They are still going strong and simply cannot be beaten:

Inductive sensors must be replaced if a defect occurs due to mechanical influences. Our all-steel sensors such as the IC120126 or IC210176 with up to three times the standard distance, address this problem in two ways: firstly, the one-piece metal housing offers high pressure resistance and is therefore much tougher than standard devices with a cap or active surface made of plastic. Secondly, the quasi-factor 1 devices (same switching distance for all metals) can be positioned much further away from the moving object.