Photoelectronic Sensors
The biggest corner of the Wenglor catalog. Fifteen groups, from a laser that measures out past 100 m to a fork sensor that counts parts a few millimeters wide. Pick the group by what you need to see, then we narrow it to the part number.
15 sensor groups
Laser Sensors for Distance Measurement
Laser sensors that measure distance without contact, using either triangulation or time-of-flight.
Key Specifications:
- 182 products: 108 triangulation, 74 time-of-flight
- Range up to 100,200 mm; measuring rate up to 30,000/s
- Interfaces include IO-Link, EtherCAT, EtherNet/IP, PROFINET, RS-232 and Bluetooth
- IP67, IP68 and IP69K versions
Reflex Sensors
The emitter and receiver share one housing. Light reflected off the object is evaluated by triangulation, time-of-flight or the energetic principle.
Key Specifications:
- Range: up to 2,500 mm
- Switching frequency: up to 2,500 Hz
- Light: red, blue, IR LED or red laser
- Housings: M8 thread to cuboid, up to IP69K
- Background suppression or energetic
Reflex Light Barriers
Detect objects by evaluating signal strength together with angle measurement. The switching threshold readjusts dynamically to compensate for contamination and temperature drift.
Key Specifications:
- 5 products
- Range up to 1,000 mm; switching frequency up to 900 Hz
- Teach modes for static or moving background
- Operating temperature down to -40 °C
Retro-Reflex Sensors
Emitter and receiver sit in one housing, and the sensor switches when the beam to a reflector or defined background is interrupted.
Key Specifications:
- 148 products: 103 universal, 45 for transparent objects
- Range up to 20,000 mm; switching frequency up to 5,000 Hz
- Red LED or red laser light
- IP65 to IP69K; Ecolab and FDA-compliant versions
Through-Beam Sensors
Emitter and receiver are in separate housings, and the sensor switches as soon as an object interrupts the laser, red or infrared beam.
Key Specifications:
- 97 products
- Range up to 60,000 mm; switching frequency up to 5,000 Hz
- Red LED, infrared LED or red laser light
- IP67, IP68 and IP69K versions; Hygiene and WashDown families
Fork Sensors
Emitter and receiver face each other in a plastic or stainless steel fork housing and use red light or a collimated laser beam. The laser versions can detect very small objects and clear glass.
Key Specifications:
- 16 products
- Fork widths from 5 mm to 220 mm
- Switching frequency up to 10,000 Hz
- Red laser or red LED light; PNP, NPN or push-pull outputs
Fiber-Optic Sensors
Fiber-optic amplifiers paired with flexible plastic or glass fiber-optic cables, for detecting small parts in tight spaces or at high temperatures.
Key Specifications:
- 222 products: 66 amplifiers, 79 plastic cables, 74 glass cables
- Range up to 3,800 mm
- Ambient temperature from -60 °C to 250 °C (glass fibers)
- Reflex and through-beam fiber cables
Light Curtains
Several beams in a row, working in retro-reflective or through-beam mode, for pick-and-place and measuring tasks such as height or position checks.
Key Specifications:
- 42 products: measuring, pick-to-light and conveyor types
- Range up to 3,000 mm; measurement field heights from 50 mm to 1,800 mm
- Infrared or red LED; switching frequency up to 555 Hz
- IP65; IO-Link on 17 models
Retro-Reflex Sensors with Light Band
A continuous laser light band covers a much larger area than a single light spot, so the sensor detects objects with variable edges, shapes and sizes, including small or translucent parts.
Key Specifications:
- 6 products
- Range 2,500 mm
- Light band heights of 27, 42 and 54 mm
- Red laser; 125 to 275 Hz switching frequency
Sensors for Roller Conveyor Systems
Sensors shaped to fit roller conveyors, which keeps them out of the way of mechanical damage. Available with or without accumulation logic, as reflex sensors or as reflector-type light barriers.
Key Specifications:
- 22 products: reflex sensors, retro-reflex sensors and logic units
- Range up to 6,500 mm
- Infrared or red LED light; potentiometer or NFC setting
- IP54 to IP67; down to -40 °C
Contrast Sensors
Detect very small contrast differences and print marks on any background, whatever its brightness or color, using white LED or red laser light.
Key Specifications:
- 23 products
- Range up to 150 mm; switching frequency up to 50,000 Hz
- White LED or red laser light
- Mostly IP67; IO-Link or RS-232 interfaces
Color Sensors
Analyze fine color differences at high speed and sort objects against taught reference colors. Pulsed white light makes them insensitive to ambient light.
Key Specifications:
- 3 products
- Range 30 to 40 mm
- Pulsed white LED
- Switching frequency 1.8 kHz or 8 kHz; compact cuboid housing
Luminescence Sensors
Emit 375 nm UV light to excite luminescent materials, so they can detect marks the human eye cannot see.
Key Specifications:
- 2 products
- UV LED at 375 nm; receiving range 420 nm or 570 nm
- Range 30 to 90 mm
- Switching frequency 2,500 Hz
Gloss Sensors
Tell glossy surfaces from matt ones, regardless of the surface's color, printing or texture.
Key Specifications:
- 3 products (GM04 series)
- Range 5 to 40 mm
- Red laser; switching frequency 1,900 Hz
- Miniature cuboid housing; PNP output
Temperature Sensors for Contactless Measurement
Measure an object's temperature from its infrared radiation without contact, whatever its material, size or state. Two switching outputs and an analog output support both target/actual comparison and absolute measurement.
Key Specifications:
- 1 product (TIF352U0089)
- M30 threaded housing; M12 8-pin connector
- PNP switching outputs plus 0 to 10 V analog output
- 15 Hz switching frequency
Not sure which one fits?
Tell us the target, the distance, and what the background looks like. We'll tell you which group, and which two models are worth testing.