steute (Germany) - With the new variants in its Ex BF 80 product series, the steute business unit Extreme is not targeting the mass market of human-machine interface users. There is, namely, an essential difference between these new devices and conventional products: they have been developed especially for use in explosive environments and in temperatures ranging from -60 °C to +65 °C.

The new series comes in three different housing sizes, to incorporate one, two or three elements. Users can choose between various actuators, signal lamps and key switches, including emergency stop buttons and mushroom buttons. All models are suitable for mounting on e.g. machine enclosures, walls or panels – also and especially in adverse environments involving high levels of wear and tear. They meet protection class IP 66 and have been developed especially for all manner of “Extreme” applications.

Following the wishes of some of our customers, steute has now extended its compatible temperature range even further. This has been facilitated through the re-design of all actuators. Hardly noticeable to the eye, the new design includes features such as sealings which are suitable for even lower temperatures.

The extended temperature range down to -60 °C is included in the new ATEX/IECEx approval. It opens up additional options for the steute Ex command devices, e.g. applications in shipbuilding, offshore technology and the oil and gas industry. The subzero range of steute Extreme switching devices is thus steadily growing.