Say you’d like to keep track of what’s remaining in your ingredient storage silos. It’s not the cost of the level sensors that’s the problem. It’s the trenching and running underground and overhead wires that cost more than five high-end level sensors. Say you want to measure critical temperatures at key points in your process, but you’d like to be able to move these sensors at a moment’s notice to check other areas. What’s holding you back? Once again, it’s the wiring (and cost) issue.
Why not give wireless sensors a try? Depending on your budget, you can get wireless sensors from traditional controls vendors such as ABB, Emerson Process, Honeywell, Invensys and Yokogawa, or find devices from traditional sensor vendors like Banner Engineering and Omega Engineering. PLC suppliers such as Rockwell, Siemens, Schneider and Mitsubishi also have wireless solutions. You won’t be at a loss for choice; in fact, you might be overwhelmed by the available selection. And, to add to the confusion, some industrial wireless standards are still in limbo, creating a profusion of proprietary solutions-just like the commercial/home wireless market of not so long ago.