Hermes technology award winner

The compact thermometer iTHERM TrustSens has been designed especially for hygienic and aseptic applications in the food & beverage and life sciences industries. With automated and fully traceable self-calibration during production, the sensor eliminates the risk of undetected non-conformities, resulting in maximum product safety and process efficiency. The integrated Heartbeat Technology additionally allows for continuous device diagnostics and verification without interruption of the process.

iTHERM TrustSens relies on an integrated reference sensor. Developers used the so-called Curie point physics principle, in which the magnetic properties of a material abruptly change at a specific temperature point. This point is determined for the reference sensor. As soon as the temperature falls below this value, such as following a steam sterilisation, both sensors are adjusted. Since the Curie point remains constant, the reference sensor as a master provides a stable comparison value. 

The probe thus calibrates itself each time the system is cleaned or sterilised as is usual in processes in the food & beverage and life science industries. Endress+Hauser says the added value for customers is huge. Large systems often include hundreds of temperature sensors that have to be calibrated several times a year. To date, this has required stopping the process and removing the instruments. iTHERM TrustSens omits that.

“The award-winning product makes a major contribution to the deployment of the Industrial Internet of Things throughout the process industry,” said Jochen Köckler, CEO of Deutsche Messe. The award was presented at the opening of Hannover Messe 2018 in front of many guests, among them Germany’s Chancellor Angela Merkel.