SICK (
www.sickusa.com), one of the world’s leading manufacturers of sensors, safety systems, machine vision, and automatic identification products for factory and logistics automation, today announced the launch of its new OLM Distance Measurement Positioning Sensor. The OLM is used for high-speed, high-precision positioning of overhead cranes, rail and transfer cars, monorails, shuttles, elevators and other vehicles. The vehicle can be positioned around curves and inclines where traditional laser measurement systems cannot be used.
SICK has the largest and most complete offering of distance measurement and positioning sensors, offering optical laser, ultrasonic, magnetic sensors as well as and rotary wire draw and magnetic linear encoders. The OLM adds one more method of long-range fine positioning by using a linear bar code tape for positioning. With the OLM, users can position vehicles with 0.1 mm resolution at distance up to 10 km, providing more than 6 miles of unique positions at increased speed and positioning accuracy. In addition, this non-contact solution helps ensure longer use and reliable measurement, offering the longest runtime of any positioning sensor. Its four LEDs and CMOS camera last twice as long as lasers and rotating mirror technology used in competitive sensors and positioning methods.
The OLM improves overhead crane and monorail positioning with exact absolute position information and eliminates overshooting targets, creeping into position, and re-zeroing that is standard for typical systems using rotary encoders and mechanical switches for positioning. In addition, it offers easy installation due to its integrated skew and tilt angle, ensuring fast installation, commissioning, and reduced start up time.
