Adequate machine protection and maximum production freedom

Safety features should not interfere with regular business processes. Inrato therefore has a wide range of safety solutions: light curtains, safety mats, safety switches, machine guards, modular machine guards,... There is a suitable solution for every business process. A customer case

Anyone who works with machinery knows that there are always safety risks involved. In fact, studies show that one-fourth of workplace accidents are the result of working with unsafe machinery. To reduce the risk of accidents, machines should be equipped with machine safety components. It is important that these safety components do not interfere with business processes. That is why Nissink Business Glass enlisted the help of Inrato.

Light curtains proved not ideal

Nissink Business Glass is a glass specialist for various industries, cutting custom glass for luxury yachts, shower enclosures, refrigerated display cases, partitions, stairs, balustrades, entrances and elevators, among others. An existing glass cutting machine came standard with a number of light screens. Columns on the floor containing the light screens and corner mirrors proved anything but ideal in practice. After all, glass sheets are taken from the warehouse and brought to the machine, but the columns that are supposed to guarantee safety, in particular, proved to be a stumbling block - both figuratively and sometimes literally. For example, they blocked the aisle for forklifts that need to fill the warehouse while a collision of the large glass sheets with the columns on the floor could lead to damage. The large distance around the machine where one could not or should not stand also worked counterproductively. Removing the light screens was also not an option to maintain safety.

Scanner Solution

Nissink Business Glass contacted Inrato to consider together what solution would be both safe and functional for their application. The final choice was a scanner solution from IDEC, the SE2L Compact Safety Laser Scanner. Leendert Jan IJspeert, sales director of Inrato explains, "Scanners do not have columns on the floor but work with pre-programmed scan fields. Existing objects such as a control console, for example, are cut out of the scan field during configuration so that the field completely matches the floor and no portions remain that are not scanned."     

Warning zone

In doing so, the scanning field can be divided into zones. "At Nissink Bussiness Glass, we set up two zones. If employees enter the first zone - the first warning field - an orange warning light comes on and an alarm sounds. The machine does not stop immediately, but the employee is alerted that he is approaching the machine. If he steps back, the alarm stops and the warning light goes out. However, if he walks further toward the machine, he enters the next zone and the machine stops."
Erik Heijkoop of Nissink Business Glass on the chosen system: "Without columns on the floor, we have much more room to move large sheets of glass. The scanners only intervene in case of danger and then you are glad they are hanging there."

Custom

The system can be tailored to the situation. IJspeert explains, "What has not been applied at Nissink Business Glas but is possible is for the machine to slow down in the "warning zone." In some business processes, it is desirable to already bring the machine to a lower speed before it is brought to a complete stop in the next zone."

Reliable brand

The technology, by the way, is not new. IJspeert: "IDEC is an emerging brand. In Japan they are the market leader, in America they are also very big, while the European market is growing strongly. The products have good quality and functionality is well thought out." IDEC not only has scanners in its product range, but offers a broad program, think of a deadman switch, a tablet holder with activation switch and emergency stop, interlock switches,... IJspeert: "The solutions provide a higher level of safety, in accordance with laws and regulations taking into account the applications. Robert Nissink CEO of Nissink Business Glass agrees: "Our challenge for adequate machine protection as well as maximum production freedom is through Inrato filled in with IDEC's laser scanners and we like it."