For object detection made easy, look no further than this photoelectric sensor from Festo. Its through-beam technology means its transmitter and receiver are housed in two blocks. As these components sense whenever the red LED beam connecting them is interrupted, you get an accurate way of monitoring objects passing by. This makes the unit particularly handy for factory automation processes where products are counted and positioning is crucial. Thanks to the device's sensing range between 150 and 2000mm, you'll find it ideal for detecting over larger distances.

• Operating temperature range of -25°C to +60°C, so suits harsh environments
• Electrical contacts made of gold-plated brass for high-quality connections
• Tough ABS and PC housing means it resists wear, impact and abrasion
• Colour-coded LEDs help you read operating status at a glance
• IP65 and IP67 approvals, so it's dustproof, resists low-pressure water jets and submersion in up to 1m of water for 30mins

• Packaging plants
• Automotive construction
• Doors and gates
• Food manufacture

Yes, its push-pull switching outputs mean you can use it for light switching or dark switching (PNP or NPN), so it's easy to adapt its behaviour to the task at hand.