SPIN designed and manufactured multiple bespoke safety systems to provide machine guarding for existing various HIC, solenoid and cartridge production and development test rigs.  The guarding served to upgrade user safety by eliminating personnel exposure to high pressure hydraulic test circuits during production, component test and development engineering test processes.  Existing guards were also upgraded to comply with current UK and EU legislation.

All systems encompassed many key features including:

• Front of machine easy access locking guard – horizontal or vertical movement
• Rear of machine safe guarding doors and panels with safe monitoring
• Pressure monitoring to ensure <100psi pressure prior to guard release with beacon indication
• AC/DC power off interlocks for open guard status
• Emergency stop interface to existing system controls

Machine Guarding Solutions

The new guards were produced to provide safety solutions including; Sliding guard assemblies with Pilz safety locking and programmable safety relays, Fortress key safe entry systems, Hydraulic circuit valve actuation safe control and safe access to plant room hydraulic power sources.  Existing guards were also upgraded to include a safety monitoring switch to indicate their position with the main guard doors open.  Visual beacon stack was upgraded to a green/amber/red system to operate in conjunction with an audible alarm for increased operator security.

Additional Safety Systems for Industrial Processes

Pump rooms were adapted for access with safe exchange keys, stopping access whilst the pump room is active and restricted access to authorised personnel only.  Also provided were;

• Machine to machine access doors
• Safe room with safe exchange keys
• Electrical power shut off to solenoid
• Safety guard interlocks
• Relocation of controls

All test rig and plant room safe entry systems included visual indication of safety status and safe entry conditions.

Cost Efficient Safety Guarding Upgrade

Upgrading safety systems to keep on track with current safety legislation prolongs the life of existing machinery and improves long term cost efficiencies.