Rockwell Automation Protects People and Productivity with New GuardShield Safety Light Curtains
Production personnel can work safely and efficiently using the new Allen-Bradley 450L Perimeter Access Control (PAC) GuardShield safety light curtains from Rockwell Automation. Subject to risk assessment, light curtains eliminate the need for hard guarding and gates, while allowing frequent, easier and safe access to hazardous areas.
Designed for whole-body detection, PAC light curtains are typically positioned around an area or in front of a machine entry or exit that poses a moderate to high risk of operator injury. The light curtains help protect personnel and equipment by detecting the presence of people and objects within the guarded area.
Unlike traditional safety light curtains based on separate transmitter and receiver units, the 450L GuardShield safety light curtains feature patented technology that allows each transceiver to be used as a transmitter or receiver via a plug-in module. The single-stick architecture greatly reduces the requirements for spare stock and offers an easier and economical upgrade path should operational requirements change in the future. Other features that make the light curtains a versatile safeguarding solution for a wide range of applications include:
- An integrated laser alignment system, plug-in DIP switches and integrated muting options help ease installation and configuration.
- Cascading plug-ins allow for serial connection of safety light curtains.
- Single-beam to four-beam options and protective lengths from 150 mm to 1050 mm cover a wide range of protection heights.
- Versatile mounting options simplify installation while a compact design minimizes the impact on a machine’s footprint.
The 450L safety light curtains are TÜV certified PLe, Type 4 IEC 61496-1/-2, SIL CL3 per the ISO 13849-1 and IEC 62061 standards.
New Cost-effective Photoelectric Sensors for Global Applications
The new Allen-Bradley 42EA RightSight S18 and 42JA VisiSight M20A photoelectric sensors are economical and easy-to-apply sensing solutions that offer a wide range of sensing modes, mounting options and unique features, making them optimal solutions for global operations. All models have a visible red-light source to ease alignment, while multiple connection options and adjustment knobs for light or dark operation help ease installation, setup and maintenance.
Both product lines are ideal for material handling, packaging and assembly applications. These lines also address the small form factor needs of industries like life sciences, pharmaceutical, food and beverage, and household and personal care.
The 42EA RightSight S18 line of sensors offers the performance of larger solutions in a smaller, more adaptable package to deliver excellent detection capabilities where size and shape matter. The 42JA VisiSight M20A line offers a full range of sensing modes in a sealed, compact, cavity-free housing that minimizes the collection of dust and debris while allowing for easy sensor cleanup.
New Industrial Beacons to Improve Signaling on the Plant Floor
The new Bulletin 855R industrial beacons from Rockwell Automation can improve how industrial operators deliver warnings and status indications to workers on the plant floor.
The family of 110mm industrial round beacons offers enhanced performance compared to other beacon lines and can meet a broader range of signaling needs.
A single Bulletin 855R beacon can offer both audible and visual indication, which can help prevent confusion on the plant floor in the event of a critical machine or equipment condition alert. And with multiple light-pattern options and multiple mounting options, the beacons can be used for a diverse mix of signaling applications.
Operators can reduce maintenance costs thanks to the Bulletin 855R line’s use of maintenance-free LED technology. They can also drive down inventory costs by using one beacon family to signal up to three different machine or equipment conditions.
Other new features and functionalities of the 855R beacon family that can help operators get more from their investment include:
- The ability to provide up to 15 unique DIP switch selectable light patterns in groups of seven.
- Multicolor functionality, with the ability to produce up to seven colors in one device.
- Two profile options: “high lens” for traditional beacon applications or “compact lens” for space-critical installations.
- High-brightness functionality to maximize contrast in high-ambient-light environments or outdoor applications.
- An audible mounting base that’s compatible with all LED beacon modules and can produce up to three different audible outputs from a 32-tone table.
All 855R devices are available in 24V DC, 120V AC, or 240V AC global ratings. The 855R product family is certified to meet cULus, CE, KCC, RCM, UKCA and Morocco requirements for global applications. A high IP66/67 and UL Type 4/4X/13 ingress protection rating makes the product family suitable for indoor or outdoor industrial signaling applications.
