In a turbulent international scenario, companies are looking for tools to increase efficiency and compete in a difficult environment. The increasingly widespread ‘intelligent’ automation of production processes is a step in this direction: consequently, the demand for control and measurement systems capable of communicating efficiently with networks and being operated remotely is also growing, with particular interest in more streamlined and cost-effective solutions.
For decades ELAP has been putting its expertise and listening skills at the service of companies in the industrial automation sector, investing in research and development and constantly updating its offer in order to propose solutions in step with the rapid evolution of market demands.
With a wide and constantly growing range, ELAP is able to offer flexible solutions for every application requirement, allowing customers to produce with maximum efficiency while keeping costs under control.
Valeria Vigentini, Communications Manager, and Luca Bruschi, Sales Manager, described the latest developments in the sector and ELAP’s objectives for the near future.
2024 was a complex year for Italian industry. However, there were segments showing greater resilience: which of these expressed the greatest interest in your solutions?
Luca Bruschi: We have gone through a particular year for Italian industry, and it is undeniable that the difficulties of many sectors have not gone unnoticed by component suppliers. Some segments, however, have reacted with vigour. Packaging in particular is an industry which has been able to face the turbulence of the market by renewing products and processes, providing us with ideas for developing new solutions and showing considerable appreciation for our products.
Your range is very wide and includes solutions that use different protocols. For which types of products have you noticed a greater momentum in terms of demand?
Valeria Vigentini: Our catalogue offers a wide range of products, including instruments ranging from potentiometers to linear, magnetic and wire transducers, but the solutions for which we are best known are encoders: we offer a complete range, from incremental rotary models to absolute encoders based on industrial Ethernet. The latter is the most dynamic segment: absolute encoders with fieldbuses are among the most widely used. In particular, encoders with Profinet protocol are more widespread as they are perfectly compatible with the PLCs of the market leader, but we are also able to meet requests from companies that use other protocols, such as EtherCAT and Ethernet IP.
This year you will once again be present at SPS Italia: what automation solutions will you be presenting?
Luca Bruschi: We shall be present at SPS (hall 5, stand F026) with a selection of our encoders, but the protagonists will certainly be MEM40B and MEM41B, the new multiturn encoders with I/O Link interface. Designed specifically for intelligent automation, these components represent an advanced and flexible solution, easily integrated into the modern smart factory.
The strong point of the new encoders is their ability to facilitate communication between devices, ensuring efficiency and reliability in the production process. This is thanks to the I/O Link point-to-point protocol, which simplifies the connection between sensors and Ethernet networks or industrial fieldbuses present in the system.
The I/O Link interface allows our encoders to be easily integrated with existing systems, making installation, parameterisation and maintenance more efficient.
The I/O Link protocol uses the same cable for device power supply and data transmission: simplified wiring means faster and more efficient commissioning.
With MEM40B and MEM41B, even the parameterisation of the devices in the network is automatic: the I/O Link master saves all the parameters of the connected devices internally, minimising configuration time. If the encoder needs to be replaced, the master immediately re-parameterises the new device, thus simplifying maintenance.
These encoders are also very compact (just 41 mm in diameter) and versatile. They offer advanced features typical of smart sensors, such as integrated diagnostics for detecting parameterisation, position, battery and temperature errors and programming of operating parameters, such as number of revolutions, steps per revolution, direction of rotation and presets.
The encoders are multiturn: with a resolution of 29 bits, equal to 8192 positions per turn and 65536 turns, they allow precise and reliable measurements. The two mechanical variants – MEM40B: with round flange and male shaft and MEM41B: with hollow shaft – allow the device to adapt to different application requirements.
The electrical connection is guaranteed by the M12 connector; the aluminium case ensures a high degree of protection, making these encoders suitable even for the most demanding industrial environments.
How did you come to create these new encoders, and what advantages will their adoption bring to companies in the automation sector?
Valeria Vigentini: The new encoders are the result of a relatively demanding design phase: we have dedicated time and resources to this product to guarantee a result in line with the quality levels expected by our customers, while offering a cost-effective solution.
For the first time we have used I/O Link technology for our encoders and the results have allowed us to offer a product suitable for numerous applications enabling us to expand our user base with a device offering excellent value for money.
In particular, these encoders implement an advanced distributed logic architecture: in automation systems, master modules connected to the sensors acquire the data and transmit them to the PLC via a single cable. Single-cable technology drastically simplifies cabling, reducing system complexity and significantly increasing operational efficiency and overall productivity.
