SICK announced the launch of the W4S-3 Hygiene Photoelectric Sensor. This IP 69K-rated photoelectric sensor is ideal for harsh washdown environments in the food and beverage industry. The smooth, stainless steel housing of the W4S-3 Hygiene eliminates bacteria growth in applications where food may become lodged in small grooves, crevices or mounting holes. The stainless steel metal housing withstands tough environments with temperatures ranging from -40° to 70° C and retains cleaning agents better than plastic housings. In addition, the W4S-3 features a simple teach button and a clearly visible LED indicator that provides visible status and power indication. These high-performance sensors feature SICK’s third-generation custom ASIC, which incorporates OES3 technology to provide exceptional background and foreground suppression at an extended range. The W4S-3 is able to ignore stray background reflections, detect multi-colored/shiny objects, and provide high immunity to ambient light in food and beverage, packaging, pharmaceutical, solar and high-pressure washdown applications. The W4S-3 is a reliable, long-term solution without the frequent replacement, downtime and installation costs of other sensors.