Balluff
Every Machine Decision Starts With a Sensor Signal
A machine only knows what its sensors tell it. Balluff builds industrial sensors that detect presence, distance and position. It also builds the RFID, machine vision and IO-Link solutions that carry that information to the controller. Because one manufacturer designs every layer, the devices are made to work together from the start.
That depth separates Balluff from catalog suppliers that resell generic sensors under their own label. Balluff develops and produces its own technology, and much of the IO-Link ecosystem now standard on modern machines started in its engineering departments.
Manuauto is an authorized Balluff distributor in Canada and the United States, and our partnership with Balluff goes back more than 30 years. Machine builders, OEMs and plant engineers across both countries rely on us for genuine Balluff products and the right part number the first time. We also deliver to customers worldwide.
Built on Precision Sensing, Shaped by IO-Link
Balluff is a German, family-owned sensor technology company, and its reputation rests on reliable machine detection and precision position sensing. Every cycle, the controller needs to know that a part is present, a cylinder has reached end of stroke, or a hydraulic axis is exactly where it should be. When that signal is wrong, the machine either stops or produces scrap.
Balluff is also an IO-Link pioneer. It was a founding member of the IO-Link Consortium in 2006. The standard, IEC 61131-9, lets a sensor send measured values, diagnostics and parameter settings over the same unshielded cable that once carried only an on/off signal. That is the smart factory data plants now use for predictive maintenance and faster changeovers. Balluff also helped develop IO-Link Wireless, which became an IEC standard in 2023.
- IO-Link (IEC 61131-9)
- IO-Link Wireless
- Safety over IO-Link
- IP67 / IP69K Housings
The Balluff Product Range, Organized by the Job It Does
Each area below starts with the problem it solves, then lists the Balluff product families Manuauto supplies for it.
Detecting Presence, Material and Distance
Contact-free sensors that tell the controller what is there, what it is made of and how far away it is.
- Inductive sensors (BES) for metal targets, including weld-field immune and stainless IP69K versions
- Capacitive sensors (BCS) for non-metal objects and level detection through container walls
- Photoelectric sensors (BOS) for object detection over longer ranges
- Ultrasonic and radar sensors (BUS, BRS) for distance measurement through dust, fog and stretch film
- Magnetic field sensors (BMF) for piston position on pneumatic cylinders and grippers, including T-slot versions
Measuring Position Along an Axis
Absolute feedback for hydraulic cylinders and linear drives, with no wearing parts.
- Magnetostrictive linear position transducers (BTL) with non-contact measurement
- Magnetic encoded position systems (BML) for high-resolution length and angle measurement
- BMS mounting system and accessories for repeatable sensor alignment
Moving Sensor Data Onto the Network
IO-Link masters and hubs that replace bundles of discrete wiring with a few network connections.
- IO-Link masters (BNI) for EtherNet/IP, PROFINET and EtherCAT
- IO-Link sensor/actuator hubs and converters that connect standard discrete and analog devices
- IO-Link Wireless for rotary tables, tool changers and moving equipment
- SmartLight IO-Link stack lights for machine status signaling
- Engineering software for IO-Link device configuration
Identifying Tools, Parts and Carriers
RFID that stores data on the object itself, so it travels with the part from station to station.
- BIS LF, HF and UHF read/write heads, tags and processors
- Tool identification on machining centers
- Workpiece carrier tracking on assembly lines
- Long-range UHF tracking for logistics
Inspecting and Reading Codes With Cameras
For checks that need an image, not just a switching point.
- BVS smart cameras for presence, position and quality inspection
- Code readers for 1D and 2D codes
- Industrial cameras from Matrix Vision, part of the Balluff group since 2017
Wiring and Powering the Field Level
Cordsets, distribution and 24 V supplies matched to Balluff devices.
- BCC M8, M12 and 7/8" cordsets and field-attachable connectors
- Splitters and passive distribution boxes
- BAE 24 V DC power supplies, including IO-Link models
Building Safety Into the IO-Link Network
Safety and standard signals on one infrastructure, without a separate safety wiring layer.
