Turck's Uprox inductive proximity sensor has been around for about ten years now, but the latest incarnation of this products series - Uprox+ - represents a step-change in technology, which seems to have struck a chord with customers, not least among them being Ford Europe.Recently introduced to the UK by Turck Banner, the sensor features a flexible, PCB based multi-coil detector that replaces the conventional coil-wound ferrite. While PCB coils may not exactly be new to the market, Turck's patented sensor configuration is differentiated from others by its outstanding performance. Like competing products, Uprox+ is a 'Factor 1' sensor; in other words, it will detect a metal target, whether it be iron, stainless steel, copper, aluminium, or brass, precisely and without any reduction in sensing distance. Unlike competitive Factor 1 products, however, the Turck device offers a greater sensing distance in combination with a narrow field. Sensing distance can be increased in conventional sensors but the sensing field is widened, making them more susceptible to spurious switching.Uprox+ sensors can be embedded in metal to the upper edge of the thread and suffer no more than a 20% reduction in switching distance. This not only provides a high degree of mechanical protection (increased further by recessing with a half turn of the thread), but also significantly reduces the need for a metal-free mounting zone. Indeed, Uprox+ can be mounted anywhere on a machine and be virtually immune to the inductive effects of its metal structure. And as it has no ferrite core, the sensor is also weld-field immune.There is a trend among larger industrial users of inductive proximity sensors - particularly in the automotive sector - to reduce the numbers of different sensor types installed without compromising performance. Ford Europe embarked on such a rationalisation back in 2003 with the aim of reducing its spend on all industrial materials by 15%. In the area of electronics and electrical systems, proximity sensors came high on the list for rationalisation as the company sought to reduce the complexity of the many types of devices in use.Among its suppliers, Turck was able to match the features of other manufacturers' devices with Uprox+ to such an extent that it was able to reduce the 406 different types of proximity sensor in use at Ford's engine plant in Cologne - including the 'specials' - to just 48. Just ten basic switches account for 80% of the value of the new sensor installation. Ford gained not just in terms of performance, but through reduced inventory costs (less spares holding) and a 30% reduction in sensor prices thanks to the higher order volumes.