
SICK Pty Ltd
SICK Pty Ltd is one of the
world’s leading manufacturers of sensors, safety systems and automatic
identification products for Factory Automation, Logistic Automation and Process
Automation applications. Whether automating factories or optimising
distribution centres, or monitoring emissions from a stack, SICK Pty Ltd provides
cost-effective solutions. Our company has pioneered a long line of industry
firsts – such as the first safety light ...
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SICK Pty Ltd
With various
ultrasonic gas flow measuring devices SICK offers solutions for a large variety
of measurement tasks and industries. These devices have one thing in common,
however: state-of-the-art ultrasound technology from SICK. The devices are
designed for custody transfer applications in the gas industry, the
determination of volume flow in processes, the monitoring of emissions in
industrial facilities, flow measurement in tunnels, and much more.Volume flow measuring devicesContinuous
volume flow measurement from SICK is setting standardsThe FLOWSIC100 is used for continuous volume flow
measurement in industrial systems. It is approved under established European
standards and complies with EPA standards. The measuring device only rarely
requires maintenance thanks to a drift-free measurement principle and
high-quality components. It is also ideal for humid, aggressive gases, high
temperatures, and high levels of dust.The FLOWSIC150 Carflow is unique in the automotive
industry for high-temperature exhaust gas measurement.Mass flow measuring devicesGas mass
flow measurement from SICK – reliable under all conditionsMass flow measuring devices from SICK are used for flow
measurement of gas in the natural gas and petrochemical industries. The devices
are specifically designed to the challenging requirements of these industries
and provide reliable measurement of various gases. These devices are approved
for use in explosion-proof areas and use integrated algorithms to calculate
mass flow in a system.Flow velocity measuring devicesAir flow
measurement from SICK – safe and reliableFlow velocity measuring devices from SICK are used to
measure air flow in traffic tunnels and mining applications.Gas flow metersUltrasonic
gas flow meters from SICK – quality that pays for itselfEvery day, large quantities of natural gas flow from
production facilities to municipal utilities and industrial consumers via large
pipelines. Ownership of the gas often changes hands and must be precisely
measured for billing purposes. SICK's product range comprises custody and
non-custody ultrasonic gas flow meters for the oil and gas industry. SICK
provides the right solution for various applications, from gas delivery to gas
distribution. All devices feature high measurement accuracy and reliability.Flow computerFlow
computers for ultrasonic gas flow measuring devices from SICKNewer-generation flow computers combine functionality with
user-friendliness. They are the preferred device for use in custody transfer
gas measurement, are approved according to the EU's Measurement Instruments
Directive, and comply with the relevant international standards. The easy
integration of temperature, pressure, and flow measurement values via digital
and serial interfaces is used to convert recorded volumes. The flow computers
use industry-standard conversion algorithms.

SICK Pty Ltd
Vision solutions are ideal
for automated inspection and measurement tasks. SICK’s 2D and 3D vision cameras
can be used to solve a wide range of applications where there is a need to
measure, locate, inspect and identify. Our vision products are built for
industrial environments, carefully designed to leverage SICK's 60-plus years of
experience with industrial sensors.2D visionThe powerful simplicity
of visionSICK offers a powerful vision sensor portfolio designed to manage
challenges in all industries where a standard sensor would not work. These
vision sensors provide a full toolset for positioning, inspection, measurement
and reading, depending on the variant. A flexible optical design fulfills the
needs of almost all applications. Simplicity is ensured by automatic setup,
intelligent algorithms and a common, intuitive user interface.3D visionVision intelligence in
all dimensionsSICK's
3D vision series offers a wide range of powerful and flexible products designed
for reliable operation in harsh industrial environments. They range from
versatile high-speed cameras that deliver high quality 3D and contrast images
to smart and configurable stand-alone sensors that facilitate rapid development
and easy integration. Their scalability ensures a perfect fit with your 3D
vision application.

