n TECHNOLOGY March 2026 www.drivesncontrols.com 16 PHOENIX CONTACT HAS ANNOUNCED a new way of tackling the challenge of integrating a variety of signals in small, decentralised control cabinets, and connecting them to higher-level controllers via industrial Ethernet. Even for applications with small numbers of I/Os or low levels of complexity, many companies currently use unnecessarily powerful remote I/O systems, it says. Phoenix Contact’s answer is a remote relay system with flexible channel assignments that is intended to be a cost-effective alternative for small, remote applications. The modular, networkable PLC-Interface Ethernet Gateway system enables space-saving implementations either of new designs, or of extensions to existing PLC-Interface relay systems. Phoenix claims the new approach can cut panel space by up to 65%. The system is designed to optimise simple applications using up to 56 individually configurable I/O channels. The modular, networkable system allows installations to be tailored precisely to the application. It is compatible with common controller software and various communications protocols (including EtherNet/IP, Modbus and Profinet Class C and S2 redundancy), offering a high level of flexibility and intuitive network integration. The system allows flexible channel configuration with digital and analogue inputs and outputs, as well as temperature modules and Ex modules. It is particularly suitable for simple applications with small to medium numbers of channels housed in decentralised control boxes. Digital and analogue signals are recorded reliably, while temperature and analogue values are processed with a 10-bit resolution (in the range 0–1,000). A network module supports multi-protocol connections. Compatibility with existing controller software simplifies integration with the control level, and saves time. Firmware updates will allow functions to be extended, and performance to be optimised. Compatibility with Phoenix’s PLC-Interface relay system enables simple extensions to existing systems, with functions ranging from simple coupling relays, to relay modules with integrated circuit breakers. The system supports a future-proof automation strategy for simple applications. There is a choice of remote I/O options. For example, PROFIsafe modules can be used to implement safety applications without needing a safety controller, using Phoenix’s SafetyBridge technology. For decentralised automation without a control cabinet, you can use I/O modules with a block design. Applications can be extended using digital I/Os, an IO-Link master and IO-Link devices. www.phoenixcontact.co.uk Decentralised relay system can cut panel space by up to 65% FLIR HAS ANNOUNCED A MWIR (mid-wave infrared) thermal imaging technology for continuous monitoring of industrial automation, process control and testing applications. The A6450 Long-Life Cooled MWIR cameras have been designed to overcome existing barriers to using cooled thermal cameras in production environments. “Historically, the timing and cost of maintaining cooled thermal cameras limited their use in production-line applications,” explains Flir’s global director for automation, Matthew Hasty. “With the A6450, we’ve fundamentally changed that equation, delivering long-life cooled MWIR performance that manufacturers can confidently deploy across continuous production processes.” MWIR cameras operate in the 3–5μm wavelength range to detect thermal emissions from objects, differentiating them from SWIR (short-wave, 1–3μm) and LWIR (long-wave, 8–14μm) infrared cameras. MWIR cameras capture heat signatures, making them ideal for applications such as monitoring industrial machinery, where higher temperatures contrast with cooler backgrounds. MWIR cameras also offer superior performance with hotter targets. At the core of the new camera is a MWIR detector paired with a linear cooler, capable of operating lives of up to 27,000 hours. This reduces the need for maintenance. By cutting downtime, service costs and operational risks, Flir says the A6450 will transform cooled MWIR cameras from specialised inspection tools into reliable, long-term automation assets. The camera is aimed at applications where timing is critical. With a 125Hz frame rate, it can capture fast thermal events and subtle temperature variations on moving products, for applications such as nondestructive testing and quality assurance. The camera’s high thermal sensitivity can detect early-stage defects, material inconsistencies or deviations, helping to cut scrap, reworking and downtime. The A6450 camera supports GigE Vision, GenICam and other standard protocols, for easy integration into automation systems. Plug-and-play compatibility with Flir’s Research Studio software allows users to test, tune and validate inspection set-ups before system integration. The new camera offers flexible, highperformance optics. Users can store hundreds of calibration profiles onboard to support multiple products, materials and inspection scenarios. www.flir.com/en-gb/home MWIR cameras tackle barriers to 24/7 monitoring of production lines Phoenix Contact says its remote relay system will “re-invent” automation
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