Alfa Laval ThinkTop V55 sensing and control unit for diaphragm valves

The Alfa Laval ThinkTop V55 is a diaphragm valve sensing and control unit for the hygienic industries, especially the pharmaceutical, biotech and next-generation food industries. It is built on ThinkTop V series technology, which is used by dairy, food and beverage manufacturers worldwide due to its simplified set-up, advanced automation, live replacement capabilities and real-time communication.

The device has a durable, maintenance-free design that enables performance even in the most demanding environments. Tamperproof construction and built-in self-diagnostics maximise uptime, making it a good choice for critical operations.

The unit supports fast installation and quick commissioning. Onsite auto set-up takes less than a minute, while live set-up — enabling quick remote valve configuration — requires only a minute or two. Exchanging or hot-swapping control units can take place without disrupting production, for operational and product safety.

The product’s slim profile optimises space utilisation, making integration into new or existing installations effortless, and it is easy to mount in any position on the valve actuator. It provides 360° LED visual status indication, making the valve position clearly visible from the factory floor. Performance is enabled in demanding environments thanks to self-diagnostic features that boost uptime and productivity.

The device provides real-time diaphragm valve monitoring through digital, ASI 3.0 or IO-Link interfaces, which should enable accurate valve position readings. Its point-to-point IO-Link communication protocol integrates sensors and actuators into any automation system, regardless of fieldbus. This integration makes it easy to capture, store, analyse and act upon meaningful real-time data, thereby supporting Industry 4.0 initiatives and streamlining configurability and process control.

The unit is designed for Alfa Laval diaphragm valves, offering a one-size-fits-all solution. With the same robust features as the ThinkTop V series, it is designed to simplify purchasing, set-up, operation and maintenance.