Alfa Laval is introducing the Alfa Laval ThinkTop IO-Link, a new version of the company’s second-generation Alfa Laval ThinkTop V50 and V70 sensing and control units for hygienic valves. Inside the ThinkTop IO-Link is the Industry 4.0-ready communication protocol to enhance point-to-point communication between smart hygienic valves and advanced automation systems. This enables smarter, more agile valve control due to real-time data exchange, improved diagnostics, and simplified configurability and control.
The new ThinkTop IO-Link valve sensing and control units support intelligent manufacturing as industries like the dairy, food, beverage industries through to home-personal care and pharmaceutical industries start to leverage Industry 4.0 technologies to improve quality, efficiency, safety, and competitiveness.
As always, Alfa Laval brings evolutionary thinking to its valve sensing and control units and the ThinkTop IO-Link is no exception. Notable new features include faster installation time due to convenient M12 connectors and automatic recording of the hygienic valve stroke duration; smarter time adjustments because priority can be assigned to critical data; data and process parameters can easily be changed from a remote automation system; and enhanced data storage, availability and analytics help improve operations.
Like the ThinkTop V50 and V70 series, the ThinkTop IO-Link covers all valve requirements and fits the Alfa Laval DV-ST, butterfly, single seat, double seat and special valves.
