Kübler anticipates turnover of 80 million euros for the Group in 2021. Incoming orders are currently expected to increase by around 40%, while the company anticipates over 20% growth in turnover. Like most companies on the market, the Kübler Group is currently facing supply bottlenecks and high price increases for materials. "So far, we have been able to bridge these well with only minor delays," report the shareholders and Managing Directors Lothar and Gebhard Kübler. For 2022, the company is once again expecting double-digit growth - "10+ %" is the first 'thumb value' that Martin Huth, Managing Director Sales/MarKom, is giving for the coming year.

New Industrial Ethernet platform

According to Gebhard Kübler, the topic of Industrial Ethernet in combination with Industry 4.0 is becoming increasingly important: "It offers us great opportunities: more sensors are needed that provide more data with which added value can be generated". Rotary encoders and slip rings are very important in this respect, which is why Kübler is focusing on innovation in this area: "Our Industrial Ethernet rotary encoder business is very important because these components provide measurement data as well as diagnostic and identification data - and with direct communication into the Ethernet network."

Kübler has already realized a Profinet encoder based on a specially developed Industrial Ethernet encoder platform. The company is now presenting its first safe Industrial Ethernet encoder at SPS: the SIL3/PLe-certified 'Sendix S58 Profisafe'.

The SIL3-certified Profisafe 'Sendix S58' de-encoder in single and multiturn versions with integrated web server and cybersecurity.

© Kübler

The platform will be successively expanded with additional protocols and the associated features. This results in optical singleturn and multiturn encoders with a compact design and a size of 58 mm. Special customer requirements can be implemented on the platform, both in terms of firmware and hardware - from telegrams, special default configurations to approvals (Ex 2/22), surface protection for extreme requirements and optional features such as shared devices or shared inputs. Further functions can be extended or added via an update, which is carried out via the web server integrated in the encoder.

The Industrial Ethernet encoders will have their own administration shell so that users can access the encoder's recorded data, which is relevant for condition monitoring or predictive maintenance, directly via the cloud.

With the Industrial Ethernet platform, Kübler is successively offering all common Industrial Ethernet protocols - with classic Industrial Ethernet protocols such as Profinet, extended by the Profidrive or Profi-energy application profiles, Ethercat and Ethernet/IP. Features such as an integrated web server and cybersecurity are also part of the platform, just as safe Ethernet protocols for functional safety such as Profisafe, FSoE or CIP Safety are planned for implementation. OPC-UA and MQTT are intended to offer the advantages of the Industrial Ethernet platform in terms of a convergent network. Kübler's long-term goal is to operate all common Industrial Ethernet interfaces on a common platform in which the encoders do not differ in terms of mechanics, housing and basic electronics.

SIL3-certified Profisafe encoder

The SIL3-certified 'Sendix S58 Profisafe' encoder is a safe singleturn encoder. It transmits up to 16 bits safe or up to 24 bits non-safe as well as fully redundant multiturn information of 12 bits safe. It is equipped with the latest profiles (Profinet v2.35/Profisafe profile v2.6, Profidrive profile v4.2, Encoder profile v4.2). The encoder corresponds to encoder class 4/S2 and provides the recorded measurement and diagnostic data via safety telegrams 36/37.