IFM IFT245 All-Metal Inductive Proximity Sensor

IFK3006-BPKG/AM/P/US

IFT245 belongs to IFM IT hygienic all-metal induktiver Sensor Serie. It is designed for food and pharmaceutical applications with cleaning requirements. Featuring an all-metal sensing face, it can withstand high-pressure spray cleaning.

✅ Key Specifications

📌 Model Code Definition (IFT Series)

WENN: Induktiver Näherungssensor

T: Hygienic all-metal series, wash & hochtemperaturbeständig, dedicated for food & Getränkeindustrie

245: M12, 6 mm nicht bündig, PNP-NR, 70 mm length, M12-Stecker

🧩 Construction & Verdrahtung

Verbindung: M12 4-poliger Stecker

Pinbelegung:

1. Braun: +24V
2. Blau: 0V
3. Schwarz: PNP-NO-Ausgang
4. Nicht verwendet

🎯 Typical Applications

Essen & Getränk, pharmaceutical and dairy production lines; CIP/SIP online cleaning equipment; workstations with frequent thermal cycling and high-pressure spray; metal workpiece presence detection and limit positioning.

Vorteile: All-metal sensing face. Unlike conventional sensors with plastic front caps, it resists cracking and material buildup which causes bacterial growth. It withstands alkaline/acidic detergent flushing and thermal shock.

⚠️ Installation Notes

1. Nicht bündige Montage: The sensor front end must NOT be embedded in metal. Sufficient clearance must be reserved for surrounding metal, otherwise the sensing distance will be reduced.
2. Recommended target: Mild steel. Sensing range decreases when detecting aluminium or copper, so installation margin should be reserved.
3. High-pressure cleaning: Direct spray from high-temperature high-pressure water gun is permitted, but avoid mechanical impact to the sensing face.

🔁 Alternative Modellreferenz

IFT244: Gleiche Dimension, PNP normalerweise geschlossen

IFT246: Gleiche Dimension, NPN normalerweise offen

IFT259: M12, 5 mm flush mount version

IGT247: M18, 5 mm Unterputzmontage, hygienic all-metal

🛠️ Common Troubleshooting

1. Keine Ausgabe: Check supply polarity (reverse polarity protected, but long-term reverse connection is not recommended); corrosion inside M12 connector due to water ingress; target beyond effective working distance (≤4.9 mm).
2. Falsche Auslösung: Strong nearby metal interference; temperature approaching 100 ℃ limit; cable routed in parallel with power cables causing EMI.
3. Intermittierendes Signal: Lockerer Stecker, water ingress after high-pressure wash, material buildup on sensing face.

📎 Additional Information

No IO-Link, discrete on/off version only

Gewicht ca. 31 G

IFM IFT245 Typical Application Cases

Core advantages summary: M12 hygienic 316L stainless steel, IP69K, Säure & alkali detergent resistant, thermal shock 0~100 ℃, sensing face pressure rating up to 100 Bar, PNP-NR, 6 mm nicht bündig. Specially designed for hygienic production lines requiring daily CIP/SIP and high-pressure washdown.

Fall 1: Filling head position detection on dairy filling lines (Am häufigsten)

Working condition: Stainless steel filling valves on fresh milk/yogurt aseptic filling stations. Daily CIP hot alkaline cleaning and direct high-pressure water spray, repeated thermal cycling from ambient to 85 ℃, corrosive detergents.

Funktion: Detect position of metal piston on filling cylinder. PLC allows material discharge only after confirming filling head is lowered in place.

Selection reasons

1. IP69K rated for direct high-pressure washdown. All-metal front without plastic end cap prevents milk residue accumulation and bacterial growth, compliant with FDA / EC1935 food contact material requirements.
2. Tolerates repeated thermal shock; conventional plastic-face sensors tend to crack and leak under such conditions.
3. Compact M12 thread fits narrow space near filling valves; stable detection for stainless steel targets with 6 mm Erfassungsbereich.

Notiz: Non-flush mounting required. Reserve clearance around adjacent metal to avoid sensing distance attenuation.

Fall 2: Gripper position detection on PET bottle aseptic blow-fill-cap lines

Working condition: Aseptic cold filling line with daily disassembly cleaning, acidic disinfectant spray, hohe Luftfeuchtigkeit, high-speed reciprocating movement of metal grippers.

Funktion: Confirm stainless steel bottle gripper fully clamped, preventing false filling of empty holders and bottle bursting.

Pain point solved: Plastic front caps of standard proximity switches corrode and blister under disinfectant spray. IFT245 one-piece all-metal construction resists disinfectant spray and delivers stable signal under vibration. 250 Hz switching frequency matches fast gripper motion.

Fall 3: Cutting / conveyor limit for meat processing

Working condition: Ham & cooked meat production line, splashing brine, blood and grease. Daily high-pressure hot water + alkaline detergent wash, high humidity environment.