SICK Pty Ltd
Added safety – fewer backups:
These are the key requirements of traffic service providers. Intelligent
traffic sensors are absolutely fundamental to ensuring state-of-the-art traffic
guidance technology. With its sophisticated equipment for measuring visual
range, visibility, and wind speed, as well as detecting overheight, SICK is
helping to find solutions to these tasks.Tunnel SensorsSolutions for tunnel
safetyAs the density of the traffic on our roads increases, it is becoming
absolutely vital to measure pollutant concentrations in tunnels on a continuous
basis. SICK's tunnel sensors measure exhaust gases at source, thereby enabling
effective monitoring and control of emissions, and ensuring that ventilation
systems operate efficiently – even in the event of a fire.Overheight detectorsReliable overheight
detection of vehiclesOverheight detectors monitor the height of vehicles, e.g., in front of
tunnel portals, low underpasses, or bridges. When the detector signal is linked
to a vehicle detection system, stop and alarm signals can be triggered very
reliably. The detectors are still capable of detecting the overheight of a
vehicle when it is traveling at up to 100 km/h – even in rain, snow, or dusty
conditions.Visual range measuring devicesReliable visual range
measurement for roads, tunnels, and sea routesVisual
range measuring devices determine the range of visibility on roads, sea routes,
and at weather stations. They also measure visibility inside tunnels. Visual
range measuring devices are able to detect fog reliably because they can
distinguish it effectively from foliage and other parts of plants located in
the optical path of the beam as well as from dirt on the lens. With their
rugged housing and long maintenance intervals, these measuring devices are
ideal for use outdoors.

SICK Pty Ltd
In addition to reliable safety
components, SICK also offers solution-oriented services and certified,
ready-to-install safety systems in order to provide protection for machines and
plants. When implementing their projects, plant operators can rely on
experienced safety experts from SICK and receive comprehensive, economical
safety solutions from a single source.Safety systems Tested safety systems ensure reliable processes and personal protectionSafety systems from SICK are made up of a combination of rugged sensors
with a flexible safety controller and are particularly suited to applications
with high personal protection requirements. The systems can easily be
integrated into existing plants and brought into operation quickly thanks to
the documentation and sample programs supplied.Safety solutions
Safe complete solutions – planning, development, and implementation from
a single sourceSafety solutions from SICK offer comprehensive, flexible protection for
numerous applications. Certified experts adapt the solutions to the individual
requirements on site and implement them quickly and efficiently at every stage
– from the concept to acceptance. In addition to technical protective devices,
SICK safety solutions also comprise the associated engineering services.
Q&A
Question:
19/02/13 -
SICK provides a solution for dynamic Volumetric measurement for belt conveyors in harsh environments called "BULKSCAN". This is a noncontact profiling ...
