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.
Making high-quality industrial enclosures more accessible
Enclosures, Cabling & Connectors
Rittal has reduced the list price of its AX, KX and stainless-steel compact enclosure ranges, making these IP66-rated solutions with tool-free installation and 30% more cable space more accessible to South African manufacturers and engineering businesses.
Read more...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...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...Electromagnetic interference filters Vepac Electronics
Enclosures, Cabling & Connectors
Electromagnetic interference filters suppress unwanted noise in electronic systems, ensuring devices meet compatibility standards, and operate reliably in environments from medical equipment and radio circuits to industrial power converters and renewable energy systems.
Read more...Ready-to-use hybrid cables igus
Enclosures, Cabling & Connectors
igus South Africa is expanding its readycable hybrid range, combining power and data transmission in a single line to simplify automation cabling. The latest additions include harnessed cables for Siemens Sinamics S210 drives and SEW-EURODRIVE motors with MOVILINK
Read more...Cutting-edge plastic e-chain protects cables in cleanrooms igus
Enclosures, Cabling & Connectors
igus has developed the C6 cleanroom energy chain with an e-spin guide system that allows abrasion-resistant cable travel over distances of up to 30 metres without generating the microparticles that standard energy chains produce.
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.
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.