Thanks to the combination of compactness, advanced functionality and ease of integration, the MEM40B and MEM41B encoders with IO-Link interface are the ideal choice for those who want to improve efficiency and connectivity in automation systems. A reliable component for industry 4.0, capable of offering precision and control in real time.
You will also be present at Ipack-Ima: how important is the packaging industry for your business? Will you be presenting solutions developed or selected specifically for this segment?
Valeria Vigentini: 2025 will be our first time at the Ipack-Ima trade fair (pavilion 2, stand C143): a decision motivated by the objective relevance of the sector for our company, which owes approximately 10-15% of its turnover to companies producing packaging machinery. But that’s not all: we believe it’s important to address this segment directly also because of the potential it’s showing, leading us to believe that the possibilities for growth are greater than in other fields.
As for the solutions presented, our devices are by nature versatile and it wasn’t necessary to develop specific versions for packaging.
We will therefore be present with our tried and tested Profinet encoders, which are highly appreciated in this sector, but of course during this event we will also present the new I/O Link encoders: we believe they are destined to have considerable appeal, especially for the excellent quality-price ratio. With cost control becoming increasingly important across all sectors and in companies of all sizes, products such as our MEM40B and MEM41B encoders can help make the difference for companies that are facing increasingly competitive markets and growing economic barriers.
How do you expect your target audience to react to the launch of MEM40B and MEM41B?
Luca Bruschi: There are many users who attach great importance to the cost structure, and their number is growing: the I/O Link protocol, by its very nature, is used in solutions with an interesting quality/price ratio, because it is precisely this technology which allows for a more affordable product. Features that increase efficiency such as self-parameterisation, ease of installation and maintenance, and reduced cabling requirements are intrinsically linked to this protocol. The fact that these advantages can be obtained while at the same time having the security of continuing to be able to count on the reliability standards ELAP has always guaranteed leads us to envisage an excellent reception.
Have you already had any feedback from your contacts regarding encoders with I/O Link interface?
Luca Bruschi: There have been a few “early adopters” and we’ve had positive feedback; in some cases we have supported the customer during the installation and configuration phase. In general, the installation does not require any intervention on our part, as is the case with other types of encoders, but of course our support service is available to provide any support required.
Increasing competitiveness in industry tends to produce an upwards levelling of product quality, which is now almost taken for granted, and shifts competition to the level of services. How do you deal with this aspect?
Luca Bruschi: This is a paradigm shift for which we are well prepared, as we have long placed great importance on customer service. In our sector, service is a key distinguishing factor, as the level of offerings is consistently high.
The fact that we are an Italian company helps us stand out from the large multinationals, as we offer a level of proximity appreciated by our customers.
In most cases, this is a cultural proximity, as physical proximity is not very relevant: interventions can easily be carried out remotely, precisely because of the nature of our solutions. In the not infrequent case that our devices are purchased by companies abroad, the ability to monitor and intervene remotely clearly facilitates the rapid resolution of problems.
Whether near or far, customers appreciate the diligence with which we respond to requests for support and the absence of bureaucratic or communication barriers: we are easy to find and quick to respond. We have always been customer service oriented: the assistance service offers us the opportunity to demonstrate the uniqueness of our offer and the value of our brand.
Will there be any particular initiatives to improve the service aspect in 2025?
Valeria Vigentini: The introduction of the new I/O Link encoders will be an opportunity to carry out training activities, mainly for our sales network, but also available to retailers or customers. As we are dealing with a product requiring a specialised technical approach, we often offer customers refresher courses and in-depth training on topics related to the applications we have experience with.
What is the outlook for the rest of 2025? What strategies do you intend to implement to integrate the achievement of your objectives into the future scenario?
Valeria Vigentini: At the moment the chances of the complex international situation simplifying instantly are remote: rather there is the concrete risk that the already complex scenario will become even more intricate.
In a turbulent market, solutions allowing for improvement of production efficiency and rationalisation of the cost structure will however have their place. In particular, the food & packaging sector, which by its nature is less subject to fluctuations, will continue to provide us with satisfaction thanks to our new proposals in this direction.
The aspects of IO-Link technology will be explored in depth to help participants understand how it works and how to use components compatible with the protocol. We hope it will be another opportunity to meet companies interested in the world of advanced automation.