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News

Supplier news
31/08/18 - Focusing
on the blind spot: Active collision warning systems for mobile machinesManoeuvring and reversing are the most frequent causes of
accidents involving mobile machines used on construction sites, in open-cast
and underground mining and agriculture and forestry, as well as municipal and
special vehicles. The Visionary-B active driver assistance system developed by
SICK is designed to monitor the area around and behind mobile machines that is
invisible to the driver. It consists of a 3D vision sensor suitable for outdoor
use which identifies people and objects in the driver's blind spot and issues a
warning. Sensor-based
automated systems for agricultural and forestry vehicles, mobile construction
machines in building construction, civil engineering and mining and municipal
and special vehicles are becoming increasingly important. One area where
sensors are used in mobile machines is to
provide reliable systems that detect the risk of a collision and warn the
driver. The main driving force behind this development is the fact that a large
number of collisions and accidents can be
prevented if the suitable technology
is available to support the driver or machine operator. Active warning
functions are not enough. The assistance system must also be able to
distinguish between different objects depending on their importance for
collision warning purposes. The particular challenges involved in these
applications not only concern detecting and evaluating objects. The sensor
solutions must also be designed to withstand the tough outdoor environments
where the machines are used. Visionary-B
from SICK is a product that meets all of these requirements and also has
another special feature. It has been designed
as an active system. This means that as
soon as an object appears within a defined detection zone, the system gives an
audible and visual signal. In contrast to passive monitoring solutions, the
driver does not need to look constantly at the monitor. Instead, he can concentrate on driving the vehicle, safe in the
knowledge that the system will warn him in good time if a potentially critical
situation occurs. Visionary-B: Plug and play 3D collision warning system The role of the Visionary-B
intelligent driver assistance system is to minimise
the risk of collisions when mobile machines pull away, manoeuvre and turn, by monitoring the driver's blind spot. The
system consists of at least one sensor head, an evaluation unit, a 2D monitor
and all the mechanical and electrical components needed for installation. It is
also a two-in-one solution because it
combines an active 3D sensor for collision warnings with an integral 2D live
camera. This means that the driver can
also see a 2D live image and access recordings of the machine's previous few
hours of operation. When the system is
installedat the height of between 1 and 2.4 meters, the detection
angle of 105° x 90° enables it to cover an area behind the vehicle, not visible
to the driver, that is six meters long and four meters wide. The evaluation
unit processes the 3D image data, assigns the objects to different classes based on the measurements, saves the recordings
of the most recent period of operation and uses intelligent algorithms that
enable it to ignore objects which are not likely to cause a collision. At the
same time, it transmits the live image and the alarm signals to the monitor in
the machine's cab, which issues collision warnings in the form of both audible
and visual signals.Stereoscopic principle and 3D snapshot technologyTo ensure that the collision
warning system is reliable and is accepted
by drivers, it is essential that it consistently identifies hazards and can
distinguish them from the machine's normal working environment. The object
detection system, which is based on the
stereoscopic principle, is what makes this possible. It can identify the
presence of people and objects and measure their distance from the vehicle. The
cameras in the sensor head take images of the vehicle's surroundings from
slightly different positions. The evaluation system combines these two
perspectives and calculates the depth of the images, in other words, the third
dimension. On the basis of the 3D image
information, the 3D vision sensor can identify the width and height of the
objects. This allows the system to
distinguish between people and objects that could cause a collision and those
that cannot, for example, curbstones and
uneven ground. SICK's integral data evaluation unit reliably detects two
classes of objects in an outdoor environment. The first class consists of
smaller objects than those that make up the second class. Wide objects, such as
walls, do not fall into the second class and are ignored for the purposes of this class. Configuring the
system only to warn the driver about objects in class 2 is an ideal
solution for narrow entrances or exits,
for example, as it will prevent unnecessary and irritating warning signals from
being issued. The flexible configuration of
alarm zones also makes it possible to distinguish between different types of
warnings so that the driver can respond accordingly. This means that the Visionary-B system will not send faulty alarms.
