Product category:
Machine Safety Components
News Release from: Schmersal UK | Subject: AZ16zi safety interlock switches
Edited by the Engineeringtalk Editorial
Team on 13 November 2000
Safety switches for over 350 packaging
machines
United Distillers and Vintners has specified Schmersal safety interlock switches to guard access doors on more than 350 packaging machines at three bottling plants in Scotland
United Distillers and Vintners, the world's leading spirits company, has specified Schmersal safety interlock switches to guard access doors on more than 350 packaging machines at three of its bottling plants in Scotland The 44 packaging lines operating at the three plants de-palletise spirits bottles, clean, fill, cap and label them, and then pack them into cases and palletise them for onward dispatch
This article was originally published on Engineeringtalk on 14 Mar 2000 at 8.00am (UK)
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The packaging lines handle the world's most famous spirits brands including Smirnoff Vodka, Gordons Gin, and J and B, Bells and Johnnie Walker whiskies.
Commenting on the choice of Schmersal AZ16zi safety interlock switches, UDV spokesman Allan Tweddell says that when the company initiated a programme to upgrade the door guarding on all its machines, operator safety was the priority.
"We were concerned that, with the traditional safety switches fitted by machine manufacturers, it was possible for operators or maintenance engineers to use a spare 'key' to actuate the switch and run the machine with the guard door open." He says: "We chose Schmersal because the AZ16zi switches are activated by an individually coded, geometrically unique actuating key with 15,000 different combinations, to prevent anyone from gaining access to a machine with a duplicate key." Explains Allan Tweddell: "The 350 machines each have an average of eight doors (one machine has 30 doors!), so with 2,800 doors to code we need to ensure that, in any plant, no two door switches have the same code." Schmersal UK's general manager Terry Hayward says the United Distiller and Vintners' installation demonstrates the almost unlimited potential of the AZ16zi switch in safety guarding applications and adds that UDV still have enough codes left for at least 12,200 more doors! The tamper-resistant design of the AZ16zi includes non-removable actuating heads and high-strength stainless steel keys that tolerate mechanical abuse without damage.
All versions are of two-piece design, consisting of a switch mechanism and an individually coded actuator key that is hard-mounted directly to the moveable guard.
To allow flexibility when installing the switches, up to four key entry locations are available.
All switches meet stringent international safety standards including BG, UL and CSA.
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