Monitoring of compressed air use

Automation specialist Festo has released the new SFAH Flow Sensor to allow for easy and cost-effective monitoring of compressed air use. It provides an intuitive user interface with high output flexibility, giving a clear picture of your energy usage.

Combining high flow dynamics with a compact design, the SFAH Flow Sensor has been developed to measure non-corrosive gases and air.

It is designed for use in the general automation market, but is particularly suited to small parts picking applications, consumption monitoring, air gap checking and leakage detection.



The SFAH Flow Sensor provides accurate and reliable readings and its robust design makes it less susceptible to disruption by particles and moisture.

Operating at pressures between 0.9bar and 10bar, the SFAH offers an extended flow measurement range from 0.002l/min to 200l/min.

A further benefit is the choice of straight, angular or rotatable pneumatic connectors, offering great installation flexibility.

The user interfaces featured on the SFAH Flow Sensor will be familiar to customers, as they are common across Festo’s entire flow and pressure sensor range, making commissioning and installation much easier.

The sensor has a high level of in-built flexibility thanks to switchable electrical outputs – including NPN/PNP, NO/NC and IO-Link – that are easily selected from the intuitive menu.

Equipped with digital and analogue outputs, the SFAH Flow Sensor can be programmed directly via intuitive ‘teach’ buttons on the unit, or by using an IO-link master and selecting parameters via a computer or PLC.

As well as making parameter setting and commissioning easier, using the sensor with IO-Link allows for remote maintenance.

The IO-Link master stores all the sensor parameters and, should an existing sensor in the field need replacement, no further commissioning steps are required.

Simply wire in the new sensor and the IO-Link master can download the necessary parameters for operation.

Additionally, the IO-Link master can offer a replication function for identical sensors.  Just commission one sensor and copy the information to the rest.

Eliminating the need to set up sensors individually makes maintenance much quicker and simpler, reducing build and downtime.

Each SFAH Flow Sensor is equipped with a high contrast, illuminated LCD colour changing display that provides a clear visual indication when set parameters are exceeded.

An inbuilt eco function means the backlight will only be on when the unit is in use or being interrogated, offering the opportunity to save energy – particularly where multiple sensors are used.

The SFAH Flow Sensor is IP40 rated for use in general industrial applications and a range of accessories is available to protect the sensor in harsher environments.