The Conveyor | September 2026 Control, Automation, and Robotics News

We’re back, and we’re excited to share all kinds of product news from September 2026. See what you may have missed from all of your favorite control, automation, and robotics brands!

News one hour ago by David Peterson

September has been a busy month all across the automated manufacturing industry, including many new product announcements. Check out a selection of the newest products from several well-known brands.

Autonics Announces a New Capacitive Sensor: CP Series

Capacitive sensors are designed to detect materials with a different dielectric constant than air. These sensors are often used to sense through the insulative walls of a container to measure fill levels of all kinds of materials.

Autonics’ new CP series offers models with standard discrete outputs, as well as IO-Link. The series offers an adjustable range up to 25 mm, with various diameters and cable termination types for nearly every installation case.

Emerson Releases a New Flow Meter: Rosemount 9000

Magnetic flow sensing uses a coil to produce a magnetic charge on the conductive fluid inside the pipe. As the fluid is charged, it induces a voltage onto a set of measurement electrodes. This sensing type is highly effective for certain fluids, and it does not obstruct the fluid flow like most flow sensor types.

Emerson’s recent announcement of the Rosemount 9000 series provides insights about diagnostic and configuration enhancements, including coated electrode detection, data logging, output signal configuration, and automated empty pipe and fluid-type detection.

Banner Combines Touch and Display: S100

Push buttons are perhaps the most extreme example of ‘simple’ user input controls. At the opposite end of the spectrum, a full-featured HMI can provide some of the most capable and insightful visuals, user prompts, and data input of every conceivable type. But what about the applications that need more than a push button but don’t require the integration complexity of an HMI?

Banner Engineering recently provided its answer to the above question with the new S100 multi-touch capacitive button interface. This device includes five different haptic touch zones (buttons), an alphanumeric display screen in the center, and a ring of 16 RGB LEDs around the perimeter. Com options include discrete I/O, Modbus, or IO-Link with a standard M12 connector on the back.

Schunk Gives a Grip to Workholding Automation

In the world of metal manufacturing, there is no ‘one size fits all’ device for workpiece holding. However, the industry is united in its desire to provide a few more automated solutions that can at least provide some degree of uniform application for multiple parts and fixtures.

To this end, Schunk just announced a new addition to its catalog of automated vice clamps with a solution for simpler, entry-level machining applications. With this new vice system, the clamps are manually loaded with parts outside the CNC machine. The robot grips each vice and latches it securely into a fixed base inside the machine. With the standardized robot and base interface, the actual workpiece interface can change to accommodate a mix of various machined components.

Balluff’s New Linear Position Sensor for Hydraulics: BTL Entry

I might be biased in this article, because linear motion control is one of my favorite topics. But then again, I’m a fan of pretty much every product in this list. Motion control is interesting because it requires real-time, ultra-precise feedback to the controller, all without interfering with the process.

Balluff launched a new line of magnetostrictive sensors for use in the center of a hydraulic cylinder. These sensors provide an analog output (voltage or current). The BTL Entry series delivers a robust and high-quality signal for standard motion applications, while Balluff’s broader catalog caters to more demanding environments.

Danfoss Enhances Control for Refrigeration: AK-GC52

When we think of controllers here on Control.com, it’s usually in reference to a PLC producing outputs to run a manufacturing line. However, digital control extends to far more specific applications, all of them still extremely important. CO₂ refrigeration systems are found in chillers, heat pumps, and heat recovery applications. These tasks are particularly sensitive to seasonal and demand changes, so the controllers must be carefully selected.

Danfoss announced the new AK-GC52 controller to handle these sensitive tasks, optimized to increase efficiency in chiller operation. The controller is also equipped with Modbus communication on both RS-485 and Ethernet to provide data to a central control system.

Twist, But Don’t Shout With New igus DeviceNet Cables

Some automation applications are bolted to the floor with rigid fasteners, staying solid even under the most extreme demands. But not robot arms. Robots move, twist, and spin to grip parts, and new AI algorithms are only increasing the flexibility of motion paths. To keep up with this trend, signal and power cables that enable the end-of-arm tools must be flexible.

In a recent announcement, igus launched a new DeviceNet cable with a high tolerance to torsional stress (which means it can be twisted more without breaking). The new CFROBOT8.PLUS cable is rated to withstand rotation of up to +/- 360° for up to 10 million cycles. The cable series also has varieties suited for generic applications and other specialized functions like Ethernet, PROFINET, CAN, and more.