000. Moreover, a variety of func-tions are integrated and can be ex-panded by external modules tomeet specific application require-ments.

The compact memory and function modules of SICK's Intelliface seriesopen up additional options. The supplementary unit UE 402, that hasbeen specially developed for the C 4000 light grid, offers the opportu-nities of 1- or 2-cycle operation with its positive effect on both processfrequency and productivity. Up to six programmable user-defined soft-ware packages allow the rapid adaptation of the C 4000 configurationto individual production steps. If signals from different safety sensorsrequire logical linkage to one another this no longer involves expensivedifficult wiring, but is carried out quickly and economically by configura-tion at the modules of the Intelliface series. For diagnostic purposesthe CDS configuration and diagnosis software has rapid access to de-vice data and status via the RS 232 interfaces of the safety sensors.As all the parameterisation data of the C 4000 is laid down in a redun-dant form when Intelliface is used, it can quickly be downloaded if asensor is replaced – considerably reducing service-related plant down-times.

Intelligent interface expands possibilities

insightLINKYou can obtain further informa-tion with the attached card under:INFO 129

pieces jutting into the protectivefield or during the insertion of mate-rial) is carried out with the C 4000Advanced using direct time-savingteach-in of the objects. The 7-seg-ment display, that can be rotatedthrough 180° by both versions ofsoftware, is easy-to-read (and thusdiagnosis-friendly): letters and num-bers are correctly displayed in anyinstallation position – a "3" doesnot become an "E", a "7" does notbecome an "L".

SICK insight 1/2002

Heureka – where science creates knowledgeThe Heureka Science Centre in the Finnish city of Vantaa hasyet to meet its equal anywhere. Exhibitions and researchprojects bring science and technology to life for more than300,000 visitors a year in a futuristic building that has wonnumerous architectural awards.

insightLINKYou can obtain further informa-tion on the Internet at:www.heureka.fi

>> The name Heureka was initiallyno more than the designation forthe draft that won an architecturalcompetition in 1985. The uniquedesign of the building and the sci-entific concept then gave its nameto the entire science centre.

Guided tours of the buildingsite, and science to graspEven the building site of the 7,200m2 centre – of which about one-thirdis for fixed and changing exhibitions

with the rest for research and sci-ence – proved to be a strong mag-net for visitors. Since its opening on28th April 1989 more than300,000 visitors have streamed tothe Heureka Science Centre and ex-perienced science and technologyto grasp (in both senses of theword) at exhibitions developed by al-most 50 project teams. Whether di-nosaurs or Finnish language andculture, medicine in research andtechnology, or astronomy and plane-tarium shows – the most varied ofscientific fields are presented. Howinteresting the individual areas areis demonstrated by the fact that awhole range of them have also beenseen in more than ten countries onthree continents.

Committed to science andresearchHeureka is supported by, amongothers, Finnish Universities, min-istries, companies and unions aswell as European laboratories. Its

The architecturally impressive museum has become a magnet for the public

Discovering science through play

great attraction is a product of theparticularly close interaction be-tween the exhibits and science. Asa result visitors are provided withaccess to ever-changing current top-ics and research results. Simulta-neously the scientific orientation isexpressed in numerous projects, re-search reports and doctorates.

Creating science and graspingscience – Heureka is the place forboth.

Heureka Museum, Finland 31Museum

SICK insight 1/2002

Gustav Schulte-Sutrum, Managing Director of GSS32 Interview

Gustav Schulte-Sutrum (left) in conversation with Reinhold Haverkamp from SICK

SICK insight: Mr Schulte-Sutrum,how long has your company been inexistence and what are your mainactivities?Schulte-Sutrum: GSS Industrie-Electronic has been active since1984. At that time we began by sell-ing special electronic products, in-cluding sensors, control and drivetechnology from SICK and othersuppliers. Since then we have been

able to build up a faithful customerbase throughout the Münster area.We now have 10 employees in inter-nal and field service and, apartfrom components for industrial au-tomation technology, we can alsooffer complete solutions includinginstallation and commissioning.SICK insight: What sectors are yourmain customers, and why did theychoose you?

