ECOM Instruments at SPS 2021: explosion-proof solutions for Smart Production

On the Industry 4.0 map, hazardous areas still appear as white spots in many manufacturing operations. The requirements for robustness and explosion protection are high, the terrain extensive, and connectivity often limited. But even in hazardous areas, the intrinsically safe smart devices from the Pepperl+Fuchs brand ECOM Instruments ensure a paradigm shift. At SPS – Smart Production Solutions (23 to 25 November 2021), ECOM Instruments will be demonstrating in hall 7A at booth 330 how the gap between the safety requirements of hazardous areas and the hunger for data of the smart factory can be closed.

With the use of intelligent mobile devices, hazardous areas can be integrated into the Smart Factory with little effort. In line with this vision, the Pepperl+Fuchs brand ECOM Instruments will be presenting intelligent solutions for industrial communication in rough environments at this year’s SPS – Smart Production Solutions from 23 to 25 November in Nuremberg (hall 7A, booth 330): safe, robust and intelligently networked. The manufacturer’s trade fair highlights include Visor-Ex® 01, currently the lightest intrinsically safe smart glasses on the market, and Tab-Ex® 03 DZ2, the latest model in the Tab-Ex® range of intrinsically safe tablets for rough industrial environments. Fair visitors will also learn how the solutions of ECOM’s Digital Products & Services product division not only facilitate device management, but can also provide new insights into processes with the help of data analysis. After all, smart production thrives on networked information.

Seeing through the eyes of the mobile worker: Smart Glasses for industrial use
High camera quality and reliable communication features combined in an ergonomic design: With the Visor-Ex® 01 smart glasses from ECOM Instruments, mobile workers get a powerful companion for all tasks that require hands-free use as well as continuous communication. The system utilises the ECOM Smart-Ex® 02 smartphone for hazardous areas as a computing unit and a pocket unit for power supply, an intelligent ecosystem is created for a wide range of application scenarios in the industrial sector. A total of three integrated cameras transform the smart wearable into a kind of bionic eye. Two 16-megapixel cameras are centrally positioned to map the wearer’s natural field of vision – so remote support, for example, sees what is happening from the same angle and perspective as the mobile worker. A secondary camera offers a 6x optical zoom for zooming without loss of quality and scanning of barcodes and QR codes.

Versatile tablet for rough environments
The intrinsically safe Tab-Ex® 03 DZ2 tablet offers Android 11, a large display and as well as larger RAM and external storage than previous models. The enterprise edition of Samsung Knox ensures high data and device security. The tablet, which is based on the Samsung Galaxy Tab Active3, is easy to operate with gloves or the S Pen stylus. A 13-megapixel camera is installed for taking photos and videos, and the front camera has a resolution of 5 megapixels. The integrated Google ARCore makes the tablet fit for augmented reality applications in Industry 4.0, for example for plant management or predictive maintenance. Meanwhile, an individually programmable button enables, among other things, a quick and effective alarm, emergency calls or push-to-talk (PTT) for maximum safety and accessibility of employees at any time.

As intelligent wearable the Visor-Ex® 01 combines high camera quality and reliable communication features in an ergonomic design for user’s utmost comfort – with a weight of just 180 g. Two 16-megapixel cameras are centrally positioned to depict the wearer’s natural field of vision. A secondary camera offers a 6x optical zoom without loss of quality and a scan function.

The intrinsically safe Tab-Ex® 03 DZ2 tablet offers Android 11, a large display and more RAM and external storage than previous models.

The tablet is easy to operate with gloves or the S Pen stylus. A 13-megapixel camera is installed for taking photos and videos, and the front camera has a resolution of 5 megapixels. The integrated Google ARCore makes the tablet fit for augmented reality applications in Industry 4.0.

Short portrait ECOM Instruments
The Pepperl+Fuchs brand ECOM Instruments is one of the top addresses internationally for holistic solutions for mobile computing and industrial communication in potentially explosive atmospheres. As an industry pioneer, ECOM has played a key role in the development of explosion protection for mobile devices since 1986 and has demonstrated its technological expertise with a large number of innovations. ECOM is the preferred brand for explosion-protected mobile phones, smartphones, tablets, wearables as well as peripherals that meet the highest requirements in industrial use. As part of the Pepperl+Fuchs Group, technology leader for industrial sensor technology and intrinsically safe explosion protection, customers benefit from a seamless portfolio with technologies for conventional and Industry 4.0 applications.

In the five core disciplines of mobile computing, communication, digital products and services, measurement and calibration technology and mobile luminaires, ECOM offers an enormous variety of innovative and field-proven mobile solutions, peripherals, services and intelligent software. Each individual solution combines uncompromising safety with maximum functionality – with all the necessary approvals and certificates for the specific application. Worldwide support, with service centres in Germany, the USA, Singapore and the United Arab Emirates, rounds off the range.

For more information on ECOM please visit: www.ecom-ex.com and www.pepperl-fuchs.com