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Sensor manufacturer, SICK, has launched a next-generation distance sensor, OD2000, which combines high-precision reliability with outstanding economy to deliver an ‘all-rounder’ for food and beverage processing and packaging applications. SICK says that its OD2000 was developed to provide “a universal product family with minimal variants while making configuration and parameterisation plug and play”. With a measuring range of up to 1,200mm and a measuring frequency of up to 7.5 kHz, the sensor has an IO-Link as standard and will offer a solution for positioning and quality control tasks in automated food processing and packaging machinery, including robotics. David Hannaby, SICK’s UK product manager for presence detection, said: “With the OD2000, SICK has introduced a brand new displacement measurement family that can be relied on by production teams to assure precision performance and consistent process quality, whatever the application”. He continued: “The universal concept will help to minimise inventories and ensure efficient ordering and delivery. The OD2000 is mounted in an instant and set-up is completed in next to no time. Machine builders will particularly welcome the OD2000’s integration flexibility and communications versatility.”