The driver is only notified if the
situation is genuinely critical.In addition to evaluating and
classifying the objects that are detected, Visionary-B has a modular concept
that enables the driver assistance system to be designed to suit the vehicle
and the purpose it is usedfor. A range of
different system configurations is available. These include variants with one
sensor head for monitoring the direction the vehicle is travelling in, with two automatically alternating sensor heads for
forward and backward movement and with two sensor heads operating
simultaneously that cover the area around and behind particularly large and
bulky vehicles. Designed for high availability in tough outdoor environmentsThe Visionary-B driver
assistance system is highly rugged and is
designed for outdoor use in the many different types of environments where
mobile machines operate. The sensor housing has an IP69K enclosure rating and
can withstand operating temperatures between -40 °C and +75 °C. It
also meets high standards of shock and vibration resistance. The evaluation
unit, which can often be installed in the
safer setting of the driver's cab, has an IP67 enclosure rating and a
temperature range of -20 °C to +40 °C. It has also been designed for long service life and can withstand challenging
conditions. The evaluation unit uses algorithms that have been tested in
practice to ensure that direct sunlight, rain, road surfaces that are damp and
shiny and other environmental influences do not prevent the unit from detecting
objects reliably or the system from issuing collision warnings.Mobile machines offer a wide range of possible applicationsThe different types of mobile
machines provide a variety of interesting applications for the Visionary-B
outdoor driver assistance system. For example, the version of Visionary-B with
two alternating sensor heads can be used in excavators to monitor the area
behind the machine and the area to the side where the excavator's arm blocks the driver's view. Front loaders, dump
trucks and rollers are typical examples of construction and mining machines
that can be operated much more safely using SICK's active driver assistance
system. In all types of environmental and light conditions, it can monitor
areas in the machine's direction of travel that are not visible to the driver. This reduces the risk of collisions and
accidents to a minimum and also helps to prevent damage to the vehicle,
together with the accompanying downtime and costly repairs. Visionary-B is also
a valuable addition to agri

Supplier news
30/08/18 - Service and security robots with 2D LiDAR sensors fit
for daily use
Cohabitation made easyWhat was once
fiction is now increasingly a reality – the robot as a service provider in public and private spheres. The fact that
man and machine can now live together is made possible not least by sensor
solutions such as the 2D LiDAR sensors from SICK's TiM series. They enable service and security robots to record their
environment down to the last detail, to adapt to changing conditions, to
interact with people, and to react to unfamiliar situations in a human-like
manner.Depending on the application of
the sometimes humanoid, sometimes futuristically designed robots, 2D LiDAR
sensors (Light Detection And Ranging) from the TiM
product families enable mobile assistants to record their working environment,
to move freely within it, and to approach people – yet also to stop or avoid
any obstacles.Taking
a trip with Marc M.: robots as friendly and hardworking helpersFor many people, robots are not
a common feature of their daily lives – the same goes for Marc M. too, if you
don't count his wife's robot vacuum cleaner or the robot lawnmower in his neighbour's garden. That's why his face was
quite the picture when he arrived at South Korea's Incheon Airport, and a mobile service robot headed straight over
to him in the arrivals hall, stopped right in front of him, and then started to
speak. Did he need any help with his luggage, was he looking for the taxi rank,
did he want to find a specific car rental company, or did he require
information on bus and subway timetables? The
robot proved to be a helpful assistant in the middle of this bustling
environment. Unbelievable, thinks Marc M., as the robot shows him the way
through the masses of people in the hall. In the car park, he is then met with the next surprise: A security
robot on the parking level is monitoring the parked cars and is also keeping an
eye out for unwanted trespassers and suspicious activities. In an emergency,
the robot makes contact with the emergency call centre
itself – and is also on hand as a mobile emergency call station in the event that a person feels threatened. “A
worthwhile addition to the security personnel, but how does it detect possible
dark figures on its round?” Marc wonders en route to his hotel. Arriving in
room 203, he unpacks his holdall and notices that he has everything he needs –
apart from toothpaste and a toothbrush. “That's what room service is for,” he
thinks to himself and places an order for both items on the phone. He doesn't
have to wait long for the doorbell to ring – but instead of a chambermaid or a
butler, he is greeted by the hotel's room
robot. In its storage compartment, he finds a toothbrush and a small tube of
toothpaste as requested, as well as an invitation from the hotel management
asking him if he would like to visit the bar where more robots are mixing
cocktails and playing the piano. The room robot asks if it can be of further
service and wishes him a lovely evening. It turns around, sets off, and quickly moves out of the way of a hotel guest
who is just leaving his room. Taking a direct route as if by its own accord,
