Alfa Laval ThinkTop V20 hygienic valve indication unit

The Alfa Laval ThinkTop V20 next generation of hygienic valve indication units is designed to help drive digital transformation within the process industries.

The valve-sensing unit is maintenance-free and doesn’t require manual adjustment or programming. It enables 360° LED visual status indication from all directions. It also provides control-room monitoring of the real-time status of Alfa Laval hygienic valves used across the dairy, food, beverage, home and personal care, biotechnology, pharmaceutical and many other industries.

Purpose-designed to digitalise essential on/off valve monitoring, the unit can provide a high level of process control for manufacturers who rely on visual and signal feedback of the open or closed valve positions.

It takes a few seconds to commission the unit by simply installing, activating and deactivating. Live set-up is fast and intuitive. Sensors automatically recognise the valve type and size, calibrate and record valve opening and closing distances, and complete set-up without requiring manual interaction. Moreover, replacing or hot swapping the valve top is easy without disrupting production. No expertise, training, adapters or special tools are required.

The unit shares the same look, maintenance-free housing and enhanced 360° LED visual status indication as the ThinkTop V-series control tops. Its compact, robust design makes it suitable for tight installations. Manufacturers select the communication protocol — digital, AS-Interface or IO-Link — that is best suited for their processing needs.

The product is hermetically sealed for good readings of the valve position and to prevent the risk of water, dust and other unauthorised access into the unit. Using the point-to-point IO-Link communication protocol allows the connection of sensors to automation systems. IO-Link also makes access to real-time data easier, improving diagnostics and simplifying configurability and control while supporting Industry 4.0.