SICK has announced that it is opening up its HIPERFACE DSL® (Digital-Servo-Link) interface to all users.  When launched six years ago, the interface made a single cable servomotor a reliable proposition for the very first time.  Following the rapid adoption of the revolutionary One Cable Technology, SICK has decided that the interface it invented will now be available as an open protocol.

Already, over 40 major manufacturers of servo drive technology have discovered the advantages of integrating the HIPERFACE DSL® motor feedback technology into their products.  Now tried, tested and field proven across the world, HIPERFACE DSL® has become recognised as the industry standard in One Cable Technology and the leading standard protocol for digital feedback systems in servo drive technology.

Darren Pratt, SICK’s Product Manager for Encoders, in the UK said:  “Creating an open interface is the logical next step in the phenomenal success story of Hiperface DSL®, especially as manufacturers move towards Industry 4.0-enabled production environments.

“By opening up the proprietary interface, SICK will make HIPERFACE DSL® an open market standard. Already major manufacturers have accelerated integration of HIPERFACE DSL® digital feedback capability into their product development. In turn, OEM machine builders have been able to optimise costs and space utilisation in their machines.  Machine users have benefitted from an improvement in plant availability due to the reduction in failure points and the extensive condition monitoring capabilities of systems using HIPERFACE DSL®.

“As even more motor and motor/drive manufacturers adopt the technology, SICK offers the security of an open and field-proven interface.  The industry is surely set to see yet more extensive machine development and innovation and, in future, the interfaces needed to support servo drives will be minimised.”

About SICK

SICK is one of the world’s leading producers of sensors and sensor solutions for industrial applications. The company, which was founded in 1946 by Dr Erwin Sick and has its headquarters in Waldkirch im Breisgau near Freiburg in Germany, is among the technology market leaders. With more than 50 subsidiaries and equity investments as well as many agencies, SICK has a presence all over the world. In the fiscal year 2016, SICK had more than 8,000 employees worldwide and a group revenue of just under EUR 1.4 billion.

For more information please contact Andrea Hornby on 01727 831121 or email andrea.hornby@sick.co.uk.