ifm

Company Overview

Founded in 1969 and headquartered in Essen, Germany, ifm Group employs over 8,700 people worldwide. The company is renowned for its innovation in inductive sensing technology and serves industries including material handling, mining, automotive, and food processing.

Conveyor Belt Protection Solutions

ifm provides comprehensive safety products for long conveyor systems:

• Rope-pull emergency switches: Available with local LED indication and safety spring mechanisms to prevent rope slack and ensure rapid shutdown.
• Belt misalignment and tear sensors: IE‑compliant sensors such as the ZB0090 detect belt drift, tear, and misalignment to avoid damage and spillage.
• Ultrasonic blockage and level sensors: Ideal for non-contact monitoring of bulk material presence and flow in conveyor chutes.

Speed and Motion Monitoring

ifm offers compact speed sensors with built-in evaluation, suitable for:

• Detection of standstill, overspeed, underspeed, and belt breakage in conveyors.
• Inductive or magnetic operation with IO-Link interface and adjustable setpoints.
• SIL 2/3-capable devices (e.g., DD110S, DU110S) with ATEX/IECEx zoning options.

Proximity and Inductive Sensor Range

Their inductive proximity line includes:

• Full-metal and stainless steel housings resistant to vibration, dust, moisture, and aggressive media.
• Sensors with K‑factor technology for stable detection across different metals.
• Versions available in M12, M18, and slot configurations for flexible installation.

System Integration and Industrial Networking

ifm supports reduced wiring and integrated diagnostics via AS‑i Safety at Work and moneo IIoT platforms, enabling remote monitoring and predictive maintenance across distributed conveyor systems.

Certifications and Global Applications

ifm products comply with CE, ISO, ATEX, IECEx, and SIL standards. Their sensors and systems are widely used in mining, material handling, packaging, and industrial automation applications worldwide.

Conclusion

With robust sensor technologies, conveyor safety solutions, motion-detection devices, and IoT-capable platforms, ifm delivers reliable and certified components for industrial conveyor protection and automation systems.