Schulte-Sutrum: The food and luxu-ry goods industries, plastic proces-sors, the iron and steel industries,and small and medium-sized ma-chine constructors who have spe-cialised in niche solutions, areamong our most important cus-tomer groups. Whether a large com-pany, or the small firm round thecorner – they all come to us for ba-sically two reasons: continuity andadded-value services. By continuity,I mean the fact that right from thestart we concentrated on co-operat-ing with partners who, like SICK, be-long to the market leaders in theirfields and whose devices are widelyfound in machine and plant con-struction. So those who moderniseor convert their plants find that wecan provide the sensor that was al-ready installed on the machine.That we can offer from a wideselection of manufacturers further

Continuity and value-added services

Trading companies for industrial automation technology whorestrict themselves to simply distributing sensors, actuatorsand control system technology find they are operating on ex-tremely thin ice during difficult economic times. GustavSchulte-Sutrum, Managing Director of the SICK distributionpartner GSS Industrie-Electronic in Nordwalde near Münsteris convinced of this. For this reason he has been pursuing hisown strategy for almost 20 years – successfully, as he re-ports in conversation with SICK insight.

SICK insight 1/2002

The company’s premises inNordwalde near Münster

insightLINKYou can obtain further informa-tion on the Internet at:www.gss.dusnet.de

simplifies the work for them andcontributes to reducing the numberof suppliers for a large company.The second point is the value-addedservices. Among these I includeproduct training, maintaining astock – currently tying up a six-figureamount of euros – and active, indi-vidual support for our customers byour external team. One could, ofcourse, simply see the last point as“an expensive form of advertising”– for us, however, it proves very ef-fective.SICK insight: But aren’t direct visitsto customers dying out in this era ofthe home page, downloads and e-business?

Schulte-Sutrum: I see the Internetas a support, not a replacement, forpersonal advice on site. Nobodyever seriously claimed in the pastthat the sending of cataloguesmeant that no external staff werenecessary. The opportunities for ac-tively obtaining information have im-proved through use of the Internet –the customer’s “real” questions on-

ly come up when one actually talksto them about things. And then,when our external staff’s sensorand application expertise encoun-ters the user’s concrete require-ments in conversation, the ideal so-lution is not far off.SICK insight: For example?Schulte-Sutrum: One of our cus-tomers recently faced the problemof needing to detect the edge heightof the inlet pipe of a washing ma-chine in a transfer and mountingstation. At the same time he want-ed this check to be doubly safe-guarded by a redundant signal. Wethen solved this task with a DMHheight sensor. The device detectsthe height of the edge extremely ac-curately.SICK insight: Could such intensivecustomer support also be the rea-son why your company experienceda permanent annual record in2001, while elsewhere it was thesilly season characterised by turbu-lent weather?Schulte-Sutrum: Well, that is cer-tainly one of the factors – in addi-tion to our comprehensive stocks(more than 70 types SICK sensorsalone) and their rapid delivery. An-other reason is our customer struc-ture. We mainly appeal to industrialend-users and small companieswith niche solutions. We have foundthat they react quite differently fromlarge machine constructors. If a ma-chine or plant has to meet morestringent technical requirementsbut the investment budget does notallow for any new acquisitions, thenthe existing machine will just haveto be redesigned and modernised.For automation technology this gen-erally means that the orders do notcome from large companies, but ar-rive as end-users’ orders worth asimilar amount. For us this meansthat the order lands on our desks.In this sense, even bad times canhave their good sides.SICK insight: Your company has

been in existence for 18 years, sothe firm will celebrate its 25th ju-bilee in 2009. Where will your com-pany then stand?Schulte-Sutrum: I am a fan ofsteady, but lasting, growth. The newtechnologies market has shownthat other philosophies are morelikely to lead to belly landings. Ofcourse I cannot tell you exactlywhere we will stand in 2009. Butone thing is certain: it will not bestaring into a crystal ball or readingtea leaves that will bring progress,but only continuity and customer-ori-entation. In addition to the neces-sary involvement, one also needs acertain amount of luck and ideas onthe back burner – maybe in 2009,or earlier, we will have a new de-partment for control system con-struction. We’ll see ....SICK insight: Apropos tea leaves:thank you very much for your gener-ous hospitality – and for the conver-sation too, of course!

