In the old days, manufacturing was dangerous and dirty, but not anymore. Modern manufacturing is much cleaner and safer, partially because we can now isolate the dirtiest and most dangerous areas of a plant and automate them.
Automation is even spilling into the barriers between us and those undesirable applications.
In the video above, we talk with John Lytle, product group manager at Dynatect Manufacturing, about how automated machine safety doors are improving safety and productivity in manufacturing facilities.
“Dynatect recently launched the Gortite VF (Vertical Fabric) Automated Machine Safety Door, which protects people and processes from hazardous equipment and conditions—like welding cells and similar processes—from interfering with operators and to keep them safe,” said Lytle.
The door is made from a vinyl-reinforced polyester fabric that’s designed to take welding splatter, smoke, arc flash and be relatively close to the manufacturing environment.
“We’ve also integrated a UV-resistant window, and you can use different types of windows, to still see the hazardous process without interfering with its motion or the machining environment,” Lytle continued.
“The door also has a travelling photo-eye. There’s a leading edge where the photo-eye itself retracts up into the door; it’s leading by about three inches. By getting in front of the door, you trip the photo-eye and the operator sees very little force on their arm, keeping them safe. From there, it’s as simple as resetting the door to continue the process.”
The design meets OSHA guardrail requirements. The door uses a safety interlock option, meeting PLe/Cat-4 safety requirements when combined with appropriate logic and conformance to risk assessment.
The door can even be easily retrofitted into an existing line.
To learn more about the Gortite VF Automated Machine Safety Door, watch the video above and visit the Dynatect Manufacturing website.