Though functional safety technology prevents damage to machinery and limits downtime, its core job is to protect people. To achieve this, modern packaging operations require many networked safety devices on the plant floor. Along with standard e-stop buttons, these include door latches, safety switching mats and bumpers, two-handed controllers and light curtains for operations with conveyors, robotics or other types of pick-and-place equipment. The most effective and efficient way to operate these devices is through integrated safety solutions.
Traditional architectures kept safety systems completely separate from the machine control platform. Each safety device would be hardwired to a safety relay or stand-alone safety controller that, when tripped, would cut power to machines. Safety and non-safety communication would happen on separate networks, limiting access to key diagnostic information. In addition, separate programming environments would often complicate and slow down commissioning.