Industrie-Electronic

Gustav Schulte-Sutrum, Managing Director of GSS 33Interview

characterise successful distributors

SICK insight 1/2002

Safety expertise through Training & Education

Safety is more than a product34 SICK Tour

Machines do not become safe simply by mounting safetyequipment on them. True to our philosophy “safety is morethan a product”, safety-based training courses and seminarsfor employees and customers play an important part in therealisation of all-embracing solutions.

>> Under the title “Training & Edu-cation” SICK is this year again of-fering a comprehensive trainingprogramme. The programme, spe-cially developed for planners andusers, helps customers make theright decisions for their safety man-agement system and employ SICKproducts efficiently and properly.

TrainingIn addition, SICK runs an internalKnowledge Management Pro-gramme, called “Competence Train-ing”, to allow as quick and completea transfer of knowledge as possiblebetween company departments,sales organisations and sub-sidiaries.

SICK pays particular attention tothe qualification of its specialists,who are prepared for their inspec-tion activities by means of targetedtraining and testing.

Training & Education is a majorcomponent that gives life to themotto “safety is more than a product”at SICK.

insightLINKYou can obtain further informa-tion with the attached card under:INFO 130or on the Internet at:www.sick.de/schulungen

SICK insight 1/2002

30 years in the land of boules,baguette and Brigitte Bardot

>> Nine employees it was who, inSaint Léger near Paris in 1972, be-gan to make the advantages of theblue sensors attractive to Frenchmachine and plant constructors andend-users. The number of employ-ees has since increased more thanten-fold, and while the new compa-ny headquarters has meanwhilemoved to Marne la Vallée – well-known to Disneyland visitors – thereare further bases in Nantes and Ly-on.

This leads us on to the geogra-phy of France. The largest city in thehexagon – as the French happily calltheir country (because of its geome-try, reminiscent of a six-sided poly-gon) – is Paris with approx. 2.15 minhabitants, and a further 7 m peo-ple who live and work in the areasurrounding the capital. Then thereis Lyon, centre of the textile indus-try and haute cuisine (Paul Bocusesends greetings), the port of Mar-

seilles, Lille in the north, and Bor-deaux and Toulouse in the south-west. Three-quarters of thepopulation of 58 m – 94 % French,the rest mainly from the Mediter-ranean nations – live in towns. Ifone adds in the countryside, the av-erage population density is 106 per-sons/km2 – not even half that ofGermany.

Almost all landscapes in asingle countryWhen the French are not workingthey take holidays – principally intheir own country. For why shouldone travel abroad when one haseverything in one’s own country:the Mediterranean, Atlantic andNorth Sea coasts, the Alps, Pyre-nees and gentle central highlands,warm and temperate regions, quietholiday destinations and those,such as the Cote d’Azur, where inJuly and August “tout le monde” is

present. And if one also counts theDépartements outside France – LaRéunion with France’s only currentlyactive volcano, Guadeloupe andMartinique – aficionados of the Indi-an Ocean or the Caribbean also findwhat they are looking for.

Those who know and love Francecould write a few thousand morepages here – there is so much tosay about politics, culture, history,commerce, etc. Those who do notknow the country and its peopleshould check out their pre-concep-tions about savoir vivre, laissez-faire, the Eiffel tower, boules,baguettes, vin rouge, Brigitte Bar-dot, Champagne or Cognac on loca-tion. See you soon or à bientôt enFrance!

SICK’s first foreign subsidiary was founded exactly 30 yearsago: SICK France. Sufficient reason to look back and, in theprocess, introduce the country and its people.

insightLINKYou can obtain further informa-tion on the Internet at:www.sick.frhttp://ydelta.free.francehttp://francelover.free.fr

France 35SICK Tour

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SICK insight 1/2002

SICK awarded environ-mental certification

Acquisition in USA ISO 14001 environmental certification36 SICK Tour

SICK Auto Ident Inc.: the No. 2 in the USmarket for fixed bar-code reading systems >> SICK is consolidating its on-site sales and service presenceon its way to becoming a globalpartner in identification technolo-gy. For this reason SICK took overthe US bar-code pioneer Lazerdataon 1st July 2001, and then ac-quired the CI Material Handling Di-vision of the American high-techcompany RVSI at the end of theyear.

