HBK to showcase precision measurement integration for industrial automation at SPS 2026

At the upcoming SPS 2026 exhibition (Hall 4A, Booth 365), Hottinger Brüel & Kjær (HBK) will demonstrate how high-accuracy measurement data can be seamlessly integrated into modern automation architectures. Under the theme "From Sensor to PLC," the company will present nine interactive demonstrations showcasing how precise force, torque, weighing, and strain data can be acquired, analyzed, and directly utilized to drive real-time control systems and deliver actionable manufacturing intelligence.

Bringing IO-Link into precision measurement
A primary focus of the HBK exhibit will be the integration of high-accuracy measurement technologies into the IO-Link ecosystem. This approach enables machine builders and system integrators to connect critical sensor data directly to industrial control networks, simplifying wiring and drastically reducing control system complexity. By adopting real-time industrial communications and edge data processing, HBK is bringing the extreme measurement accuracy traditionally reserved for testing, research, and validation environments directly to the factory floor, thereby improving process repeatability and accelerating machine commissioning.

6-DoF robotics and advanced data streaming
For advanced manufacturing applications, HBK will present a live robotic cell featuring its custom-engineered 6-degree-of-freedom (6-DoF) force and torque sensors. These sensors are specifically designed to enhance robotic precision and active control, even in compact installations where integration space is heavily restricted.

The booth will also highlight new high-speed data acquisition hardware, including the BMX60 interface module. This unit is capable of streaming torque, rotational speed, angle, and power data over fieldbus networks at rates of up to 5 kHz. Additionally, visitors can explore the FS12DBX optical digiBOX, a system that combines real-time control capabilities with advanced fiber optic sensing to open up new approaches to machine monitoring.

Additional Context: 6-DoF force/torque sensing and Fiber Bragg Grating (FBG)
This section details the physical principles of multi-axis robotic sensing and optical data acquisition not included in the original press release.

In advanced robotics, standard single-axis load cells are insufficient for complex assembly, polishing, or machining tasks that require active compliance. A 6-Degree-of-Freedom (6-DoF) sensor utilizes an intricate web of internal strain gauges to simultaneously measure linear forces along three spatial axes (Fx, Fy, Fz) and the corresponding rotational moments or torques around those axes (Mx, My, Mz). This multi-dimensional real-time feedback allows a robotic controller to dynamically adjust its path and applied pressure in milliseconds, effectively giving the robot a human-like sense of "touch" and force feedback.

Furthermore, the mentioned FS12DBX optical digiBOX relies on Fiber Bragg Grating (FBG) technology, a photonics-based measurement method. Instead of relying on changes in electrical resistance—like traditional foil strain gauges—FBG sensors use a micro-structured optical fiber that reflects specific wavelengths of light. When the optical fiber is subjected to mechanical strain or temperature fluctuations, the grating's physical spacing alters, shifting the wavelength of the reflected light. Because FBG sensors transmit data purely via photons rather than electrons, they are intrinsically safe and 100% immune to electromagnetic interference (EMI), making them highly valuable for condition monitoring in electrically noisy industrial environments, such as near high-voltage motor drives or induction furnaces.

Edited by an industrial journalist, Lekshman Ramdas, with AI assistance.

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