Rockwell Automation, Inc. has announced the release of its new Allen‑Bradley® ArmorBlock 5000™ I/O blocks. Accordingly, the integrated with IO-Link technology, the distributed I/O solution offers smart capabilities. As such, it can help industrial manufacturers improve operational productivity with minimal cost.

Manufacturers can deploy and maintain smart automation more efficiently with the ArmorBlock 5000 I/O solution. With the highly integrated IO-Link capabilities, machine design complexity can be reduced through simpler device configuration. Furthermore, it has better integration with Allen‑Bradley controllers.

Users can speed up project development with the common tag structure and configuration workflows in the intuitive Studio 5000 Logix Designer® environment.

Optimized for On-Machine use, the high-performance ArmorBlock 5000 I/O blocks enable quicker installation, commissioning, and troubleshooting, which will reduce downtime. The I/O blocks can operate in a wide range of temperatures and offer up to IP69K protection for high-speed applications in harsh environments. Plus, the blocks are available in three industry-standard power variants to meet different regional needs.

Smart Technology as Key Enabler

The IO-Link master blocks are the first released product from the ArmorBlock 5000 I/O portfolio. These scalable blocks provide a high degree of flexibility with up to eight IO-Link channels. Furthermore, it includes four IO-Link Class A and four Class B ports. Furthermore, the ability to control high current devices and improve connectivity can help drive machine performance and productivity.

More offerings will be released in future to complement the ArmorBlock 5000 I/O solution. Particularly, the upcoming configurable I/O blocks will deliver smart capabilities such as sequence of events (SOE), scheduled output, input timestamping, event trigger, and more.

“With the increasingly complex manufacturing landscape, our customers are challenged to improve operational resilience while maintaining efficiency. Smarter technology is a key enabler for better enterprise visibility, leading to timely data-driven decisions,” says Sean Homan, business director, Asia Pacific Business Center, Rockwell Automation.

In addition, Homan said, “ArmorBlock 5000 I/O is the result of our commitment to delivering innovative solutions that meet the evolving needs of our customers. With its distributed monitoring and control, and highly integrated IO-Link capabilities, this On-Machine I/O solution can drive production agility for industrial automation.”