Lazerdata and the RVSI divi-sion have been merged to formthe newly founded SICK Auto IdentInc., a 100 % subsidiary of theAmerican SICK Inc. Group. Thismeans that SICK now has a com-plete service network throughoutthe USA and access to new, at-tractive customer potentials. Atthe same time, the second-largestsupplier of automatic identificationsystems on the US market hasbeen created with the formation ofthis new company.

>> Certified corporate environmen-tal protection is gaining in signifi-cance in international competition.Consumers and employees are pay-ing increasing attention to the envi-ronmental friendliness of products– from their development to theirsubsequent utilisation and dispos-al. At the same time, environmentalthinking is gaining ground in in-creasing numbers of companies:the number of companies for whicha certified Environmental Manage-ment System is a decisive criterionis constantly rising. That these com-panies often operate appropriatelyshows the rapid increase in certifi-cation during recent years.

Environmental protection – a central topic at SICK

Environmental protection isa management matterEnvironmental protection has al-ways been a management matter atSICK – after all, we have been de-veloping sensor solutions for acleaner environment for almost fiftyyears and are thus well aware of theimportance of this topic. With certi-fication according to ISO 14001,much that has up to now been con-sidered customary has been mademore systematic, and many new in-troductions have been made. Morethan 25 different environmentalprogrammes – from the disposal ofold stocks, to central waste sites –have meanwhile been initiated andsome of them already successfully

completed. The aims that SICK hasset itself within the framework of itsEnvironmental Management Sys-tem are correspondingly ambitious,including reducing by more than 20 % the variety of hazardous mate-rials used, company-wide separa-tion of waste and the properdisposal of waste of all sorts, cut-ting the use of resources by imple-menting energy-saving building andproduction technology involving so-lar technology, and improvement ofpreventive fire protection.

The certificate, recognisedthroughout the world, confirms thatSICK has successfully introducedan effective Environmental Manage-ment System.

Corporate environmental protection is, of course, nothingnew at SICK – one of the leading suppliers of environmentalmonitoring. With certification of the internal EnvironmentalManagement System by DQS at the end of 2001, SICK’s var-ious activities in this area have been made more systematicand further improved.

SICK insight 1/2002

>> Those who, like SICK, carry outdevelopment of a new sensor withina framework of a structured productcreation process, are not immuneto customers’ subsequent specialwishes. Whether this involves alonger range or a smaller light spot,the suppression of environmentaleffects or special housing designs –in most cases the modifications de-sired are application-related andthus often not a special case whenthe entire sector is considered. Thisis where SICK’s international sectormanagement comes in as an inter-mediary between customers, thesales organisation and application-related development. Thus impor-tant industrial fields such as theelectronics industry, material hand-ling and the automotive industry are each covered by a range of spe-cific products offered worldwide. AtSICK subsidiaries, local contactssupport communication and thebuilding up of individual branches atthe national level. This network iscurrently densest in the automotivesector.

Global approach for usethroughout sectorsOur international approach is alsomirrored by the responsible sectormanagers: Giovanni Gatto (materialhandling), Patrick Kraemer (the au-tomobile industry), or Thomas Hall(the electronics industry) comefrom Italy, France and Germany. All

three, in close co-ordination withSales and Development, dedicatetheir efforts towards ensuring thatthe expertise that has been gainedfrom a defined application exploitedin particular sensors is made avail-able to all potential users in thesame industrial sector. As a result,branch-specific solutions can also

be implemented rapidly and cost-effectively even if there are country-specific differences. The simul-taneous consideration of marketand technology trends, and the con-tinuous flow of information withinthe company and to the customers,is opening up increasing numbersof new application solutions.

SICK’s internationally aligned sector management ensuresthat specific solutions in automation, safety, and identifica-tion technology can be offered to the worldwide user group ofan entire industrial branch. SICK’s extensive range, from sin-gle sensors to complete solutions, is available to users who-se branch-specific requirements can be taken into accountas early as the initial developmental stages.

