Posted to News on 24th Apr 2025, 12:00
SICK unveils rugged, accurate PBST touchscreen pressure sensor
SICK Sensor Intelligence has launched the PBST touchscreen pressure sensor. Building on and complementing the company's existing range of high accuracy, reliable and robust pressure sensors/switches, the PBST multifunctional IO-Link sensor is SICK's first ceramic cell pressure measurement sensor, delivering suppression of pressure spikes and surges, as well as corrosion resistance.
The flexible PBST is designed to suit a large array of pressure and vacuum measurement, control and monitoring applications for liquids and gases. It combines an electronic pressure switch, pressure transmitter and a colour touchscreen display with a clear text menu for visual indication of values. The sensor provides switch, IO-Link and analogue output in one compact electronic device for flexibility and inventory control purposes.
The PBST's user-friendly, full-colour TFT touchscreen display allows for easy configuration of the device within seconds via familiar technology, providing excellent visibility on-site. It automatically shows measured values in bar, requiring no special conversion of IO-Link process data. In addition to the touchscreen display, the sensor can be configured remotely via IO-Link and can be locked to prevent unauthorised access.
With very high accuracy of +/-0.5% of range and capable of measuring -1 (full vacuum) to +600 bar (relative pressure), the PBST is ideal for pressure measurement and control, including hydrostatic level measurement. It provides extensive diagnostic options via IO-Link, including internal sensor temperature, pressure peaks and predictive maintenance data.
The ceramic thin-film pressure measurement cell complements SICK's existing range of thin-film pressure sensors, transforming the pressure into an electrical signal. It provides high accuracy, very good long-term stability and high corrosion resistance. The PBST is suitable in many different environments, due to its strong resistance to dynamic pressure surges and spikes, coupled with a wide temperature range from -25 to +100degC and robust, compact, completely stainless-steel housing.
Quick and easy to install, the PBST comes with low storage costs, due to the short delivery times and small number of variants, improving inventory management. It comes with a standard threaded connection but offers a series of options to suit different applications, including process adapters that assist with suppressing/reducing pressure spikes in the system.
Offering exceptional versatility of output signals from one sensor, the PBST has been developed to complement SICK's existing portfolio of pressure sensors. Its versatility provides a wide application range: from hydraulics and cooling lubricant circuit systems to packaging machinery, processing, electronics, solar machinery, pneumatics, factory automation, CPG manufacturing and tooling coolant systems.
Customers should be able to find the right variant of the PBST to suit their liquid or gas pressure measurement application. Ideal for measuring pressure in aggressive chemicals, it also has an array of different sealing materials (NBR, FKM or EPDM) and gaskets to choose from.
Commenting on the launch of the PBST, Nick Hartley, SICK UK Market Product Manager - Instrumentation and Distance Measurement, says: "Meeting the needs of OEMs, system integrators, machine builders, machine toolers and end users across a huge range of applications, the PBST can be used almost anywhere liquids and gases are used to measure and control pressure. At SICK Sensor Intelligence, we have developed a single sensor that comes with different adapters and output signal options to streamline inventory and simplify operations."
