Posted to News on 9th Feb 2022, 08:57
Euchner EKS proves key to VW challenge
Lost electronic keys disabled quickly and easily to rule out unauthorised machine access
Volkswagen Sachsen GmbH manufactures three- and four-cylinder gasoline engines with displacements from 1.0 to 1.5 litres at its Chemnitz plant. One assembly line station is dedicated to screwing the fuel rail into place fully automatically and VW has long been using the Electronic-Key-System EKS from EUCHNER to control access to the assembly workplaces there.
Introduced at the engine plant in 2010, the Electronic-Key-System for access control to installations and processes was supplemented with safe selection of operating mode in 2013. In the interest of enhancing operational safety, the plant was recently looking for a way to centrally disable any lost Electronic-Keys in the PLC environment as well. VW found the solution by integrating the EKS Data Service software.
RFID-based EKS access control system
EUCHNER’s EKS system consists of electronic-keys with writable RFID transponder for user logon to the machine and a control-panel-mounted Electronic-Key adapter, into which the electronic-keys are placed during machine operation. Each user is issued a personalised EKS Electronic-Key with their specific access rights. In addition to the employee identification number, the information on each electronic key includes the user’s access rights to their working area and scope of responsibilities, as well as their authorisation level for using a specific operating mode.
All functions at the users’ fingertips
The EKS is regarded as highly convenient to use. All enabled functions become available as soon as an employee inserts their personalised EKS Electronic-Key into the Electronic-Key adapter on the control panel. Constantly removing, reinserting or changing EKS Electronic-Keys or using key-operated rotary switches is a thing of the past.
Personalised EKS Electronic-Keys ensure that only authorised and trained users are allowed to change important process parameters on the machine control system. Moreover, the EKS indirectly contributes to enhancing personnel protection by permitting only specially trained personnel to operate the machine in special operating modes. An example of this is a mode for sensitive setup and servicing with an open guard, which could endanger unqualified operators.
For more information on EKS Electronic-Keys, click here.