Patrick Kraemer, Thomas Hall and Giovanni Gatto (left to right)

Optimising utilisation throughinternational sector management

Sector Management 37SICK Tour

insight 1/2002

“Die Kunst des Smalltalk [The Art of Small Talk]”38 Book Corner

>> I must admit that small talk hasnever been my strong point. I tooam one of those who tightly grasptheir plate or glass at a party or ex-hibition and concentrate all theirthoughts on how they can disappearwith a minimum of fuss. Whether forreasons of shyness or naivety, itjust isn’t really fun.

Just because I can’t do it nowdoesn’t mean that I can’t learn it, Ithought to myself. So I reached forthis book by Frank Naumann. I ex-pected to find tips for getting intoconversation easier and learninghow I can then keep it going – as Ioften run out of steam, i.e. topics.So …first the author explains what a suc-cessful greeting at a party or otherevent consists of, how someonecan easily get into conversation withacquaintances or even strangers,and that small talk is simply an ap-peal for sympathy.

A satisfied smile soon crossedmy face when Naumann recom-mended developing a personalstyle, and not hanging on to well-worn clichés (I have always hatedthe word “one”).

After a few statements on bodylanguage, he gets to my major topic“shyness”. And gives the reservedbrigade 12 tasks for overcoming in-hibitions regarding making contact.

Well, I’ll come clean straight away. Ihave not yet tested these tasks –not necessarily just because of shy-ness but while I find it, for example,impolite to push to the front of thequeue at the supermarket or disturbsomeone who’s reading on thetrain. I can try out that businesswith the greetings, and I never hadanything against a little chat withfleeting acquaintances. And, ac-cording to Naumann, it’s actuallyonly a small minority that trustthemselves with the really difficulttasks.

The author then continues withwhat I had hoped for: he explainsthe pre-requisites for good small-talk topics, lists a few of them whilementioning the traps into which theuninitiated can easily fall, and thenfinds time to discuss the taboo top-ics. I found this section really help-ful. At the next opportunity I will testwhat comes over best.

Then there are tips on the influ-ence of the first impression that Imake on others when we first meet,how important the first 30 secondsare, what the 5-minute rule is, andthe 5 phases of getting to knowsomeone.

A “first-aid” chapter follows, inwhich Naumann first lists the mostcommon small-talk clangers andhow to rescue the situation after-wards, followed by suggestions onhow to behave in the case of a row,the ultimate form of the faux pas.Not that I can imagine being able to

think about the text-book responsein such situations, because when Ipersonally am involved and upset Ireact spontaneously anyway,though perhaps it would help somepeople.

The last third of the book is ded-icated to difficult conversationalpartners and dealing with them, re-lationships between groups of peo-ple, such as men and women, pen-sioners and children, but alsovarious situations and locations,such as flirting, restaurants, on thephone.

Finally, there is talking as an artform, advanced small talk andsmall talk for professionals, involv-ing a masterly self-portrayal, self-awareness and its implementation,a certain amount of backgroundknowledge, the ability to tell goodstories well, and the well thoughtout cultivation of relationships.

In short: on the whole a reallyhelpful book for me, a bit over thetop in some passages, but it neverloses the thread. I’m looking for-ward to the next party!

“The Art of Small Talk”

“Die Kunst des Smalltalk” is available from Rowohlt Taschenbuch Verlag ISBN 3-499-60847-2in German only

Book described by Ingrid RathfelderSICK insight online newsletter

SICK AGSebastian-Kneipp-Str. 179183 Waldkirch /GermanyPhone +49 76 81 202-0Fax +49 76 81 202-38 63

How we support the world of logistics

www.sick.com

Sensor technology from SICKis to be found wherever mate-rials and goods are automa-tically identified, assigned andtransported. In all areas ofmodern logistics and materialhandling, and in all conceiva-ble applications. Precise, rapidand cost-effective. For lasting optimisation withmaximum safety for personsand material.

