Skip to main content

Non-contact sensing from SICK

A novel non-contact radar sensing technology from SICK offers accurate and reliable real-time monitoring of bulk solid levels for the storage and handling of mineral products
October 4, 2021 Read time: 2 mins
Accurate silo measurement technology is now offered by SICK

The SICK SicWave uses high-frequency 80 GHz free-space radar to overcome the limitations of low-frequency radar sensors or mechanical devices to achieve precision continuous level measurement.

The microwave pulses of the SICK SicWave sensors are claimed to penetrate through dust and material build-up to output accurate results. The SICK LBR SicWave is a bulk solids level sensor with a range of up to 120m. This can be used for continuous level measurement in production of products such as cement, concrete and gypsum for crushers and belt transfer, as well as for silos for storing products.

The firm claims that this technology can be used to manage the supply of bulk solids in storage vessels. It offers accurate level measurement using non-contact technology and is not disrupted by the presence of dust or build-up of residue, or by other obstructions in the vessel.

Positioned at the top of a silo, or over a heap or bunker, the SICK SicWave sensor sends a narrow beam of microwave radar pulses and uses the time-of-flight principle to return a high-quality signal even at long ranges or extreme temperatures and pressures. The SICK SicWave 80 GHz free-space radar sensors are a thousand times more sensitive than previous generation 26 GHz radar technologies ensuring high availability in challenging environments with minimal maintenance. The narrow field of view avoids the potential for false signals caused by deposits on walls or by obstructions inside the vessel.

For more information on companies in this article

Related Content

  • New soil stabilising and recycling machines
    February 29, 2012
    Contractors now have a wider array of stabilisation tools to choose from, with several new units being announced at the Intermat exhibition in Paris.
  • British Tunnelling Society conference: digging deep for data
    December 13, 2016
    Tunnelling innovation is creating mountains of data for contractors and designers, delegates to a recent British Tunnelling Society (BTS) conference heard Successful innovation in tunnelling techniques and technologies is creating more and more data, thanks to digitalisation.
  • Big excavators go ‘e’
    September 28, 2023
    These days, even those beasts of the construction site – excavators – have a date with sustainability, despite the huge amount of electric power needed to operate a machine that pushes about high loads of dirt.
  • Oscillation presents an efficient alternative compaction method
    September 27, 2017
    Hamm pioneered the concept of compaction using oscillation rather than vibration and now offers a wide range of machines with this feature, both for soil and asphalt applications. The firm has developed a strong following for its oscillating compactor range, with many contractors now appreciating the benefit of this technology.