Rockwell Automation has introduced a HART-enabled Allen-Bradley FLEX I/O-XT module, an industrially hardened I/O platform that helps OEMs and end users reduce wiring, installation time and enclosure costs.
As industrial applications continue to move into remote locations of the world, the market requires specially designed control equipment to survive extreme environments. The new HART-enabled I/O modules access data from smart field devices that were previously isolated in harsh environments, helping feed performance data into asset management software for a more holistic view of operations and maintenance needs.
The FLEX I/O-XT modules are conformally coated to protect against corrosives, dust, gases, salt, condensation, humidity and fungal growth. This industrial hardening eliminates the need for an enclosure, and the additional installation and energy costs associated with auxiliary heating and cooling systems.
The industrial coating to protect from airborne pollutants and moisture, paired with a minus 20 C to 70 C (minus 4 F to 185 F) temperature range, make the FLEX I/O-XT modules ideal for environmentally demanding environments, including energy and power generation, water/wastewater and on-ship applications.