the room robot reaches the lift – it needs to go and collect the laundry from a
hotel guest in apartment 414 for the laundry service. Luckily, when Marc calls
home, it isn't a robot that picks up, but his wife Roberta instead...Growing service robotics market initiates impetus for innovationMarc M. isn't alone in his
experience – and in a few years, commercial service and security robots could
play an even more prominent role in daily life. This assumption is certainly
well-founded – sales of service robots for professional use are set to increase
by 12 percent to a new record of 5.2 billion US dollars by the end of 2017,
according to the “World Robotics Report 2017 – Service Robots” from the
International Federation of Robotics (IFR)2. Further forecasts are
also promising: Between 2018 and 2020, average
growth of between 20 and 25 percent is expected
for service robots. The findings of the study on the structure of the global
market also make for interesting reading. Around 290 of the 700 providers of
service robots registered with the IFR come from Europe. North America is
ranked second with around 240 manufacturers, and
Asia is third with approximately 130 manufacturers. In the USA around 200
start-ups are currently working on new service robots. In the European Union
and Switzerland, 170 fledgeling companies
are active in this segment – followed by Asia with 135 start-ups. Even the
framework conditions seem to be right, as practically all developed economies
have a socio-economic environment that would be favourable
to the development of service robotics. This
is just one of the reasons why the IFR study anticipates that the total market
volume for service robots will amount to 46 billion USD by 2019, increasing
from 7.2 billion USD in 2015. The fact that this is also generating impetus for
innovation, particularly concerning
applied sensor and control technology is abundantly clear – and SICK is
actively shaping this development with its 2D LiDAR sensors from the TiM series.Why do mobile service robots need to be particularly aware of their
environment? The term “robot” in many cases
is still thought of in relation to
conventional, stationary industrial use, for example on the coating, welding, or assembly lines, or as
pallet handling or depalletizer systems. The overwhelming majority of such
industrial robots are in stationary use and work in an environment that has been adapted to them. This, in turn, has a major influence on the design of the safety
technology required by law – for example,
safety fences or electro-sensitive protective devices. In contrast, commercial
service and security robots provide services either directly or indirectly to
people. They are almost always mobile – their working environment is not
predictable, which is why they need to visualise
their surroundings themselves. What's more, they have to do this continuously,
several times a second. And their environments can – as Marc's trip shows – be
very varied indeed.TiM – the sensor platform for environment detection and
navigation support2D LiDAR sensors from SICK's TiM product families can handle this variety with aplomb. Integrated into service or
security robots so that they are barely visible, they use eye-safe infrared
light from laser class 1 and high-resolution HDDM evaluation technology (High
Definition Distance Measurement). This is
a high-resolution digital process for measuring time and distance which
provides both distance and remission values to the control of service and
security robots. The major advantage of this technology over other laser
sensors, as well as over camera solutions lies in the fact that the quality of
the measured values remains consistently high even in adverse conditions. In
practical terms, this means, for example, that the sensor will not be affected
by dazzle, which in other sensors could cause the robot to stop or become
disorientated in its environment. The robot control can use the TiM data at any time for mapping purposes,
allowing it to adapt how it responds to situations and obstacles. Last but not
least, all TiM impress with their
industry-standard connectivity and low power consumption of just a few watts –
a level of energy efficiency that is ideal for the long operating times of
mobile service and security robots. Many variants, one question: Which TiM
should I use when?The question of which TiM is best in which robot application is often
answered in practice based on the field to be
monitored. With its aperture angle of 200° and working range of up to
three meters, the TiM 1xx has an area

Supplier news
29/08/18 - Collision avoidance and navigation support in the
warehouseModern electric
lifting trucks, order pickers, tugs, and mobile transport platforms provide
users with additional potential benefits thanks to the option of
semi-autonomous operation. As well as ensuring that vehicles make
collision-free journeys, 2D LiDAR sensors from SICK's TiM series also deliver precise measurement data for navigation
purposes. What's more, a 2D LiDAR sensor with performance level b is now
available for the first time to cater to safety-related applications.In many intralogistics systems,
a trend toward smaller and more flexible transport and picking vehicles can be identified. The reason for this is that it
is often easier for these vehicles to adapt their transport capacities to daily
fluctuations and seasonal peaks as well as to changes in order and customer
structures. To enable them to operate autonomously – be it individually or in a
network – they need to be protected against collisions intelligently and equipped with the option to navigate for themselves.
