Health and Safety '10 - North, exhibition review

Laidler Associates was promoting not only its own services but also those of its sister company Safety Systems Technology. Visitors to this stand could therefore find out about machinery safety training, consultancy, inspection services, CE marking services, and the supply of machinery safety hardware including physical guarding. An important feature on the stand was the latest edition of Laidler's mCom Machinery Safety Software, a risk assessment software package for compliance with the Machinery Directive 2006/42/EC. In addition, visitors had the opportunity to ask about the group's recent acquisition by TUV Product Service.

Beckhoff was using the event to explain to visitors the benefits of its TwinSAFE system that enables safety to be added - in a cost-effective, modular fashion - to automation control systems based on the company's modular DIN rail industrial PCs. Because the safety modules benefit from onboard redundancy (each effectively contains a safety PLC), it is possible to use a standard (ie non-safety) PC, and the safety modules can perform distributed control functions on local zones of a machine or interchangeable machine modules. Various TwinSAFE modules are available for logic, inputs and outputs, with communication via almost any fieldbus protocol and configuration performed using the intuitive TwinSAFE configurator software-based tool. Safety functions that can be performed with TwinSAFE include emergency stops, light curtains, muting, two-hand controls, safe torque off and others. As well as the 'slice' type modules for mounting on DIN rail, there are also IP67 remote input modules for use directly on machinery, and IP67 output modules are due to be launched in 2011.

Clear Machine Safety Ltd (CMS) was the only exhibitor whose business is focused solely on machine guarding. As such, it was receiving a good level of interest in the Nelsa standard machine shop guards that it can supply and install. These guards are now manufactured by Procter Machine Guarding, so there was a representative of this company on hand to discuss visitors' requirements for modular machine guarding and bespoke machine guarding, especially where there is a requirement for new guards for old machinery. Clear Machine Safety was keen to emphasise that it not only supplies guarding, but can also install it and ensure that any safety interlocks or other guard switches are correctly connected to the machine's safety-related control system.

Fortress Interlocks has introduced the DMSK stainless steel single-door key-operated interlock for applications in industries such as food, beverages and pharmaceuticals where maintaining high hygiene standards is essential. This product was one of the main points of interest for visitors to the Fortress stand, as were the eGard, mGard and AmGard ranges: eGard is an access and control product range; mGard are modular, mechanical interlocks; and AmGard are robust modular safety gate switches.

MiniTec UK was busy on its stand, explaining to visitors the benefits of its Powerlock fastening that requires no specific preparation, pre-machining or special tools. Furthermore, the same size of fastener is used with all profile sizes, which simplifies ordering and stockholding. Indeed, the savings on fastenings and assembly time can make frameworks constructed with MiniTec profiles considerably lower cost than equivalents built from competitive profile systems. Other advantages include better reuse of fasteners and profiles (remember that the profiles are not drilled to accept the fasteners), faster assembly, and no need for power tools to be used during on-site assembly or modification. MiniTec was also giving away CDs with its innovative iCAD Assembler software. This is claimed to be extremely easy to use and runs as a standalone package with no need for users to have an existing CAD package. Nevertheless, 2D drawings and 3D CAD models can be exported from iCAD Assembler in a choice of 50 formats for use in within CAD assemblies.

Pilz Automation Technology found that many visitors to its stand were interested plant and machinery safety inspection services in order to comply with regulations such as PUWER, as well as machinery safety training courses. In addition, Pilz had a number of machinery safety products to illustrate the wide range of machine guard switches, light guards and other machinery safety hardware that it now has in its portfolio. Interest was also shown in the recently introduced PSENsgate safety gate system that combines guard monitoring, locking and control elements in a single compact unit.

Rockwell Automation had a broad selection of machinery safety products on it stand. In addition, the company presented a paper in the seminar theatre entitled Safety solutions to assist with implementation of ISO 13849-1, so its engineers were also kept busy discussing machinery safety standards and the SISTEMA software tool with visitors who had attended the seminar. Of the products on the stand, the recently launched Allen-Bradley Compact GuardLogix safety controllers were of interest to many visitors, as these modular systems are suitable for integrated automation, motion, drive and safety control on medium-sized applications. Moreover, thanks to the single programming environment and diagnostics, engineering costs and downtime can be reduced, leading to financial savings for machine builders, system integrators and end users. In addition to the products, Rockwell Automation was also promoting its range of machinery safety services, which includes audits, risk assessments and CE marking.

Ross UK was showcasing its safety valves for use with pneumatic and hydraulics applications where there is a need to ensure safety. The company's double valves with dynamic monitoring and memory functions, and L-O-X valves for energy isolation, were both of interest to visitors, especially those currently relying on regular maintenance of conventional control valves to ensure the safety of potentially hazardous machinery such as power presses. Literature available from the Ross UK stand included a very useful publication Fluid Power Safety for Machine Guarding, as well as technical brochures for the aforementioned safety valve ranges.

Sick (UK) had a number of new and innovative machinery safety products on its stand, including the Flexi Soft Designer v1.3 (the latest version of the configurator tool for the company's intuitive Flexi Soft safety controller), the compact miniTwin 2 safety light curtain, a Mitsubishi GOT display for use with Flexi Soft safety controllers, a new way to programme laser area scanners via a Flexi Soft controller (rather than having to make connections directly to the scanner), new Flexi Soft communications modules for CANopen and CC-Link, and the latest models of the company's safety camera sensors for machine guarding. In addition, visitors were able to find out about Sick's free guide to machinery safety, workshops and seminars.

Siemens Automation & Drives had a number of new machinery safety products on its stand. In particular, visitors were interested in the latest Sirius 3TK2810-1 standstill monitor and safe speed monitor safety relays, which also feature integrated guard switch monitoring. While many of the visitors were interested from a point of view of using these to upgrade existing machinery - and benefit from faster cycle times, reduced downtime and simplified maintenance - these products are equally suitable for use on new-build projects. Furthermore, following the Siemens seminars entitled Turning safety on its head, many visitors were interested in finding out more about how implementing the latest machinery safety standards can create new possibilities for control and safety automation, particularly when utilising programmable safety controllers and products such as the 277F IWLAN Mobile Panel wireless portable controller.

Wieland Electric used the exhibition for the UK launch of its Monoflop safety relay technology. This prevents the full fault tripping of safety relays when they are used with sensors such as pressure-sensitive safety mats or safety light curtains, thereby avoiding the need for full system resets and the resultant costs associated with lost production time. Visitors to the Wieland stand could also see how the samos PRO modular safety controller is easy to program using the free configurator software. Other popular products on the Wieland stand included the company's recently launched wienet high-speed industrial Ethernet switches, wietap overvoltage protection devices and podis power distribution bus.

In conclusion, the Plant and Machinery Safety Zone was well attended, with plenty of interest in the busy seminar schedule and a good spread of established and new products for visitors to see on the exhibitors' stands. Follow the link for more information about forthcoming regional Health and Safety events from Western Business Exhibitions.