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Technical articles

We offer a selection of technical articles dealing with the safety of machines and plants - both in general and on particular aspects of product families for machine safety. Some of the contributions are from Schmersal employees, others are written by independent specialists, e.g. from industrial assessment organisations. The applicable PDF file can be stored on your computer by means of the download function.

  • MACHINE SAFETY – TAILOR-MADE!

    Alternative solutions and the impact on safety certification - interview with Tobias Thiesmann [more]

    Safety functions are gradually shifting from hardware level to software level. As such, it makes sense for machine builders to work with their 

    safety systems suppliers early on when developing new products. There are particular benefits to be gained from the use of OEM-specific 

    software.

    Source: Computer & Automation, issue 11-22, WEKA FACHMEDIEN GmbH

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  • CLEAN BUSINESS

    NEW RANGE OF CONTROL UNITS FOR FOOD-PROCESSING MACHINES [more]

    A new series of command and signalling devices from Schmersal has been designed to ensure maximum hygiene. The extensive range of 

    command devices can be flexibly adapted to the requirements of machine engineering, such as with pluggable contact carriers.

    Source: ME, trade magazine for mechatronic & engineering, issue 6/2022, TeDo Verlag

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  • ALTERNATIVES NEEDED IN THE EVENT OF SUPPLY BOTTLENECKS

    THE SEMICONDUCTOR SHORTAGE AND THE SELECTION OF SAFETY SWITCHGEAR [more]

    Disrupted supply chains for electronic components also have consequences for machine safety in the form of bottlenecks, primarily in the 

    manufacture of electronic safety switchgear. When these occur, designers need to reconsider and replan. No reason to panic, however, as there are alternatives – there are just a few things that need to be considered and borne in mind.

    Source: SPS-MAGAZIN, trade magazine for automation, issue 12/2022, TeDO Verlag

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  • A BREWERY FOR THE ISLAND...

    NEW COMPONENT – A COMPACT AND ROBUST SOLENOID INTERLOCK [more]

    Safety in a production environment is everything. Belgian business BW Procestechniek has been using Schmersal’s safety components to 

    hermetically seal the hatches on its brewing tanks for many years. When constructing a new brewery for Heineken on the island of La Réunion, 

    the company opted for an innovative solution in the form of the AZM40, the world’s smallest electronic solenoid interlock.

    Source: LVT LEBENSMITTEL Industrie 7–8, 2022, publishing house: Wiley Verlag

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  • SAFETY FIRST

    OPERATING AGILE, AUTONOMOUS SYSTEMS SAFELY [more]

    Robotics, optics, Artificial Intelligence – these are the three main areas of modernisation in industry, and the specialist area of a fledgling French company. Reliable safety technology is essential to the safe operation of countless flexible, agile and autonomous systems and to their optimal functionality without danger to operators

    Source: MY FACTORY 2022/11-12, www.myfactory-magazin.de

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  • MANY DOORS – SAFELY CLOSED

    Ublo uses the AZM150 solenoid interlock from Schmersal [more]

    A company in France has installed electromechanical slimline-design, high-coding solenoid interlocks to secure twenty guard doors on a 

    packaging production machine. They can be combined with different actuators for different attachment situations.

    Source: DER KONSTRUKTEUR 2022/07-08, www.derkonstrukteur.de

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  • CONDITION MONITORING FOR CONVEYOR SYSTEMS

    Schmersal has expanded its range of products and systems for bulk materials handling [more]

    Safe, fault-free operation of conveyor systems is an essential factor when it comes to production efficiency and profitability. The Schmersal Group offers intelligent components and systems for safe and efficient conveyor systems. These also include solutions for condition monitoring – the capture and evaluation of process and diagnosis data from system components to enable predictive maintenance and to increase availability.

    Author: Heiko Bach, Business Development Manager Heavy Industry, Schmersal Group

     

    Source: etz 9/2022, publishing house: VDE VERLAG GMBH

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  • ‘DIGITISATION IS ABOUT NETWORK CAPABILITY, CONNECTIVITY AND DATA'

    INTERVIEW WITH PHILIP SCHMERSAL AND EDGAR STADLER [more]

    Safety technology is of growing importance in automation. The objective is to achieve reliably operating machines and systems where, alongside productivity, the safety of employees is paramount. Philip Schmersal, Managing Partner, and Edgar Stadler, Head of the Technology Division, at K.A. Schmersal GmbH & Co. KG in Wuppertal, discuss the impact of digitisation and the current situation in materials acquisition on the development of the company.

    Source: KEM Konstruktion, issue 03 / 2022, Konradin publishing house

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  • MACHINE SAFETY IN INTRALOGISTICS – BEST WHEN NETWORKED

    CONCEPTS FOR COMMUNICATION AND SIGNAL EVALUATION [more]

    When it comes to machine safety in conveyor and storage technology systems, it’s vital that the topic of ‘networking’ is on the agenda, owing to the extensive nature of the systems, and the numerous and dif-ferent safety switchgear devices that they contain. With a sophisticated networking concept, you can achieve multiple goals in one go – transparency in communication, ‘lean’ wiring and intelligent linking of different system areas. Here, system engineers can choose from a number of different options.

