Page 28 - Industrial Technology January 2020

SYSTEMS INTEGRATION
Assured safety in challenging
“ responsible over the years for the development of many of assembly cells and welding cells.
THE UK, AND WE’RE FLYING
THE BRITISH FLAG BY
FOCUSING ON PERFORMANCE,
QUALITY AND RELIABILITY
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SAFETY & SAFETY SYSTEMS
BRITISH COMPANY MECHAN CONTROLS IS LOOKING TO BE THE
FIRST NAME IN MACHINERY SAFETY ON THE GLOBAL MARKET.
MARK SIMMS SPOKE TO MANAGING DIRECTOR MABRUK FARRAH
he growing demand for reliability and efficiency in fulfils the latest requirements set out in the international
the modern production environment has led to an safety standards. The range caters for non-locking, locking
evolving need for new and innovative machine and non-guarded areas of machines. This means you can
Tguarding strategies. Mechan Controls has set out rely on these products for a number of applications,
its stall not simply to meet these requirements, but to be ensuring the correct guarding is used to maximise
the leading British manufacturer of such products. productivity and, more importantly, protect its users.
Managing director Mabruk Farrah is also the owner of New products launched this year include the
Mechan Controls, having acquired the company in 2017. MLG-Series of Type 4 and multi-beam light curtains for
He saw for the business an opportunity to drive its growth production line safety and perimeter guarding. Robust
by focusing firstly on high performance, high reliability enough to be used in even the harshest conditions, they
products, but also by targeting overseas markets where are available in heights from 200mm to 1800mm, and
the ‘made in Britain’ tag is regarded as the ultimate badge offer finger, hand and body protection. Applications
of quality. include presses, packing machines, carton gluers, robot
Formerly technical director at the company, and
Mechan Controls’ products, Farrah is now expanding the
product portfolio, with the goal of making the company Compact and rugged
“These high quality light curtains represent the
the number one choice for machine safety guard products. culmination of our combined 40+ years’ experience in the
“We’re moving the company to the next level,” he design and manufacture of machine guard safety
says. “All the products are designed and manufactured in products,” says Farrah. “Compact and rugged, they also
the UK, and we’re flying the British flag by focusing on incorporate a diagnostics display.
performance, quality and reliability.” Also new is the Proton range of uniquely coded OSSD
Mechan Controls has been a leading player in machine RFID solenoid interlocks, designed to safeguard areas that
guarding since the development and manufacture in 1972 require guard locking during operation or during run down
of its first non-contact safety switches for the harsh periods. The uniquely coded (4 billion codes) RFID
conditions of the can making industry. Today from its base actuator provides a high level of coding according to
in Skelmersdale, Mechan Controls manufactures a wide EN14119, with a design that fulfils PL-e safety
range of non-contact safety switches, mechanical requirements when the units are connected in series.
interlocks, light curtains and safety relays to suit most The ball style actuator has been designed to be
machine guarding requirements. Whether you have a low tolerant to high misalignment, self-centring itself upon
or high-risk application, the extensive range of products actuation. The robust design has been tested to hold
KEEPING THE FLAPS CLOSED
ome fundamental framework conditions had The flexibly mounted mechanical actuator on this
changed shortly before the delivery date, so the safety gate system ensures a high tolerance
safety concept for a horizontal mixer had to be compensation, even with sagging gates. What’s more, the
Sadapted as quickly as possible. Within a few closing tolerance of the secure safety gate system was
days, Pilz worked with special purpose machinery increased by another 10 millimetres over a mechanical
manufacturer Herbst to incorporate the safety gate system system. So now there is no longer an injury risk from an
PSENmlock, which meets the new requirements. overrunning stirrer, should the service and cleaning flaps
A mounting position had changed, suddenly rendering be opened too early. The horizontal mixer arrived at the
the existing safety concept for the horizontal animal feed customer just in time.
mixer ineffective and potentially preventing the plant PSENmlock offered the customer a number of benefits
being delivered on time. Herbst worked closely with Pilz in this particular application. It offered a solution that was
to develop an alternative, which would safeguard the flaps flexible enough to be incorporated into some unusual
on the stirrer: an appropriate solution was quickly found mounting positions – ideal on this special purpose
with the safety gate system PSENmlock, which combines machinery. Further, with the application demanding a
safe guard locking and safe interlocking in one device. robust solution, PSENmlock provides a long service life as
INDUSTRIAL TECHNOLOGY • January 2020