This is all because the vehicles need to
be able to find their way through the halls by themselves and have to be able
to deal with virtually any kind of obstacle that may come their way. TiM 2D LiDAR sensors satisfy requirements for integration
capability and availabilityThe various TiM product families from SICK offer
application-oriented solutions here as, first and foremost, they meet key
device-related requirements. The compact TiM5xx, for example, which is used for simultaneous object detection,
position detection, and navigation, has an overall height of just 86 millimetres, making it easy to integrate even
in confined installation spaces. Their low weight and power consumption also
play an important role, particularly in
mobile applications. The TiM1xx weighs just 90 grams and requires just
2.2 W of power. Its energy efficiency and compact design satisfy the
highest requirements regarding
functionality and mobility, as well as the desire for long, interruption-free
operating times for the vehicles. TiM
sensors also impress thanks to their well-thought-out industrial design, which
considers shock and vibration resistance as well as ambient light immunity. Also, they are
designed for quick and simple plug & play integration, which is an
important factor in terms of ensuring the
availability of autonomous, intralogistics vehicles in the event that the sensors need replacing.The next requirement concerns
the sensor technology itself. Above all else, the technology must not pose any
risk or hazard to the people present in the operating environment. What's more,
detection capability must be designed so
that different materials, surface structures, and colours are detected to the same degree of reliability –
irrespective of influences from the operating environment such as dazzling
sunlight or darkness. The sensors'
resolution has to be so fine that mobile obstacles in particular – objects and
people – are reliably detected in addition to stationary hall elements. Thanks
to their innovative HDDM technology, all 2D LiDAR product families also satisfy
the highest requirements in terms of
detection accuracy. TiM361S: the smallest safety-related 2D LiDAR sensorIn mobile applications such as
collision avoidance on service robots and mobile platforms as well as in
stationary tasks such as access control on pick & place robots, risk
analyses in many cases find that protection in
accordance with performance level b is the most efficient solution from
a technical and economical point of view. For industrial applications of this
nature, the TiM361S is the first safety-certified 2D LiDAR sensor to be
available with performance level b in accordance
with EN ISO 13849-1:2015. In the safe working range from 0.05 cm to
4 m, up to 48 independent monitoring fields and as many monitoring
scenarios and protective field geometries as required can be set up. The
TiM361S represents the perfect union between measurement performance and
functional safety and fits seamlessly into SICK's existing 2D LiDAR product
portfolio.Route monitoring for semi-autonomous industrial trucksWith the integration of two
TiM3xx area sensors in one order picker, it is possible to perform autonomous
transport tasks without the risk of collisions. When the forklift element picks
up the load, a TiM3xx detects the position of a pallet, for example. The sensor
doesn't just detect a possible obstacle
between a vehicle and pallet – it can also assist the vehicle control when
lifting a pallet. During transportation, a front-mounted TiM monitors the route – at an angle of 270°
and in a working range of up to ten meters. A whole host of monitoring
scenarios can be stored in the sensor for
such purposes. 16 pre-configured triple fieldsets
are available in the form of a message,
warning, and stopping fields, whose shapes can be
defined as rectangular, radial, or as free geometries. The configuration
of a fieldset can be adjusted directly at
the sensor so that special requirements from the application can be implemented
directly on site. To prevent the risk of
unintended sensor misalignment, various device versions have “contour as
reference” functionality, which allows these LiDAR sensors to monitor for
correct alignment themselves. If, in addition to route monitoring, the
operating environment is also to be recorded
for navigation purposes, the TiM5xx product family delivers the measurement
data needed for this. Position detection and destination navigation for self-driving platformsThese navigation functions also
come into play when used on autonomous mobile robots, which pick items by
themselves and then set off for the various warehouse aisles and picking areas
independently. With its working range of up to 25 meters, the TiM5xx LiDAR
sensor provides both order pickers and self-driving robots with the necessary
