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Safety in system: Protection for man and machine - under this motto, the Schmersal Group develops and produces safety switching appliances and systems for the entire machinery and plant construction for decennia already. In some industries, special and additional requirements are applicable.
As customer-focussed company, who intensively deals with the wishes of the manufacturer and users of machines, Schmersal has taken up these challenges from the start. As a result, specific products and solutions were developped for many industries and for some of them, an own portfolio has been developped as well.

High performance, high pace

A traditional industry, on which the Schmersal Group focuses, is the packing machinery construction. In this industry, machinery and plants are often operated at high pace with short cycle times. They are frequently integrated in the entire production and/or packaging lines as well. This has major consequences for the selection and the design of safety systems:

• The safety guards must not interrupt the production cycles nor affect the productivity of the plants.
• They must run with highest reliability.

Highest availability

The safety switchgear from the Schmersal Group are characterised by a long life-time even under unfavourable conditions and when operated 24/7. Many series, especially those, which are preferably used in the packing machinery industry, are designed so that any stop of the machine is avoided when possible.

Ref. 1)

An example: safety sensors, safety switches and solenoid interlocks equipped with the Schmersal-patented CSS technology detect the slightest misalignment of the guard door and transmit a corresponding message to the control or the master display. The user then can realign the guard door before it become misaligned to such extent that for instance the safety sensor no longer responds to the actuator, thus preventing the start-up of the machine.

Quick troubleshooting

Packing machinery accomplish highly complex process cycles, in part with highly filigree materials. Some machine types therefore tend to present failures more often than others, where the processes are more stable due to the applied materials and work cycles.

Safety solutions from Schmersal can be configured to enable a fast and safe elimination, for instance of jammed materials. The protection against tampering thereby plays an important role as well.

Experience exchange in the Packaging Excellence Center

The Schmersal Group has contacted manufacturers of food-processing machinery in order to exchange experiences, so that Schmersal was able to guarantee the highest level of practical experience both during the development of new switchgear and during the individual consultancy.

Schmersal is also member of the "Packaging Excellence Center" (PEC). This Centre of Competence for the packaging and automation technology joins the leading German companies of the packing machinery construction.

Hygiene

During the packing of foodstuff and pharmaceutical products, special hygienic requirements must be observed as well. For the different hygienic zones (dry zone, splashing zone, wet zone and aggressive zone), Schmersal offers solutions, which meet the "Hygienic Design". These solutions also include safety sensors, which can be smoothly cleaned due to the smooth surfaces of the sensor and the actuator and which are moreover suitable for concealed mounting. Depending on the requirements of the application, the safety switchgear are accordingly approved and certified in accordance with the foodstuff technology standards (Eco-lab, 3A Sanitary, FDA etc.). More information

Dust-explosion protection

When filling and packing organic dusts, the regulations regarding the dust-explosion protection must be observed. This applies both to foodstuff in powder form, pharmaceutics and animal feedstuff. The Schmersal Group offers a comprehensive programme of switchgear for automation and machinery safety, which is tested and certified in accordance with the ATEX and IECEx Directives.
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PRODUCTS

• Safety switches with separate actuators are suitable for sliding, hinged and particularly removable safety guards, which need to be closed to ensure the necessary operational security. They are also suitable for fitting on profile sections and existing equipment.
  
  
• Up to 4 safety contacts
• Metal- and thermoplastic enclosure
• Long life
• With multiple or individual coding
• Comprehensive range of accessories
• Connector or cable entree

More information

SOLENOID INTERLOCKS

• Solenoid interlocks, operating in combination with control elements of a machine, e.g. fail-safe standstill monitors or fail-safe delay timers, ensure that sliding, hinged and removable guarding devices, such as grids, hoods or doors, cannot be opened until hazardous conditions (e.g. running-down movements) have come to an end.
  
  
• Latching force 500 - 3500 N
• Up to 5 safety contacts
• Non contact sensor with guard locking
• Metal- and thermoplastic enclosure
• Long life
• With multiple or individual coding
• Comprehensive range of accessories
• Connector or cable entree

More information

POSITION SWITCHES

• Position switches with safety function are suitable for sliding and hinged safety guards which need to be closed to ensure the necessary operational security. Further applications for positions switches class 1 are most varied positioning duties. The variety of requirements to be found in practice can be met in detail by means of a wide range of actuating elements.
  
  
• Metal- and thermoplastic enclosure
• Mounting according to EN 50047 oder 50041
• Wide range of actuating elements
• Connector or cable entree

More information

SAFETY SWITCHES FOR HINGED GUARDS

• A general advantage of the safety switches shown here is the integral cam within the safety switch. The requirements of EN 1088, such as positive linkage between cam and actuator as well as protection against tampering are thus fulfilled.
  
  
• Metal- and thermoplastic enclosure
• Simple mounting, suitable for all conventional profile systems
• Additional hinge and universal joint for easy mounting

More information

SAFETY SENSORS

• The use of safety sensors is of particular advantage in cases where extremely dirty conditions can occur or high hygienic standards need to be maintained. This is provided by the simplicity of cleaning the units.
  
  
• Metal- and thermoplastic enclosure
• With multiple or individual coding
• With integral evaluation
• Protection class up to IP69K
• Insensitive to transverse misalignment
• Insensitive to soiling

More information

OPTOELECTRONIC SAFETY DEVICES

• Optoelectronic safety device are used as entry, danger point or danger zone guards.
  
  
• Safety light curtains and - light grids
• type 2 und type 4 in accordance with IEC/EN 61496-1, -2
  Muting and blanking optionally
  Protection class up to IP69K
  
• Safety light barrier
• Range 4 - 15 m
  
  
  

Safety light curtains and - light grids Safety light barrier

COMMAND AND SIGNALLING DEVIVES

• Command devices are of great importance for the man-machine interface in the area of industrial applications. For example, they are mounted in switch-boards, control panels, two-hand control panels, in lift manufacture and on materials-handling plants, including conveyors.
  
  
• Emergency-STOP button
• Pullwire switches
• Two hand control Panels
• Enabeling devices
• Safety-related tactile sensor
• Foot switches
• Push buttons, selector switches and pilot lights

More information

SAFE SIGNAL PROCESSING

• Safety monitoring modules serve for the secure evalution of switching signals. The signals can emanate from mechnical position switches, safety switches, solenoid interlocks or safety sensors.
  
  
• Safety control modules
• Safety controllers
• Safety bus system
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More information

 

References: 1) meurer Verpackungsmaschinen GmbH