Balluff’s Inductive Factor 1 Sensors Detect Ferrous and Non-ferrous Metals Reliably at the Same Rated Switching Distance

July 29, 2019

Balluff’s new generation of high-precision inductive factor 1 sensors accurately detect ferrous (iron-based) metals like steel and non-ferrous metals like aluminum and brass at the same rated switching distance. Typical inductive sensors have a reduced range for non-ferrous metal, requiring a correcting factor to calculate their switching distance. Not so with Factor 1 sensors; they detect both types of metal with no correction factor needed.

These inductive factor 1 sensors keep operating in harsh environments. They are magnetic-field resistant, so their function is not disturbed by strong electromagnetic fields, which are often found in welding applications. A PTFE coating on the housing helps keep weld spatter from sticking to the sensor.

Balluff has engineered this new generation of sensors with an IP68 rating and extended the working ambient temperature range to –40 to +85 °C. Add their improved housing and they are a clear improvement over the previous IP67-rated generation of devices.

Key features include:

  • Inductive Factor 1 sensors accurately detect all metals (ferrous and non-ferrous) at the same rated switching distance
  • Magnetic-field resistant and PTFE-coated housing performs in harsh environments, is resistant to weld spatter
  • IP68 rated, with extended ambient temperature range from –40 to +85 °C, both improved from previous generation
  • Ceramic coated sensing face material (for BES05KU version) provides further weld spatter resistance
  • Well suited for metalworking applications, including mobility tier 1, OEM, and stamping

Learn more at: www.balluff.com

Related Articles



Editor’s Pick: Featured Article

Weidmüller’s u-control 2000: The Automation Controller

Weidmüller’s u-control 2000: The Automation Controller

Weidmüller’s scalable engineering software, u-control 2000, adapts individually to your requirements. And, the u-control is powerful, compact and fully compatible with Weidmüller’s I/O system u-remote. This article looks at what makes u-control the heart of your automation.

Programmable logic controllers (PLCs) are one of the main components of any automated system. A typical control system has inputs, outputs, controllers (i.e., PLCs), and some type of human interaction with the system, a human machine interface (HMI), for example.

Read More



Latest Articles

  • Vention’s Demo Day 2026 Highlights Zero Shot Automation™ – Automating Automation

    December 15, 2025 By Krystie Johnston Vention has been democratizing automation since 2017, and their 6th annual Demo Day demonstrated another step on that journey. For those unfamiliar with Vention, they are headquartered in Quebec and describe themselves as the creator of the world’s only AI-powered full-stack software and hardware automation platform. For those who are… Read More…

  • How to Achieve Next-Level Clarity for Complex GenAI Server Boards 

    December15, 2025 Discover why 3D CT X-Ray is a game-changer for AI hardware quality inspection of server boards Welcome to the Age of Invisible Defects Generative AI is everywhere, from writing your emails to generating art and code. But the real magic happens on server boards so densely packed, even the best engineers can’t see all the connections…. Read More…