Posted to News on 9th Aug 2024, 13:00
Operate machine tools safely and securely
At machine tool manufacturer Starrag, a state-of-the-art solution from Pilz provides safe entry and access management for maximum safety. The flexible solution meets all the requirements of the EU Machinery Regulation, which enters into force in 2027.
(See Pilz at MachineBuilding.Live, 2 October 2024, on stand 41)
The operating and safety concept at Starrag Heckert was one of the areas under scrutiny when updating the Heckert compact machinery. Operator errors and manipulations on the plant operating systems for the Starrag machines were to be excluded in future. That's why the machine tool manufacturer enhanced the classic operating mode selection system PITmode fusion from Pilz, which had already been in use for some time.
Working in close cooperation, a holistic entry and access permission management system for Safety and Security tasks is now in use. Today this system enables individually configurable keys with personal, manipulation-proof access and operating rights. At the same time, there are clear rules regarding who has permission to access which machine and process data.
Key to comprehensive safety
The complete, downward-compatible solution for Safety and Security tasks consists of the read/write unit PITreader with RFID technology and integrated web server, plus a safe evaluation unit. This combines the reader, keypad and safety controller. In conjunction with the operation element PIT oe 4s and the data interface PIT oe USB, which can be activated depending on permissions, the enhanced solution is setting new standards, particularly in Security.
Via software on the PC, Starrag can now create the user-based generic keys easily themselves and assign them personalised codes. As a result, PITmode fusion ensures that when an operator on the Starrag machine inserts the key, they can only carry out the actions and accesses attributed to them - whereby multiple machines with different authorisations can be managed simultaneously.
"Our customers receive a unique, all-round impressive state-of-the-art solution for all Safety and Security tasks," said Ulf Keiling, Senior Development Engineer at Starrag Chemnitz. "PITmode fusion generates significant added value and will have a positive impact on productivity and plant availability."