    Author: Ulrich Bernhardt, Head of Sales for Controls, Schmersal Group

    Source:F+H Fördern und heben, issue 04-2022, Vereinigte Fachverlage

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  • SAFETY CONTROLLER WITH INTEGRATED AUXILIARY FUNCTIONS

    MONITOR AXES EASILY AND SAFELY [more]

    Drive technology and the safety of machinery go hand in hand: in addition to an integrated solution encompassing safe drive systems and PLCs, safety mini-controllers like the Protect PSC1 from Schmersal also allow safety monitoring of drive-related parameters such as speed, acceleration, and position. Plus, thanks to communication modules, integration into the control and management level is straightforward, including with OPC UA if required.

    Author: Dipl.-Ing. Christian Lumpe, Product Manager for Controllers, Schmersal Group

    Source: DER KONSTRUKTEUR, Vereinigte Fachverlage, issue 2021/11-12

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  • MACHINE SAFETY – BEST WHEN NETWORKED 

    SAFETY FIELDBOX, ASI-SAW, SD-INTERFACE AND OPC UA   [more]

    Networking is a trend, in machine safety too. Electrical designers have various options at their disposal to allow safety switchgear devices to be connected together – options that offer considerable benefit over traditional series connection. The solution that is most suitable depends on the individual requirements.

    Author: Tobias Thiesmann, Systems and Solutions Manager, Schmersal Group

    Source: www.wirautomatisierer.industrie.de, Konradin-Verlag, issue 11-2021

     

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  • INTEGRATED OR SEPARATE?

    SAFE CONTROL TECHNOLOGY ON SMALLER MACHINERY [more]

    Safety controllers are becoming increasingly popular as an alternative to relay modules, even on smaller machinery. The designer can opt for one of two concepts: some designers favour integration of safety into the automation PLC, but a separate (small) safety controller offers clear benefits.

     

    Authors: Christian Lumpe and Tobias Thiesmann, Product Manager for Control Systems, Schmersal Group

    Source: SPS-Magazin, issue 06-2021

     

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  • SAFE USE OF ROBOTS

    SAFE MACHINE INTERLOCKING PROTECTS AGAINST ACCIDENTS  IN HYGIENE-SENSITIVE LOCATIONS [more]

    In the SAC Loader, Singer & Sohn GmbH has developed a compact, flexible and powerful system for the packaging of food items – a truly multitalented insertion robot. One of the challenges faced by its design team was the safeguarding of the hazardous area under hygienic conditions

     

    Source: Lebensmitteltechnik, issue 02-2022

     

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  • Industrial Robot Protection

    Alternatives to the Safety Fence [more]

    The choice of protective equipment around a robot workstation is made easier if one keeps a close eye on the individual circumstances.

     

    Author: Tobias Thiesmann, System and Solutions Manager, Schmersal

     

    Source: messtec drives Automation 8/2021 E, S. 7–9, Wiley-VCH GmbH

     

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  • FOCUS ON BOTH EMPLOYEE AND MACHINE SAFETY

    SAFETY AT WORK [more]

    …mentions Sagar Bhosale, Managing Director, Schmersal India – a company that’s been offering products & technologies for a safe working environment – in his interview with Anvita Pillai. He elaborates on prioritising man and machine safety, the initiatives for safety, new trends and more. 
    Source: A&D, Automation & Digisat, publish-industry India Pvt. Ltd.
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  • SAFETY AND RAPID DIAGNOSTICS

    A PULL-WIRE EMERGENCY-STOP AS A SAFETY COMPONENT IN BESPOKE CONVEYOR SYSTEMS [more]

    ‘Do it yourself’ is the approach taken by a materials handling manufacturer to create a completely new business model. Users can now go online to
    configure and order conveyor belts designed to meet their individual requirements. Systems are delivered quickly and can then be constructed and
    commissioned promptly on site. Pull-wire emergency-stops from Schmersal are being used as a protective device in these new modular systems.

    Source: DER BETRIEBSLEITER, ISSUE 11-12/2020, VEREINIGTE FACHVERLAGE GMBH

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  • CRASH TESTS IN THE BAKERY

    HYGIENICALLY ENCLOSED SAFETY LIGHT CURTAINS UNDERGO TESTING AT BAKED GOODS MANUFACTURER COPPENRATH & WIESE [more]

    Coppenrath & Wiese is using hygienically enclosed safety light curtains on some of its production and packaging systems. The manufacturer of
    frozen baked goods and an automation specialist have jointly proven the mechanical stability of the protective covers in a series of tests, and
    subsequently declared that the series in question is consistent with the company standard.

    Source:MESSTEC DRIVES AUTOMATION, ISSUE 10/2020, WILEY-VCH GMBH

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  • OPTIMAL CONNECTIVITY IN MACHINE SAFETY

    Four concepts for networked machine safety [more]

    Industry 4.0, connectivity and networking are hot topics in machine safety. From the user’s perspective, there are a number of concepts – each
    slightly different, but all sharing one thing in common – their use can boost productivity, transparency and flexibility in production.

    Source: OPEN AUTOMATION, ISSUE 3/2020 (4.6.2020), VDE VERLAG GMBH

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  • MACHINE SAFETY:THE FUTURE IS INTERCONNECTED

    THE NEW SAFETY FIELDBOX – A BENEFICIAL SAFETY SOLUTION, NOT ONLY FOR PACKAGING MACHINES [more]

    The plug and play principle allows up to eight safety switchgear devices of different types to connect to safety controls with PROFINET/PROFIsafe via the Safety Fieldbox. This
    solution offers greater efficiency and process transparency – important benefits, especially for the complex machinery often used in the packaging industry.
    Source: Der Konstrukteur, issue 11-2020, publishing house: Vereinigte Fachverlage

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