IS & Ex


Cable-pull switch enhances industrial safety

September 2017 IS & Ex

Industrial automation customers can now improve safety without sacrificing productivity using the Allen-Bradley Guardmaster Lifeline 5 cable-pull switch from Rockwell Automation – a solid-state, cable-pull E-stop in the industry with microprocessor-based technology.

Traditional cable-pull switches are prone to nuisance trips and unreliable operation due to temperature-based changes in cable tension. The solid-state operation of the Lifeline 5 offers an electronic monitoring system to compensate for thermal expansion and cable sag.

“Because the Lifeline 5 is a solid-state switch there is not the mechanical wear often associated with traditional switches,” said Christo Buys, business manager for control systems, Rockwell Automation sub-Saharan Africa. “This means increased uptime and more reliable safety function over a longer lifecycle.”

The Lifeline 5 switch provides constant access to the E-stop function, stopping a machine hazard with a simple pull of the attached cable. The patented, microprocessor-based solution simplifies setup and allows for more efficient maintenance and troubleshooting. The easy-to-see LED indicators assist in cable tensioning for quick, precise setup while providing switch status and diagnostics during operation.

Available in die-cast aluminium or rugged, stainless-steel housings with IP66 and IP67 environmental ratings, respectively, the Lifeline 5 switch helps optimise productivity by combining maximum reliability with diagnostics that can help prevent unplanned downtime. The die-cast aluminium model also offers an optional, integrated E-stop button for even greater application flexibility.

For more information contact Christo Buys, Rockwell Automation, +27 (0)11 654 9700, [email protected], www.rockwellautomation.co.za



Credit(s)



Share this article:
Share via emailShare via LinkedInPrint this page

Further reading:

Robotic case packer achieves 99% uptime
Rockwell Automation Motion Control & Drives
DCC Automation designed a new robotic case packer for a nutrition supplement manufacturer using delta robots and a unified Rockwell Automation control platform, cutting changeover time from 45 minutes to 5 minutes, and achieving 99 to 99,5% uptime against the previous 10% per-shift downtime.

Read more...
How sustainability unlocks real business impact
Rockwell Automation IT in Manufacturing
Sustainability has moved from a compliance obligation to a strategic driver of resilience and value for manufacturers. Rockwell Automation explains how its Triple A framework and connected-data approach help producers cut energy, water and waste while improving productivity.

Read more...
How BIC overcame operational silos to integrate technology and people
Rockwell Automation IT in Manufacturing
Manufacturing giant BIC deployed Plex MES from Rockwell Automation at its Bizerte plant in Tunisia, replacing fragmented, partly in-house software with a single cloud-based execution system that broke operational silos and improved shop-floor visibility.

Read more...
Patented algorithm maximises operator efficiency
Rockwell Automation IT in Manufacturing
Rockwell Automation piloted a patented anomaly detection algorithm and FactoryTalk DataMosaix at its Twinsburg electronics plant, giving operators 30 to 60 days’ advance warning of stencil failure, improving fail rates by 22% and achieving a 200% return on investment.

Read more...
Outdoor cellular routers for potentially explosive areas
Phoenix Contact IS & Ex
Phoenix Contact has extended its Cellulink outdoor cellular router range with new versions approved for Zone 2 potentially explosive areas, featuring end-to-end IECEx and ATEX certification of the complete router, antenna path and antenna system.

Read more...
Improving material handling with autonomous mobile robots
Rockwell Automation Motion Control & Drives
Autonomous mobile robots offer flexible, AI-driven material handling that adapts to shifting demand, fills labour gaps, and generates the operational data needed to optimise end-to-end facility performance.

Read more...
Nine things your emergency control room must now have
Oculus Operational Innovations Editor's Choice IS & Ex
A new South African regulation, effective since March 2025 with no transition period, sets out nine mandatory requirements for underground mine emergency control rooms, and specifies who must be in charge at all times.

Read more...
Overcoming reactive maintenance
Rockwell Automation IT in Manufacturing
Dunlop Aircraft Tyres is leveraging technology from Rockwell Automation to optimise maintenance operations, affirming the significant role of digital tools in industrial maintenance management.

Read more...
Simplifying panel design and deployment with EtherNet/IP in-cabinet solution
Rockwell Automation Electrical Power & Protection
Rockwell aimed to eliminate challenges through an innovative EtherNet/IP in-cabinet solution that would reduce the time and resources needed for controls project engineering, testing and panel wiring.

Read more...
Install and commissioning time cut by 50% thanks to digital twin insights
Rockwell Automation IT in Manufacturing
ECM Technologies, a world leader in the design and manufacture of innovative and modular low-pressure carburising industrial furnaces, has developed a solution that removes many of the installation and commissioning challenges relating to the development, testing and deployment of large-scale heat treatment plants.

Read more...









While every effort has been made to ensure the accuracy of the information contained herein, the publisher and its agents cannot be held responsible for any errors contained, or any loss incurred as a result. Articles published do not necessarily reflect the views of the publishers. The editor reserves the right to alter or cut copy. Articles submitted are deemed to have been cleared for publication. Advertisements and company contact details are published as provided by the advertiser. Technews Publishing (Pty) Ltd cannot be held responsible for the accuracy or veracity of supplied material.




© Technews Publishing (Pty) Ltd | All Rights Reserved