Programmable Safety Solutions

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Programmable Safety Solutions Overview

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Programmable Safety Solutions Overview

Safety PLC systems bring the programmability and flexibility of traditional PLC systems to complex safety applications. Their programmable nature means that safety applications can now be solved in software rather than hard-wiring large, cascaded relay systems. This makes activities such as zone control and simplified machine access procedures much easier to achieve. Safety I/O modules are connected to Safety PLCs via safety certified networks, reducing wiring costs and allowing for advanced diagnostic information to be monitored by the safety PLC and shared with HMI systems. This results in reduced costs associated with wiring, troubleshooting and managing production equipment.

Benefits of safety PLCs include:

Typical applications for safety PLCs include (i) perimeter access control of production cells, robotic systems and complex manufacturing processes and lines, (ii) point of operation control for press and manual loading applications, and (iii) maintenance simplification, alternative methods for lockout/tagout and other applications where users want to streamline the service procedures for production equipment. Safety PLC systems typically consist of (i) a safety PLC where the user-designed application code is executed, (ii) safety I/O which is where safety input and output devices are wired, and (iii) a safety network that allows the safety PLC to communicate with the safety I/O and with each other. The safety PLC system provides you with an environment to write and execute application code with a very high safety integrity. You generate the application code that is executed in the safety PLC system and then, as part of the commissioning process, validate (test) that the safety PLC system mitigates the safety hazards that it was designed to monitor and control.