- Safety over IO-Link hubs that carry safety and standard signals on one network
- Connection of e-stops, door switches and light curtains to the safety controller
- Safety I/O modules
Catching Wear Before It Stops the Line
Monitoring packages that turn sensor diagnostics into maintenance decisions.
- Condition monitoring packages for vibration and temperature
- IO-Link sensor diagnostics such as signal quality, operating hours and contamination warnings
- Format changeover systems for faster product changes
Have a part number, a drawing or just an application? We’ll match it to the right Balluff product.
Ask a Balluff Specialist →Built for the Conditions That Break Ordinary Sensors
Weld spatter, caustic washdown, coolant mist and millions of gripper cycles are the conditions Balluff designs for. Here is how that plays out on six kinds of production floor.
Body Shops & Vehicle Assembly
In body shops, weld-field immune inductive sensors keep reporting fixture positions next to resistance welders. RFID tags tell each station which body style has arrived on the assembly line.
Food, Beverage & Packaging Lines
Stainless IP69K sensors ride out high-pressure washdown. IO-Link lets operators load new format settings into every sensor from the HMI during changeover.
Machining Centers
RFID tags in tool holders carry tool length and life data to the machining center, so a wrong tool never makes the first cut.
Injection Molding & Hydraulic Presses
Linear position transducers give hydraulic presses precise ram feedback. Mold-mounted tags confirm the right tool before the cycle starts.
Conveyors & Warehousing
Radar and ultrasonic sensors measure distance on conveyors and in warehouses, while UHF RFID tracks carriers as they move through the facility.
What ties these applications together isn’t one product. Balluff sensors, ID systems and network modules speak IO-Link with each other, so diagnostics reach the controller instead of stopping at the cable.
What You Get When You Source Balluff From an Authorized Distributor
A Balluff sensor from a gray-market listing looks identical to one from us. The difference shows up later: when the part number turns out to be wrong, the warranty claim has nowhere to go, or a replacement is nowhere in sight. Here is what the authorized channel adds.
Traceable to the Factory
Every device comes through the authorized channel, with full manufacturer warranty and a clear path for technical escalation.
Engineers Who Check the Spec
Flush or non-flush, PNP or NPN, M8 or M12: our team checks the details that decide whether a sensor fits your machine.
Quick Turnaround, Global Shipping
Quick fulfillment for customers across Canada and the U.S., with shipping to sites around the world. Know the exact part number? Order selected Balluff products online at shop.manuauto.com, with pricing in CAD.
Any Part Number, Old or New
Send the long type code from an older machine or the current short order code. We match it to the right Balluff product either way.
Balluff and the Rest of Your Panel in One Order
Pair Balluff IO-Link masters with industrial Ethernet switches and protocol gateways in a single order.
Send Us Your Balluff Part Numbers
Send us a part number, a bill of materials or a short description of your application, and Manuauto’s team will come back with a Balluff quote and the right specification.
Answers to Common Questions About Buying Balluff
Are Balluff products compatible with Rockwell (Allen-Bradley) and Siemens control systems?
Yes. Balluff network modules and IO-Link masters are available for EtherNet/IP and PROFINET, and IO-Link itself is a vendor-independent standard. Balluff sensors and hubs therefore work in machines built around either platform.
Do I need IO-Link to use Balluff sensors?
No. Most Balluff sensors come in standard switching or analog versions that wire to any PLC input. IO-Link versions add measured values, diagnostics and remote setup when you are ready for them.
How do I read a Balluff part number?
The type designation starts with the product family (BES for inductive sensors, BOS for photoelectric, BIS for RFID, BNI for network modules), followed by codes for size, output and connection. The short order code, such as BES00N6, identifies one exact variant and is the fastest way to request a quote.
Where can I find datasheets and CAD files?
Each Balluff product page on manuauto.com includes a downloadable datasheet. For CAD models or a datasheet that isn’t listed, contact our team and we’ll send it.
