Signalling

Stack lights | Tower lights | Signal lamps

Stack lights, also known as tower lights, provide clear and immediate status updates in industrial environments. These lights enhance safety and efficiency in factories, warehouses, manufacturing, and assembly lines.

Their color-coded lights offers an intuitive way to monitor machinery and operational processes. This immediate visual feedback is essential for maintaining workflow efficiency and preventing delays.

ifm's LED stack lights stand out for their durability and reliability. They offer several advanages over conventional signal lamps and are suitable for demanding applications. Known for precision engineering and innovative automation solutions, our tower lights ensure clear, consistent signaling in even the most demanding industrial environments.

In general, stack lights must be adapted to the application. Instead of spending time and effort on screwing modules of different colors together, the new LED RGB technology makes it possible to adjust the signal lamp as needed via IO-Link or setting button (e.g. permanently on, low flash rate, high flash rate, different colours, siren). This reduces type variety and stock-keeping.

Stack lights from ifm: Key features

ifm’s stack lights support a wide range of applications while enhancing safety, and efficiency in various industrial settings. The tower light features address specific challenges in industrial environments, from ensuring visibility and durability to enabling customization and efficient energy use.

• Color Variability and Brightness. ifm's stack lights offer a diverse range of signaling options for large industrial spaces. The high-intensity LEDs in multiple colors are visible even from a distance or in brightly lit conditions.
• Durability and Environmental Resistance. ifm's stack lights are encased in robust materials built to withstand harsh industrial environments. Resistant to dust, water, and impact, they're suitable for outdoor use and in manufacturing facilities with rigorous processes.
• Easy Installation and Maintenance: The lights feature easy installation with options for flexible mounting. The long-lasting LED technology minimizes downtime maintenance needs by reducing the frequency of replacements.
• Sound Modules Integration: Some models include integrated sound modules, offering audible alarms and alerts alongside visual signals. This feature ensures workers notice critical alerts, particularly in environments where visual cues alone might not be sufficient.
• Energy Efficiency: ifm’s LED light technology is not only bright and long-lasting but also energy-efficient. This reduces the operational costs and aligns with sustainable practices, a growing concern in modern industries.
• Network Compatibility: Automated factories using centralized control and data collection can integrate advanced models into their network system. Remote monitoring and control options drive efficiency and smart decision-making.

Tower lights and stack lights with IO-link connectivity

ifm's stack lights also feature advanced IO-Link connectivity, a significant enhancement in industrial communication. This technology enables real-time data transmission and centralized control with seamless integration with a facility’s automation system.

With IO-Link, users can easily adjust configurations to trigger the lights or different colors or sounds. This level of connectivity reduces downtime, increases OEE, and aids preventive maintenance by facilitating swift response to changing conditions.

Stack light models from ifm

• 20-LED Light Tower: The ifm 20-LED light tower offers unparalleled visibility with its high-density LED arrangement. It's ideal for complex industrial applications where detailed signaling is necessary across multiple operational stages.
• 5-Segment Light Tower: Designed for versatility, the ifm 5-segment light towers provide a seven-color range. This design offers nuanced signaling to communicate multiple or simultaneous process stages. 
• 3-Segment Signal Light: The ifm 3-segment signal lights offer a compact yet effective signaling solution. These are perfect for straightforward applications like "start-stop-continue" processes in machinery operation.
• 1-Segment Signal Lamp: Simplistic and focused, the ifm 1-segment signal lamps are ideal for singular uses.  They provide clear signaling for machine availability, alerting to specific conditions, or other applications where a single status indicator is sufficient.

What do the colors of Andon lights mean?

Stack lights, or tower lights, use Andon, which is a color-coded visual control system. The colors of the lights on the signal tower communicate different messages.

Typical Andon light color codes

While you can use any color-coding system with stack lights, these are the typical alerts each color represents:

• Red: Production has stopped for a critical problem.
• Yellow: The system or process needs attention.
• Green: Everything is running normally.
• Blue: There is a planned stop in production such as maintenance or a break.