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OCTOBER 2024
Locking Machine Guards
Movable access guards acting as a barrier to a hazard must be monitored by a safety interlock device. This safety function initiates a safe stop of the hazard once the guard door is opened, disengaging the safety switch. In addition to monitoring the position of the movable guard for an open or close state, some applications require the movable guard to be physically locked until a safe condition has been reached such as on a high inertia machine.
High inertia machines may not be able to reach a safe condition (safe or zero speed) following a stop command. For example, a high-speed mixer may take several seconds to reach standstill once a cycle stop has been initiated. In such instances, a risk assessment may lead to the use of engineering controls for safety which can be a safety interlock switch with locking capabilities.
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If this locking function is used to protect the operator from residual hazards following a stop command, it is considered guard locking. The locking guard switch will keep the movable access door closed and locked until a signal is received indicating that the hazardous motion has either stopped or has reached speeds considered safe. Additionally, the safety door interlock will not provide a safe output to reinitiate the safety function until the guard door is again closed and locked.
Alternatively, locking of the guard may be of use even if there are no residual hazards to personnel but interruption of a machine cycle may lead to machine or product damage. This type of function is called process locking and does not require the door to be locked before reinitiating the safety function. Here the lock function is not part of the safety function and is not monitored within the safety related parts of the control system.
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And Unlocking...
When locking safety devices are used for full body access applications, there must be a means for personnel trapped within the hazardous area to escape by overriding the lock function. This is known as an emergency escape or emergency exit.
If a locking interlock needs to be opened manually, for example with loss of power to the system, manufacturers offer an emergency release to override the locking function. Emergency releases are typically seen on guard locking devices mounted on the outside of the hazardous area. Due to the easy access to override the lock, the emergency release may require a special tool or several steps to reset to prevent personnel from misusing this function
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Schmersal Door Interlock System
We've designed a new complete door interlock system that combines several products:
- AZM40 Solenoid interlock
- BDF40 Control panel
- DHS-U1 Door handle
They are can be used separately, but with a few accessories can be combined into a complete door system that provides locking (with emergency exit), machine controls, and status indicators.
Check out the three components:
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AZM40 Solenoid Interlock
The AZM40 solenoid interlock has new features including Emergency exit and emergency release, Lockout device, universal mounting plates, and IP69 Rating for washdown applications.
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BDF40 Control panel
The new BDF40 control panel has a slim profile to be mounted on standard guarding profile systems and offers up to 4 control elements such as an E-stop, pushbuttons or illuminated pushbuttons.
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DHS-U1 Door Handle
The new DHS is an ergonomic door handle with illumination and an optional pushbutton. The RGB LEDs built into the handle can display up to 7 colors to show status.
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GRAND OPENING OF SCHMERSAL INDIANAPOLIS
On September 6, 2024, we proudly celebrated the grand opening of our new Indianapolis location, marking a significant milestone in Schmersal's commitment to innovation and community engagement. The day commenced with a warm reception under a grand tent, where Phillip Schmersal energized the crowd of employees, regional sales representatives, distributors, and local guests with his enthusiasm for expanding our footprint in the US market. He emphasized the exciting prospect of labeling our products with “Made in America,” underscoring our dedication to quality and local production. The event culminated in a ceremonial ribbon cutting and an enlightening tour of the facility, showcasing the enhanced capabilities we can now offer.
As the evening unfolded at the SILO Auto Club and Conservancy in downtown Indianapolis, we were privileged to hear from our special guest speaker, Sarah Fisher, professional racecar driver (retired) and race team owner. Her insights on leadership and teamwork resonated deeply with our mission.
This grand opening not only celebrates our current achievements but also ignites excitement for future opportunities and collaborations within the machine safety sector. We invite you to join us on this exhilarating journey, as we explore the possibilities that lie ahead and continue to turn workplaces into safer places.
