The new Hengstler ACURO^® AX73 is a class-leading optical encoder offering attributes such as ease of installation, high precision and compact dimensions. In addition, the introduction of the AX73 completes the company’s comprehensive family of ATEX-rated absolute rotary encoders, both optical and magnetic. Equipment designers now have an unprecedented choice for a host of hazardous environment components.

If we are to believe what experts from the CTBUH (Council on Tall Buildings and Urban Habitat) are telling us, the future of building technology is going to rise to new heights. During the next ten years, the number of buildings over 200 meters tall is forecasted to double, and by the year 2020, the number of skyscrapers over 600 metres will surge from two to ten. The estimation made by the CTBUH is further supported by the clear megatrend to urbanisation throughout the world. At the same time, the market for high speed lifts is growing enormously. Meanwhile, safety standards for lift design and operation are continuously being raised. Starting on 1 September, the EN 81-1 and EN 81-2 norms for lifts will be replaced by EN 81-20 and EN 81-50.

In Germany alone, over 10 million tonnes of potatoes are harvested each year. Worldwide, the total even exceeds 341M tonnes*. More than 80 years ago, Grimme developed the first potato harvesting machine. A great deal has happened since that time, and now Grimme is the world market leader in potato harvesting technology. Besides the actual harvesting, efficient storage technology is equally important to ensure that potatoes remain available in top quality to meet demand. For this type of requirement, Grimme offers the SL80 store loader for example, which uses the Hengstler absolute encoder AC58.

Hengstler recently developed and introduced a paper clip as a presenter alternative, when the use of a presenter is not possible due to space availability and limitation inside a kiosk or to keep the cost of the total system as low as possible. The paper clip is a small clip made out of thin metal that can be used for receipt paper, tickets, labels with liner, or other materials. The inexpensive feature that can be ordered either with the printer or as accessory.

In 2015, the Safety Communication Layer of BiSS Safety was confirmed by TÜV Rhineland for suitability for safety-relevant communication up to and including SIL3. In the future, Hengstler will offer this protocol for its rotary encoder portfolio in order to meet the steady growth in safety applications.

Kiosks are reaching into more and more markets every day. Their reach goes beyond shopping, as kiosks are primed to impact the way people get from place to another, providing a point of entry for people on the go. Public transportation offers a stress free and comfortable way of commuting. Nevertheless, you still have to be at the stop ahead of schedule in order to buy a ticket before boarding the vehicle. But not with mobile ticketing machines. With these the ticket is already on board.

Single-cable solutions are increasingly gaining traction in the field of servo drive technology. In addition to the growing number of drive manufacturers offering single-cable solutions, this trend is fuelled by the increasing number of manufacturers of rotary encoders that allow the implementation of such solutions in the first place. They differ not only in the protocol used, but also in technical details such as resolution and stability. Helukabel GmbH and Hengstler GmbH are two well-established companies that tackle this topic from different vantages. However, they are united in their common mission of providing customers with high-quality components that are innovative, effective and safe and that harness the tremendous potential offered by the single-cable technology.

With China proving to be one of the world’s fastest growing economies in recent years, Hengstler has added a comprehensive Chinese font set to the firmware of its popular eXtendo range of receipt-type printers. Designated eXtendo XF, which comprises the X-56 and X-80 models – both of which feature a larger memory – Hengstler receipt-type printers are now ready to meet the demands of ticket vending machine OEMs serving Chinese-speaking markets.

Hengstler extends the ACURO^® AC58 product line with the widely-used EtherCAT interface. The number of systems using this open, powerful, Ethernet-based system continues to grow at a rapid pace. With the availability of the ACURO^® AC58, incorporating an EtherCAT interface, users can integrate one of the foremost absolute encoders on the market, into virtually any system that uses EtherCAT technology. This simplifies the design process and guarantees reliable communication. Hengstler's ACURO^® AC58 EtherCAT encoder is naturally attested by an official compliance certificate issued by the EtherCAT Technology Group (ETG).

When Hengstler GmbH first introduced the Single Cable Solution at SPS IPC Drives 2015 in Nuremberg, they set new standards for efficiency, safety and performance. By offering a true Single Cable Solution with high performance, Hengstler meets the latest requirements of today’s motor feedback systems.