With all the buzz about mobility, cloud
computing, big data in manufacturing, Industrial
Internet of Things and autonomous operations,
let's not forget some basics regarding the
manufacturing floor: safety. That would be the
safety of people, machines and processes.
The cost of sensors has plummeted, making
their implementation for safety applications
a no-brainer. Industrial safety sensors are
a requirement from both a regulatory and
liability standpoint. It also makes sense (no pun
intended) economically: Sensors protect the
investments companies make in people and
machines on the manufacturing floor. Moreover,
callous as it might seem, stopping a machine
or an entire production line for an emergency
involving people or machines is downright
costly. Ergo, safety sensors not only protect
and prevent accidents, they also increase
productivity.
The universe of safety sensors covers a lot.
The photoelectric sensors for safety applications
from Pepperl+Fuchs ( pepperl-fuchs.com ), to
mention one vendor, include light scanners
(diffuse mode and active infrared), photoelectric
Advancing Safety Through
ADVANCED SENSING
By LAWRENCE S. GOULD, Contributing Editor
Sensors for the seemingly mundane activity of
ensuring industrial safety are moving forward in
sophistication, packaging and watching what
needs protecting.
sensors (thru-beam, slot and retroreflective
sensors), fire protection sensors, passive
infrared scanners, radar sensors, laser distance
sensors and distance measurement devices, and
safety light grids and curtains. Add to that list
safety edges, safety mats, anti-collision sensors
and both magnetic and ultrasonic sensors. In its
report published in March with a very lengthy
title, IndustryARC ( industryarc.com ) points out
that "safety switches also encompass an exten-
sive range of products, such as limit switches,
hinge switches, non-contact magnetic switches,
position switches, door switches, foot switches,
interlock switches, emergency stop buttons and
rope pull switches."
Here are four examples of what's new in just
two categories of safety sensors.
BIG ADVANCES IN SMALL PACKAGES
Photoelectric sensors sense the difference in
light intensity to determine the presence or
absence of an object and, in some cases, the
distance to that object. These sensors have
been a mainstay in safety applications for
decades. What's changed about them is their
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