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Our new Indianapolis warehouse is a state-of-the-art, 16,000 square foot industrial/flex facility, strategically positioned on 3.18 acres near the Indianapolis Airport.
This significant investment in a centralized warehousing operation not only enhances our capacity to deliver tailored safety solutions but also strengthens our systems and solutions business. As we look to the future, this facility also offers us the flexibility to expand, ensuring that we remain at the forefront of evolving safety solutions.
8545 Challenger Drive, Indianapolis, IN 46241
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During our celebration dinner we took an opportunity to shine the spotlight on our remarkable employees, honoring their years of dedicated service to Schmersal. These individuals have not only contributed their time and talents but have also woven the very fabric of our success in the machine safety industry.
- Mario Tucci, 25+ years
- Dawn Etta, 25+ years
- Nyoka Roberts, 25+ years
- Lesley Watson, 25 years
- Evelyn Podlas, 20 years
- Dennis Bailey, 20 years
- Shannon Nicholls, 20 years
- David Schucker, 20 years
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BROCHURE
GK-C
Our machine guarding safety products overview is updated and expanded. Find the product information for all your machine guarding applications
28 pages.
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BROCHURE
GK-A
Our controls and automation products overview has been updated. Showcasing the various lines of pushbuttons, control panels, heavy duty limit switches and more.
24 pages
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BROCHURE
Tec.ncium
The guide to all the services and training courses on machine and industrial safety available from our engineering services group, tec.nicum.
20 pages
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mrl.news issue 2024.02
The latest edition of our machine safety magazine mrl.news is now available. Published twice a year, the magazine presents technical articles from our experts in tec.nicum, our engineering services branch. Highlights in this issue:
- Sustainability in manufacturing
- International cooperation in a major customer project
- Preventing fire damage and production losses
- Preventing potential hazards with AI
- Cyber resilience in mechanical engineering
- Lockout Tagout Tryout
Reading options:
Download the issue (PDF) View in eReader (Yumpu)
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SCHEDULE - UPCOMING EVENTS | |
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Join us at 2 pm (Eastern) for the Basic OSHA Requirements for a Control Reliable Safety Circuit, with our expert guide to wiring designs that ensure compliance with OSHA standards and meet essential Performance Levels (PL) and Safety Integrity Levels (SIL).
> Register to attend
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PACK EXPO: November 3 - 6
Join us at the Largest Packaging and Processing Show of the Year in the US. Plan to visit us in booth 3778 in South Hall, McCormick Place, Chicago.
Complimentary registration: To register to attend Pack Expo for free, please use our comp code: 73G62 > Register here
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TRAINING: November 4 - 15
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TÜV Rheinland Functional Safety Training
Interested in in becoming a TÜV Certified Functional Safety Engineer for Machinery? Take the TÜV Certification course with us, online.
> Learn more here
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Minimum Distances for Safety Control Measures | |
Fixed guards and presence sensing safety devices are often used as control measures for risk reductions. Discover the crucial factors behind implementing these measures - particularly the considerations for their strategic placement to ensure compliance and effectiveness in risk reduction. Watch this 1-hour webinar to master the art of calculating and implementing minimum safe distances.
> View the recording
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Hosted by: Machine Design magazine
Presenter: Devin Murray
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Devin Murray
TUV Functional Safety Engineer
ID-No. 4274/11
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Question: How do I determine if I need an interlock with guard locking?
Answer: As written within ISO 13855 (Positioning of safeguards with respect to the approach speeds of parts of the human body) “In order to ensure that the hazard zone cannot be reached when opening an interlocking guard without guard locking before the hazardous machine motion has stopped, the minimum distance shall be determined.” If the calculated minimum distance exceeds feasible space constraints for the placement of the guard, locking can be used to prevent access to the hazardous area until a safe condition exists. A safe signal to unlock the guard can be triggered from a safe standstill/ speed monitor, time delay, motion detector, position sensor, or other suitable component.
Do you have a question? Ask Devin: dmurray@schmersal.com .
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