Feature

Coding the safety of your workers

In 2017, a report by the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) revealed over 60,000 non-fatal injuries happened to workers in the UK’s manufacturing sector. With automation and Industrial Internet of Things (IIoT) technologies becoming more prevalent, this figure is expected to decrease dramatically as the number of potential risks to plant workers falls.

04/03/2019 10:57:45

Here, Emolice explains how motion control components can improve both worker and functional safety.

Safety of both workers and a system or piece of equipment remain top of the agenda for many plant engineers, particularly for those working with new technologies that they have minimal experience of. While for many years safety resided with single components, such as light curtains and relays, automation and the creation of the ‘smart factory’ has enabled the evolution of plant safety to a system-level process. One technology that is doing this in particular is the encoder.

Found in equipment across an array of industries, encoders are sensing devices that convert motion to an electrical signal that can be read by a motion control system, such as programmable logic computers (PLC). The encoder transmits a feedback signal, which allows the operator to determine the speed, direction and position of the chosen application. The control device in the motion control system can then use this information to send a command for a particular function, including the motion of a motor shaft, pulley or even robot arm.

Read the full article in the March issue of DPA

Written By Sophia Bell

Sophia Bell is the Group Editor of DPA, Connectivity, and PBSI. She joined the team in 2020 as Assistant Editor after achieving a First-Class Honours BA in English Literature and Film Studies from the University of East Anglia. In her current role, she leads the editorial strategy, driving digital growth and ensuring each title continues to deliver trusted, relevant insight for engineering and manufacturing professionals.