Page 34 - EngineerIt February 2021

NEW PRODUCTS AND INNOVATION

Tackling crime with home- High-level pressure sensors for
grown tech complete systems

ack in 2014, running a cell phone store was a dangerous ELLER’s modular product design offers great flexibility and allows
business to be in. Robberies were a daily occurrence, with customer-specific adaptations to be made without causing soaring
Bheavily armed robbers striking almost with impunity. Kcosts – even for small production runs.
Barge in, hold the staff at gunpoint, open the safe, grab the Applications that at first glance may seem trivial, can actually prove to
goods and bingo. For serial entrepreneur Michael Gewer, who be highly complex on closer analysis. By taking the actual usage
was managing a division at a large cellular dealer at the time, conditions of the sensor into consideration right from the outset, Keller has
there had to be a better way. achieved major improvements in effectiveness and durability and has found
Driving home one day, Gewer had his ‘Eureka moment’. that a mutual exchange of expertise with customers has been central to
What if he were to build a secure locker with separate their success, and sharing that knowledge is what has enabled Keller to
compartments, each with its own time delay? No robber would find the best sensor solutions.
wait around to get one phone every five minutes.
It was a revolutionary idea. There was just one problem: The stages of creating a tailored customer-specific solution
the product didn’t exist anywhere in the world and would have 1. Define basic sensor specifications in order to select the appropriate
to be conceptualised and created from scratch. Gewer needed component
an engineer to help design and build the kit – and his lifelong 2. Assess the environmental conditions to determine the appropriate design
friend, technology entrepreneur Lance Baum, was just the for the intended location
person for the job. 3. Design the requested customer-specific solution taking all standards and
laws into account
SA solutions, for SA problems 4. Assemble the electronic modules, taking into account application-specific
The VaultGroup was born. Gewer and Baum patented the idea and customer requests
started working on various designs and technologies. After several 5. Configure electrical interfaces and connections
months, they had built their first working product, aptly named 6. Custom product labelling with laser engraving or labels n
CellVaultGewer and Baum persuaded ten stores to try CellVault as
proof that the concept would work. Their breakthrough came when Contact INSTROTECH for more information at sales@instrotech.co.za
one of the pilot retail stores was hit by robbers. The store lost
around R1-million in high-end cell phones from its standard safe
but zero from its CellVault. The credentials were established. New, precise, leading-edge
“Retailers are in a tough place right now. The cost of
acquisitions and getting product into clients’ hands is too high. detection sensor
Covid-19 is keeping people out of the malls. Most of all,
consumers want a different experience. Click & Collect gives
them the convenience they want, while still offering mall owners he Q76E has a unique design that
and retailers the opportunity to get people into the malls, and do enables consistent detection of a
a potential upsell,” says Gewer. Tbroad range of targets that typically
For Baum, it’s all about the power of using technology to challenges other sensors. Each sensor
drive real innovation and real-world solutions for the problems generates a wide sensing beam capable of
facing businesses and consumers alike – and the sky’s the limit, reliably detecting pallets, boards, totes with
with numerous potential applications for secure storage across a gaps or holes, packages, pouches and
range of industry verticals. n other irregularly shaped targets, as well as
objects in clear or reflective packaging.
More information from info@vaultgroup.co.za The Q76E features two sensitivity levels
and manual adjustment for detection of
challenging targets such as shrink-wrapped
pallets, small objects and film or perforated
packaging. Use the TEACH button to adjust sensor
sensitivity and select light or dark operate. Increased
sensitivity mode enables detection of objects as small as 8 mm in size.
The Q76E also offers an IO-Link model for increased data availability, remote
configuration and monitoring, and simple device replacement.
A visible red beam allows for simple alignment and bright LEDs for
visual indication. The small gap in the sensing beam allows accurate
alignment of the sensor. Additionally, it features a 250 Hz switching frequency
for high-speed production. n

For more information contact brandon.topham@turckbanner.co.za

EngineerIT | February 2021 | 32