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ELCO Colour & Digital Mark Sensors: Precision Detection for Modern Automation

In today’s automated production environments, reliable colour, mark, and surface detection plays an important role in maintaining product quality and process consistency. From high-speed packaging lines to printing, logistics, new-energy and semiconductor applications, the right sensor can help machines accurately identify colour s, registration marks and product differences.

ELCO Automation, available through Cogent Tech Solutions, offers dedicated Colour Sensors and Digital Mark Sensors designed for different sensing requirements, detection distances and response speeds.

Colour Detection vs. Digital Mark Detection

Although both technologies use light to identify differences on an object, their operating principles and applications are different.

Colour Sensor

ELCO colour sensors use variable white light to detect surface colour s over a comparatively longer sensing distance. By analyzing reflected light, the sensor can identify subtle differences between colour s and is suitable for applications where multiple colour s or varying backgrounds need to be detected.

This makes colour sensors useful for applications such as:

• Product identification
• Colour sorting
• Packaging inspection
• Logistics automation
• New-energy manufacturing
• Object differentiation

Digital Mark Sensor

Digital mark sensors use RGB three-colour light—Red, Green and Blue—to detect and distinguish colour s and registration marks. The sensor evaluates the reflected light and compares it against the selected background or reference level.

Digital mark sensors are particularly suitable for fast registration-mark detection where a short sensing distance and rapid response are important.

ELCO OSM47 Colour Sensor

The OSM47 Colour Sensor is designed for flexible colour recognition and industrial automation applications where reliable detection and configuration options are important.

Key Technical Highlights

• Metal housing for robust industrial applications
• Multiple appearance configurations
• Adjustable spot size
• Dual-spot and fiber-optic versions available
• LED digital display with button teaching
• Long sensing distance
• IO-Link support on selected versions
• Suitable for logistics, packaging and new-energy applications

Technical Specifications

The combination of long sensing range, adjustable spot size and IO-Link capability makes the OSM47 a flexible choice for modern machine automation.

ELCO OS48 Digital Mark Sensor

The OS48 Digital Mark Sensor is designed for high-speed detection of colour and registration marks, making it particularly suitable for fast-moving production processes.

Its compact design and rapid response make it suitable for applications where accurate mark detection directly affects machine synchronization and production efficiency.

Key Technical Highlights

• Plastic housing
• colour and mark detection
• 4-digit LED display
• Teaching function for easy setup
• Selectable Mark Mode and Colour Mode
• Ultra-fast response
• Suitable for packaging, printing and papermaking applications

Technical Specifications

With a response time of 45 μs or less in Mark Mode, the OS48 is designed for demanding high-speed registration-mark detection applications.

Which Sensor Is Right for Your Application?

The choice depends mainly on the detection distance, application speed, colour requirements and communication needs.

Choose OSM47 when you need:

• Longer sensing distances
• Precise colour recognition
• Adjustable sensing spot
• Multiple sensing configurations
• IO-Link communication
• Flexible industrial installation

Choose OS48 when you need:

• Fast mark detection
• Short sensing distance
• Registration-mark detection
• High-speed packaging or printing applications
• Simple NPN/PNP integration

Applications

ELCO Colour and Digital Mark Sensors can support a wide range of industrial applications, including:

Packaging Machinery
Registration-mark detection, film positioning and package identification.

Printing & Papermaking
High-speed mark detection and colour differentiation.

Logistics & Material Handling
Product identification and automated sorting.

New Energy Manufacturing
Component identification and automated inspection.

General Factory Automation
Colour-based object detection, positioning and process control.

Why ELCO for Industrial Sensing?

ELCO combines industrial sensor technology, flexible configurations and application-focused designs to address different automation requirements. With options ranging from high-speed digital mark sensing to longer-distance colour detection and IO-Link connectivity, users can select a sensor based on the actual requirements of their machine.

Cogent Tech Solutions supports ELCO Automation products with product information, technical assistance and application support.

Looking for the right ELCO sensor?

Share your application, sensing distance, target material, detection speed and output requirement with us. Our team can help you identify a suitable ELCO sensing solution.

ELCO Automation × Cogent Tech Solutions
Industrial Sensing & Automation Solutions