range of vision to avoid collisions and to collect navigation-related
information from the operating environment. With a possible resolution of 0.33°
within a scanning field of 270°, the TiM571 provides highly accurate
measurement data from the scanned surface. This
enables even very small obstacles and orientation marks to be detected and
their distances to be determined. The measurement data itself is output via USB
or Ethernet interface in the form of a machine-readable string and processed
further in the higher-level applications of the vehicle control. As a rule, a
single TiM571 will generally be
sufficient for both order pickers and mobile platforms, as the pickers have a
preferred direction of travel and the platforms generally
rotate on the spot to enable them to travel in the required direction. TiM supports autonomous mobilityAutonomous-mobile intralogistics
requires intelligent sensors which deliver real-time information to
self-driving vehicles and platforms regarding their environment. The 2D LiDAR
sensors in the TiM series offer the
necessary precision, reliability, and speed to reliably avoid collisions and to
provide effective support to higher-level systems used for navigation and
position determination purposes.HDDM scanning technology:
improved detection, improved navigationThe 2D LiDAR sensors (Light
Detection and Ranging) of the TiM product families use eye-safe infrared light
(laser class 1) and the HDDM technology (High Definition Distance Measurement)
developed and patented by SICK. The latter is a high-resolution digital process
for measuring time and distance, which sends out around 100 times more laser
pulses than other time-of-flight measurement systems in the same period. The
short sequence of pulses and the low angular resolution in the scan

Supplier news
28/08/18 - Stay safe with SICK: Components evolving into ready-to-install safety
systemsSafety systems with specifically-tailored applications are becoming an
increasingly vital part of SICK’s strategy for the technology of the future.
The aim is to provide OEMs with ready-to-install packages containing not only hardware but also necessary documentation and information
relevant for certification. One reason why this new approach is particularly
attractive for the manufacturing industry
is that SICK has expanded the systems to include customised safety services
too. As a provider of complete solutions, SICK provides the tools for customers
to make ambitious modernisation projects a reality.It’s always good to know that danger can be
isolated behind closed doors. But if someone does stray into a dangerous
area, it’s also good to have systems that will reliably detect this –
preventing injuries caused by machine movements. Safety switches with guard
locking or even finely woven light curtains are in everyday use within plants.
If an event in the control system occurs, the machine is shifted to a defined safe status. The range of safety functions
out there is many and varied, and so too are the components that are available
in the automation market. But with all eyes now firmly fixed on Industry 4.0,
the question for the safety technology industry is - how flexible is the
interaction between sensor technology and actuator engineering going to be in
the future? And how much intelligence will be needed to make adaptations in line with dynamically changing production
conditions? The Safeguard Detector safety system from SICK reveals exactly what this approach involves in
practice. Safe, but also smartViewed from a purely functional
perspective, the Safeguard Detector is a complete safety solution that is easy
to implement in packaging machines. For example, it can monitor material
transportation on carton magazines. There are conventional methods available
for protecting hazardous areas, including mechanical tunnel covers combined
with safety switches. However, this method restricts the machine operator’s
access, limiting both accessibility and flexibility. A much more sophisticated
and productive method is to secure the hazardous area in such a way that access
can only be gained when the carton
magazine falls below a specific minimum fill level. Taking a production-guided approach to safety technology, this
strategy prevents accidental access to the safety zone. It is a concept that
also conceals another beneficial aspect – a higher production speed and more
space thanks to smaller protection zones.The Safeguard Detector has everything
that is necessary for implementing a specific safety function in an actual
application. This includes the safety
controller as well as project planning software, safety characteristic value
calculations, circuit diagrams, installation materials, and sensors. Additionally,
safety systems such as the Safeguard Detector mentioned in the example above
