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STW is known as a specialist for automation solutions for the most demanding applications. Typical applications for the company’s control and sensor components can be found in construction machinery, agricultural machinery, forestry and municipal technology. The demand for more CO2-friendly drive variants is also increasing in these industries. At the recently concluded bauma in Munich, the world’s largest construction machinery trade show, the focus was on hydrogen-powered fuel cell excavators, for example. Hydrogen-powered municipal vehicles have long been in series production. There are also plans to bring H2-powered tractors onto the market in agricultural technology. STW is meeting this demand for hydrogen-compatible and highly robust components – even beyond mobile applications – with the newly developed SMX.pt-ha1 pressure sensor.

The sensor was specially developed for use in hydrogen environments and ATEX areas. The core technology for the corresponding pressure ranges is a thin-film stainless steel measuring cell welded to the pressure sensor. The measured values are available via a current interface. These measuring cells in conjunction with a suitable design of packaging and electronics allow long-term stable use in hydrogen applications. The ATEX approval enables use up to zone 0, even beyond hydrogen applications. The SMX.pt-ha1 supports pressure ranges from 3.5 to 900 bar.

In addition to these pressure sensors, the newly developed SMX.igs-a inclination sensor with IMU functionality as a PL d/SIL2 and PL b variant will be the main focus of attention. Thanks to its newly designed housing with two integrated M12 connections, looped CAN signal and easily accessible screw-on points, it can be integrated into new and existing system architectures in a user-friendly manner. Both versions can use freely configurable filter algorithms such as low-pass filters or Butterworth to improve measurement stability. For particularly dynamic applications, a Kalman filter can be used with the PL b version.

The PL d version meets the highest functional safety requirements thanks to integrated redundancy and support of the CANopen safety protocol. With protection classes up to IPX7, there are no limits to its use in the most adverse environmental conditions. STW will also be exhibiting a revised version of the SMX.igs-e non-safety inclination sensors with customizable connections at the trade show.

In addition to these innovations, STW will be presenting its entire range of temperature and pressure sensors at Sensor+Test at stand 311 in hall 1 – from conventional pressure transmitters for mobile hydraulics to cylinder pressure sensors for combustion engines. For measuring strain, the company from Kaufbeuren offers the highly robust, freely parameterizable and particularly space-saving SMX.dms-a strain transducer. It is no larger than around 25 mm in height, has protection class IPX9K and ensures highly accurate measurements even at extreme temperatures of -40…+85°C.

As is typical for STW, the sensor range can be integrated, parameterized and monitored in a user-friendly way using the intuitive STW openSYDE software environment.

STW at the Sensor+Test in Nuremberg: Hall 1, Stand 311.