New Balluff Photoelectric Sensors Provide Condition Monitoring Data

March 29, 2021

The new photoelectric sensors with condition monitoring from Balluff deliver capabilities not yet seen before in the market.

In addition to providing solid photoelectric sensing, they deliver the condition monitoring and advanced IO-Link features of the Smart Automation and Monitoring System (SAMS) portfolio, meant to eliminate downtime by simplifying trouble shooting, changeover, and setup of machines.

All new SAMS products, including these new photoelectric sensors, are self-monitoring, providing internal environmental data in real time, including temperature monitoring, relative humidity,  inclination detection, and vibration monitoring. The sensor’s signal quality is displayed on LEDs on the sensor, and operating hours and time functions are available using IO-Link.

Two new photoelectric sensors are now available:

  •    –   BOS0285 – a diffuse sensors with triangulation with a laser red light making it ideal for small part detection thanks to background suppression
  •    –   BOS0286 – a retroflective sensor with an LED, which can reliably detect clear objects


“I’ve been working with sensors for a long time and I’m amazed at the capabilities of these sensors. Our engineers outdid themselves,” said Jack Moermond, Balluff engineering partner manager. “No one offers photoeyes with this level of condition monitoring.”

Both of these new sensors were designed for demanding applications, especially those found in the food industry and packaging sector where aggressive media and high pressure are used for cleaning. Both have Ecolab certification as well as IP67 and IP69K ratings. In addition, these sensors have passed what Balluff calls Washdown Plus testing, which simulates over 1,000 washdown cycles.

Key features:

  •    –   IO-Link V1.1 (Smart Sensor Profile 2)
  •    –   Designed for harsh ambient conditions
  •    –   Various operating modes for demanding object detection
  •    –   Sensor monitors itself and its environment: temperature, humidity, vibration, inclination, contamination, function reserve


For more information, visit www.balluff.com.

Related Articles



Editor’s Pick: Featured Article

Weidmüller’s u-control 2000: The Automation Controller

Weidmüller’s u-control 2000: The Automation Controller

Weidmüller’s scalable engineering software, u-control 2000, adapts individually to your requirements. And, the u-control is powerful, compact and fully compatible with Weidmüller’s I/O system u-remote. This article looks at what makes u-control the heart of your automation.

Programmable logic controllers (PLCs) are one of the main components of any automated system. A typical control system has inputs, outputs, controllers (i.e., PLCs), and some type of human interaction with the system, a human machine interface (HMI), for example.

Read More



Latest Articles

  • Case Study: Optimizing Harmonic Mitigation in Wastewater Treatment

    June 22, 2026 Segment and Application In a municipality, wastewater treatment plants typically stand out as the main consumers of electricity. The operational processes exhibit significant load variations throughout a 24-hour cycle, necessitating the use of AC drives to regulate pumps, blowers, and other motorized equipment in response to fluctuating demand. In one wastewater treatment… Read More…

  • Why Do Mission-Critical Facilities Need Seismic-Rated Server Racks?

    June 17, 2026 When organizations think about seismic preparedness, they typically focus on buildings, backup generators, and emergency response plans. However, one critical component is often overlooked: the rack supporting the network infrastructure. For hospitals, emergency operations centers, municipal facilities, utilities, and public safety agencies, network connectivity is essential during and after a seismic event.… Read More…