A Gateway for a Powerful and Easy Monitoring

Data always available in a dashboard, plug&play monitoring, easy set-up, and the installation location freely selected thanks to IP65 even outdoors: here are some of the benefits offered by io-key, the gateway from ifm

Thanks to io-key by ifm, it is possible to transfer the data of the connected sensors via mobile network (NB-IoT or 2G network) to a secured cloud, where the user can access the clearly structured data in a dashboard, no matter when, no matter where. With io-key, you will opt right from the beginning for an easy-to-handle, yet powerful form of process and plant monitoring. A power supply and an available GSM network – this is all that io-key requires to transmit the data of the connected IO-Link sensors to the cloud. There is no need for complex connection to the company network or to a controller. The clear dashboard allows the user to set limit values for the connected sensors with just a few mouse clicks. If these limit values are exceeded, the user will be alerted by email or text message. Moreover, all kinds of data can be summarised and exported automatically in the form or reports.Whether in a dusty environment or outdoors, thanks to protection rating IP65, io-key is the perfect solution for all kinds of applications. Thanks to two sensor connections, a great variety of monitoring scenarios can be implemented. ifm has many different IO-Link sensors in store for this purpose.

From level measurement on tanks to predictive maintenance

Thanks to io-key, even plants’ remote areas that are not connected to the company infrastructure can be monitored and evaluated. Here are some application examples. When monitoring of old machines via radio gateway, it was common to connect the IO-Link sensor directly to the PLC. However, since the PLC only processes the switching signals, about 95% of the process information will be lost. By using io-key, this digital information can now be transferred directly from the process to the cloud and then be used for more accurate machine analysis. With io-key, you can keep an eye on the proper pumping function of remote or mobile pumping stations at any time. An alarm function immediately reports deviations from the preset value, so that the required pumping capacity can be quickly restored. Feed silos, tanks for printing ink or concrete additives have one thing in common: they should be refilled before they are completely empty. Suppliers who equip their customer’s tanks with io-key can guarantee reliable, uninterrupted product supply. Once a defined level has been reached, logistics can automatically initiate refilling.
Fans in decentralised cold stores or storage facilities can be monitored via io-key as well as remote motors or pumps, for example, in automated agriculture. Damaged bearings, unbalance and similar signs of imminent machine damage will be detected by vibration sensors and reported to the central dashboard via io-key. This prevents unplanned interruption of work processes.