The Allen-Bradley GuardLogix 5580 and Compact GuardLogix 5380 controllers from Rockwell Automation can be scaled from safety system levels SIL 2/PLd to SIL 3/PLe. This scalability can help engineers optimise a safety system design and potentially reduce its costs, while adhering to the latest machine safety regulations. The high performance controllers also use increased processing power to achieve faster reaction times and shorter safe distances. This can help create smaller machines, save valuable floor space and increase operator efficiencies.
“Many engineers build safety systems to a higher safety level than an application requires,” said business manager Christo Buys. “Such systems end up having more components than they need, leading to increased complexity and costing more than they should. Our new controllers allow engineers to right-size a safety system and its cost to meet appropriate safety levels without excess.”
The new high-performing controllers can also help engineers consolidate the number of controllers they use in complex machines. Having a single high performance controller for both standard and safety control can help improve productivity and reduce the system’s cost, complexity and cabinet size.
Other benefits of the new controllers include:
Greater communications capacity: Embedded gigabit Ethernet on the GuardLogix 5580 and Compact GuardLogix 5380 controllers provides greater communications capacity to support the growing number of smart devices. This can help engineers meet data intensive smart manufacturing goals without adding extra hardware. It also can help future proof machines for end-users that may someday need to collect and share more data.
More productive machines: The controllers, when used with the Studio 5000 integrated development environment and Kinetix 5700 servo drive, support new safe-stop, safe-speed, safe-position and other safe-monitoring functions. These safety functions can create more flexibility in safety system operations, for example slowing down a machine instead of stopping it when a worker approaches. This can improve machine productivity while still achieving a desired level of safety. These new functions are implemented using built-in safety instructions available in the Studio 5000 software. Engineers can also use the safety functions to support applications like collaborative robots. The system can detect when a human comes too close to the robot and either slow down or stop the robot’s motion. The GuardLogix 5580 and Compact GuardLogix 5380 controllers are TÜV certified for functional safety.
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...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.
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.
printer friendly version