Funktion: Limit detection for stainless steel baffles and conveyor push blocks, verify pusher mechanism fully retracted.

Höhepunkte: 316L stainless steel housing resists brine corrosion; sensing face withstands minor mechanical impact; gold-plated contacts in M12 connector reduce oxidation risk in humid environments.

Fall 4: Position feedback of hopper doors for tablet presses / capsule fillers in solid dosage pharmaceutical

Working condition: GMP clean room, CIP cleaning, intermittent high-temperature steam purging. Clean area requires zero dead space for dust accumulation.

Funktion: Detect open/closed status of stainless steel hopper flip door. Interlock protection to prevent powder leakage once door locking is confirmed.

Merkmale: Hygienic dead-space-free design; laser-etched nameplate will not peel off after repeated cleaning. Temperature range covers high cleaning temperature and meets GMP requirements for clean equipment.

Fall 5: Tray presence detection for food retort / pasteurization lines

Working condition: Hot water pasteurization with cyclic temperature 0~95 ℃. Exterior of equipment undergoes daily high-pressure washdown, metal trays entering and exiting retort chamber.

Funktion: Confirm stainless steel tray in place before chamber door closes and sterilization cycle starts.

Fitment: Wide temperature range with thermal shock resistance. Sealing integrity maintained under splashing water and steam; sensing face rated for 100 bar Druck.

Fall 6: Stainless tray counting / presence detection for baking oven conveyor

Working condition: Cooling section after oven, hot baking trays, grease and flour dust, daily hot water cleaning.

Funktion: Detect tray presence and counting on conveyor; interlock to prevent conveyor blockage.

Notiz: Sensing distance reduces when detecting aluminium trays, installation margin must be reserved (reduction factor Al=0.8).

Extended non-food hygienic applications (less common but feasible)

Position feedback for valve actuators on pharmaceutical purified water pipelines with periodic sodium hypochlorite flushing; limit sensing for agitator mechanisms on small hygienic emulsification tanks.

General Site Implementation Guidelines (Applicable to all cases)

1. Montage: Non-flush installation, Nicht in Metall einbetten. Mild steel target recommended; best performance on stainless steel.
2. Kabel: M12 4-pin A-coded connector. Food-grade washdown resistant M12 cable recommended.
3. Schutz: Avoid prolonged direct high-pressure jet hitting the thread and connector seam.
4. Anti-fault measures: Route sensor cables away from high-power solenoid valves and motors to avoid EMI false triggering.
5. Ausgabe: PNP-NR, compatible with mainstream hygienic PLCs such as Siemens and Rockwell Automation.

Alternative Models within the Series

Normally closed version: IFT244

NPN normally open: IFT246

M12 flush mount 5 mm: IFT259

IFM IT Hygienic All-Metal Inductive Proximity Sensor List (IFT / IGT / IIT / IET, series of IFT245)

Series common features: 316L (1.4404) all-metal sensing face, IP69K, max pressure rating 100 Bar, 0~100 ℃, FDA / EC1935 food approval, M12 4-pin A-coded connector, 3-wire DC 10~30VDC.

Benennungsregel: IFT=M12, IGT=M18, IIT=M30, IET=M8; qf=flush/semi-flush, nf=non-flush; NO=Normally Open, NC=Normally Closed

IFT (M12×1, same housing sub-series as IFT245)

IGT (M18×1 hygienic all-metal, same IT series)

IIT (M30×1.5 hygienic all-metal, same IT series)

IET (M8×1 compact hygienic all-metal, same IT series)

🔎 Quick Selection Reference (Based on IFT245)

Same M12, 6 mm nicht bündig, NPN → IFT246

Same M12, 6 mm nicht bündig, Normally Closed → IFT247

M12, 5 mm flush, short 45mm body for tight space → IFT259

Platz begrenzt, short housing 6 mm non-flush M12 → IFT260

Longer detection range, switch to M18 hygienic type → IGT247 (5 mm flush) / IGT250 (12 mm nicht bündig)

✅ General Series Notes

1. All sensors adopt all-metal sensing face, not PEEK plastic front used on standard sensors; designed exclusively for CIP/SIP cleaning applications.
2. Reduction factor: Stahl=1, Stainless steel=1, Brass=0.9, Aluminium=0.8, Copper=0.6.
3. Mounting restriction: Nicht bündig (nf) models cannot be embedded in metal. Clearance must be reserved for surrounding metal or sensing distance will drop. Spülen(qf) versions can be embedded in metal.
4. Uniform M12 A-coded 4-pin male connector for all; washdown food-grade cable recommended.
5. No IO-Link, pure discrete switching output. IO-Link capability available on other IFM all-metal series.

Important Distinction: IC Series (Do not confuse)

IxC series also has all-metal sensing face, but it is developed for machine tool cutting fluid environments. No food hygienic certifications, cannot replace IT food-grade sensors.