Trade fair dates Imprint Contacts 39Info

SubsidiariesAustraliaTel. +61 3 9497 4100+8 3 3480 2 – toll freesales@sick.com.auAustriaTel. +43 22 36 62 28 8-0sickaust@sick.atBelgium/LuxembourgTel. +32 2 466 55 66info@sick.beBrasilTel. +55 11 5561 2683sac@sick.com.brChinaTel. +85 2 2763 6966ghk@sick.com.hkCzech RepublicTel. +42 02 578 10 561sick@sick.czDenmarkTel. +45 45 82 64 00sick@sick.dkFinlandTel. +358 9-7 28 85 00sick@sick.fiFranceTel. +33 1 64 62 35 00info@sick.frGreat BritainTel. +44 17 27-83 11 21info@sick.co.ukItalyTel. +39 02 92 14 20 62ced@sick.itJapanTel. +81 3 3358 1341info@sick.jpKoreaTel. +82 2 786 6657/8seuhunee@sickkorea.netNetherlandsTel. +31 30 229 25 44info@sick.nlNorwayTel. +47 67 56 75 00austefjord@sick.noPolandTel. +48 22 837 40 50info@sick.plSingaporeTel. +65 6744 3732admin@sicksgp.com.sgSpainTel. +34 93 4 80 31 00info@sick.esSwedenTel. +46 8-680 64 50info@sick.seSwitzerlandTel. +41 41 619 29 39contact@sick.chTaiwanTel. +886 2 2365 6292sickgrc@ms6.hinet.netUSATel. +1 952 941 6780info@sickusa.comRepresentatives and agencies in all major industrial nations.

Company HeadquartersSICK AGSebastian-Kneipp-Str. 179183 WaldkirchGermanyTel. +49 (0)7681 202 0Fax +49 (0)7681 202 3863

Central Sales, GermanySICK AGSchiess-Straße 5640549 DüsseldorfGermanyTel. +49 (0)211 5301 0Fax +49 (0)211 5301 100

insightSERVICE

Trade fair dates GermanyTrade fair Location Dates 2002HMI Hanover 15th - 20th AprilSEMICON Europe Munich 16th - 18th Aprilinterpack Düsseldorf 24th - 30th Aprilident.de Wiesbaden 15th - 17th MayMotek Sinsheim 24th - 27th Sept.EuroBLECH Hanover 22th - 26th Oct.SPS/IPC/DRIVES Nuremberg 26th - 28th Nov.

Trade fair dates EuropeTrade fair Location Dates 2002AMPER Prague CZ 9th - 12th AprilMach 2002 Birmingham UK 29th April - 3rd MayMSV Nitra Slowakei SK 28th - 31th MayELIADEN Oslo N 28th May - 1st Junego. automation days Basle CH 3rd - 6th Sept.MSV Brno CZ 16th - 20th Sept.Macropac Utrecht NL 1st - 4th Oct.BIMU Milan I 3rd - 8th Oct.MATELEC Madrid E 8th - 12th Oct.

Trade fair dates worldwideTrade fair Location Dates 2002BRASILPACK Sao Paulo BR 21th - 25th MayNeftegas Moscow RUS 24th - 28th JuneAutom.Industry Exh. Taipei TW 27th - 30th JuneSEMICON West San Francisco USA 22th - 24th JulyIMTS Chicago USA 4th - 11th Sept.PACK EXPO Chicago USA 3th - 7th Nov.

ImprintPublisher:SICK AG · Postfach 310 · 79177 WaldkirchTel. +49 (0)7681 202 0 Fax +49 (0)7681 202 3863www.sick.de · info@sick.de

Co-ordination:Anette Hippach · SICK AG customer magazineproject leader · Anette.Hippach@sick.de

Specialist editors:TOP MEDIA · Dirk S. Heyden · 69469 Weinheiminfo@topmedia-weinheim.de

Conception/layout:johnson][braun Direktwerbung · 76327 Pfinztaljb@johnsonbraun.de

Printing:Druckerei Furtwängler · 79211 Denzlingendruckfurt.gabi@t-online.de

Individual contributions may be reproduced after prior consent. Please contact us at: Tel. +49 (0)211 5301 0Errors excepted. Subject to technical changes