The 855R beacon line is available now as separate components or as complete pre-assembled beacons to maximize flexibility.
Rockwell Automation Improves Operational Technology Incident Response Readiness with Dragos Partnership
Extensive design options allow machine builders to tailor the ASEM™ 6300 monitors to meet diverse application needs
The incident response retainer program helps industrial organizations prepare for, respond to, and recover from cyber incidents in operational technology (OT) environments.
The best-in-class incident response retainer program includes:
- Dedicated Integrated Control System (ICS) incident responders from Dragos
- Local and trusted field service engineers and global network services resources from Rockwell Automation
- Coordination from Rockwell Automation project management to direct collaboration and resource allocation
Failing to plan ahead with an incident response retainer is one of the costliest mistakes that industrial organizations make in OT cyber incident response. This unique three-step framework helps organizations get ahead of cyberthreats through notification, assessment and containment, and remediation, incident post-mortem and improvement planning.
Customers are also able to use unused hours on other services from Rockwell Automation and Dragos to help improve security posture and minimize the risk of future incidents.
Rockwell Automation Integrates Energy-Saving Drives with Global Motor Control Center
Rockwell Automation has incorporated two more PowerFlex® variable frequency drives (VFDs) into CENTERLINE® 2500 low-voltage motor control centers (MCCs) to help industrial operators in global IEC markets improve their production, safety and energy performance.
The PowerFlex 755TL and 755TR drives with TotalFORCE® technology can be integrated into CENTERLINE MCCs. The VFDs deliver real-time operating system performance data that can help operators boost their factory output, uptime and energy savings.
- The PowerFlex 755TL drive provides built-in harmonic mitigation and power-factor correction through active front-end technology. By reducing the adverse effects of harmonic distortion, the VFD improves motor efficiency, reduces energy costs and minimizes power-distribution issues on the factory floor.
- The PowerFlex 755TR drives can help reduce energy consumption by using built-in regeneration to deliver energy back to the incoming power supply. This is more energy efficient than using resistive or mechanical braking. Plus, it eliminates the need for braking resistors and cooling equipment, which can reduce wiring, labor, installation, and maintenance costs.
By integrating PowerFlex 755TL or 755TR drives with a CENTERLINE 2500 MCC, operators also receive real-time predictive diagnostics and maintenance alerts that can reduce unplanned downtime. Plus, plant operations get certified safety benefits from ArcShield™ technology that provides arc-fault containment per IEC TR 61641:2014.
With CENTERLINE MCC manufacturing facilities on three continents, factory-ready low-voltage motor control and power-management system technology is available in IEC markets around the world.
Rockwell Automation Integrates New PowerFlex® Drives into CENTERLINE® Motor Control Centers, Delivering Real-Time Predictive Analytics Benefits
Unplanned downtime costs manufacturers billions annually. New industrial automation hardware from Rockwell Automation aims to improve those results.
Providing real-time predictive analytics, operational intelligence and high-performance motor control are key to boosting uptime. CENTERLINE 2100 motor control center (MCC), configured with a new PowerFlex 755TS variable frequency drive, delivers these solutions.
CENTERLINE 2100 motor control centers provide power and process control into one centralized package. By integrating motor control and power in an MCC, manufacturers increase safety, productivity and reliability. Plus, with remote monitoring and control features, CENTERLINE MCCs offer enhanced safety features to help protect personnel and equipment.
Designed for demanding industrial motor control applications, the new PowerFlex 755TS drives are built with patented TotalFORCE® control. This technology delivers real-time predictive analytics. Automated commissioning. Adaptive control and high-performance motor control to keep operations running at peak performance.
This industrial automation solution helps oil and gas to food and beverage producers:
- Increase uptime
- Boost productivity from existing operations
- Reduce energy and maintenance costs
- Increase safety
In industries where downtime can cost thousands of dollars per hour, real-time data from this smart technology delivers peace of mind and can deliver ROI in energy savings in as little as six months.
