Frommelt Safety has updated its industry leading automated barrier door, the Guardian Defender, to protect employees from the movement of automated stretch-wrap machines as well as other automated machine movement zones. The new door has a patented interlock safety switch configuration and control system with the ability to lock the curtain in the down position.  

“Automated stretch wrap machines are a widely unprotected danger in distribution centers, warehouses and manufacturing facilities across the country,” said Eric Esson, Frommelt Safety Products product manager. “In the absence of any real regulations regarding automated stretch-wrap machines, it is important to adhere to OSHA’s most basic guidelines by keeping all employees and potential bystanders safe during potentially dangerous operations.”

The Guardian Defender’s high-speed, high-cycle automated door safely separates machine operators and manufacturing processes. As more and more suppliers incorporate automation and robots into the palletizing process, it becomes increasingly important to protect employees and pedestrians from coming into contact with the moving – and potentially dangerous – parts of those machines. With all business types adding automatic functions to their manufacturing and shipping processes (including conveyors, AGVs and As/RS systems) it’s critical that the safety methodology keeps pace and incorporates the latest and most relevant standards.

The Guardian Defender also contains process driven hazards such as flying debris, excess noise, mist/liquids and spray, smoke, fumes or exposure to other common manufacturing process by-products, making it ideal for robotic welding cells, material handling or palletizing cells, automated assembly equipment and palletizing/packing machinery. Additionally, the roll-up design leaves a minimal footprint into the typically crowded manufacturing cell.

The Guardian Defender automated barrier door features a host of innovations, including:

• PLe hold-down mechanism, which locks the door in “down” position to allow for machine “de-energizing” time.
• Redesigned rotary cam limit switch, encoder positioning and variable frequency drive, to control the curtain’s operating speed and position, dramatically improving the adjustability of door position, speed and control.
• Non-contact interlock switches, manufactured by Jokab, Pilz, Schmersal and Allen Bradley. These provide up to PLe specifications per EN ISO 13849-1 when integrated properly.
• Designed with new ISO 13849-1 specification and EN 10218-2 specifications in mind.

“The new Guardian Defender design has allowed Frommelt Safety to explore applications in previously untapped industries by opening up new opportunities with its added features and benefits” said Esson. “It takes into account all aspects of the new regulations and the demands of industry as a whole. Given the OSHA regs and new EN/ISO 13849-1 and RIA regulations, it should appeal to a wider variety of industries than any of our previous automatic barrier doors. We have seen a lot of interest coming from the plastics manufacturing industry and companies concerned about guarding stretch wrap machines, as well as, a growing number of industrial applications involving conveyors and palletizing applications. Additionally, the Defender is a great alternative to light curtains and area scanners, going the extra step to contain the process.”

Frommelt Safety manufactures a complete line of rolling and folding automated guards, perimeter fencing, fabric area protection and air filtration products serving the automotive, metal manufacturing, material handling, plastics, paper, packaging and alternative energy industries. For more information, visit www.frommeltsafety.com.