Rockwell Automation says that its new contacts for the 800E series pushbutton programme increase the safety of emergency-stop applications considerably.
In case of a fault, a reliable emergency stop switch can become the most important part of the entire affected system: one push of the emergency button and the plant stops immediately. But this is not the case if the mechanical connection between front and contact elements does not work correctly: pushing the button shows no effect, the contact block's openers remain closed and the system continues to run. In case of incorrect installation, mechanical overload, vandalism or carelessness during start-up, this scenario can become reality.
In this case, the new self-controlling 800E series contact blocks offer effective prevention. Due to their innovative construction (patent applied for) these elements recognise the correct connection between the emergency stop push button's operating and switch components. If this connection is faulty - for whatever reason - the switch trips and opens the connected machine's control circuit. This is made possible by a self-controlling NO-contact that is wired in series to an NC-contact. If the contact block is correctly connected to the operating element, the emergency stop pushbutton must be operated in the usual way to interrupt the control circuit via the NC-contacts. If, however, the connection between the operating element and the coupling element is broken, the pre-switched NO-contact closes automatically and switches the system off. The user can be assured that operating personnel and equipment are given optimum protection at all times.
As already demonstrated by other 800E series' products, these new contact blocks can also be installed quickly and are also finger-secure in accordance with IPX2. Safety-conscious users can easily optimise existing systems with conventional emergency stop pushbuttons by installing the new self-controlling contact blocks.
Telco sensors in conveyor belt monitoring
Sensors & Transducers
Gail Norton Instrumentation Agencies has developed a low-maintenance conveyor belt monitoring unit built on robust Telco infrared sensors, detecting belt tear and misalignment reliably in harsh coal mining environments.
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...Inductive ring sensors monitor material flow in feeding technology ifm - South Africa
Sensors & Transducers
ifm’s inductive ring sensors detect metallic parts such as screws and nuts as they pass through tubes at speeds up to 35 m/s, enabling precise counting, flow control and blockage detection, with sensitivity and output functions configurable via IO-Link.
Read more...Reliable 1D and 2D code reading made simple SICK Automation Southern Africa
Sensors & Transducers
SICK’s new sensingCam SEC200 image-based code reader brings supermarket-checkout simplicity to logistics and industrial identification, reading 1D and 2D codes reliably with quick browser-based setup, rugged IP65 construction and CRA-compliant cybersecurity.
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...Market opportunity for sensors in humanoid robots
Sensors & Transducers
A new IDTechEx report forecasts the market for sensors in humanoid robots will exceed $6,59 billion by 2037, driven by perception sensors, force/torque sensors, encoders and inertial measurement units across a growing range of commercial robot platforms.
Read more...The wireless route to safer, more efficient mining operations Emerson Automation Solutions
Editor's Choice Sensors & Transducers
Modern wireless level measurement technologies are helping mining operations improve process control, increase safety and reduce installation costs. Emerson’s Rosemount 3408 wireless non-contacting radar level transmitter uses 80 GHz frequency-modulated continuous wave radar with HART communication to reach remote assets where cabling is impractical.
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.