are TÜV-approved and reach the safety level required for an application in a
way that is tailored for use with
packaging machines. For example, the Safeguard Detector satisfies the
requirements of performance level “D” in
accordance with EN ISO 13849 and SIL 2 according to EN 62061.Prepared and approvedSICK takes this concept even
further. Safety systems provide solutions for typical safety functions that
need to be applied over and over again. The packages are configured so that customers can order all the materials they
need for installation using a single part number. This part number does not
simply represent the individual sensor, or a controller or the connection cable
– instead, it represents everything that is
needed for the application in question: hardware, operating
instructions, training, certificates, plus technical data and software. With
everything including certification provided ready-prepared, SICK makes the
machine engineer’s work easier and faster. After all, where machine engineers’
core skills lie are in production processes and process technology; safety
technology is not necessarily the main
focus of theirs.SICK makes life easier through
the prepared solutions it provides – giving customers the freedom to focus more
on automation. Alongside the Safeguard Detector, other safety solutions that are frequently requested include packages for
autonomous vehicles in logistics, sheet metal working machines, production
facility access monitoring, and storage systems. Every package has been designed
based on a modular concept, enabling the
number of safety systems to be expanded easily using the extensive portfolio
and thus making it possible to find quick solutions to new tasks in the future.
With this in mind, SICK also offers Safety Solutions, which even include safety
services straight from the factory – a particular boon for machine operators
who are looking to modernise their plants
using safety technology.Modernization: Fast solutions with manufacturer knowledgeSICK’s strategy for safety
technology, favouring a view of the system as a whole rather than focusing
purely on individual components, creates tangible advantages for operating
entities too. While safety systems predominantly address mechanical engineering
and plant engineering requirements, the Safety Solutions take things one step
further from the perspective of system operators. In addition to the individual
components and safety systems, Safety Solutions also include safety services.
Engineering support that is provided for
mechanical engineers can also be transferred to the end customer and their
entire production plant, ultimately creating a complete solution.Safe Tire Curing Solutions is a
solution for protecting the hazardous area of tire curing machines, which are
used in tire production to shape and vulcanise
green tires. Accidents occurring at these plants in the past have shown that
the process is very hazardous, with the plants often demonstrating gaps in
their safety technology measures. This
results in a high risk of accidents occurring, particularly at tire curing
machines that must be loaded manually by a worker. As a result, new machines
must meet the requirements of EN 16474 Tire Curing Machines – Safety
Requirements and are therefore being equipped with more advanced safety
technology by machine manufacturers. But what about older plant models?This is where the SICK strategy comes in. It aims to take
a more consistently solutions-based approach to safety technology and examine
the specific challenges posed by an application. Safety services are an
integral part of Safety Solutions. Existing plants can, therefore, be
retrofitted quickly and routinely by experienced SICK specialists, so there is
no need for customers to tie up their own
resources in the process. The service portfolio includes the initial risk
analysis, the safety concept, the safety hardware and software design, the
installation, as well as the commissioning and validation processes in accordance with the requirements of EN 16474
and GB30474 for tire curing machines. In practice, this intelligent safety
concept ultimately ensures that productivity increases, waste is reduced, and –
above all – operator safety is improved. The loading area is protected by a
safety laser scanner which uses its intelligent approach function to automate
restarting. Either monitored access points or opto-electronic
protective devices can be used to protect the area at the rear of the machine. Companies who opt for Safety
Solutions from SICK to carry out retrofitting of this nature find that the
process could not be simpler – from analysis to planning and all the way
through to implementation in compliance with s
Contact SICK Pty Ltd
SICK Pty Ltd (Head office)
Update these details
5 Helen Street
Heidelberg West
VIC 3081
Tel: 1800 334802
Fax: 03 9457 2023