The extensive automation of analysis and processing in laboratories leads to increased risks for lab employees. There is a particularly high risk of injury in the case of open machines such as robots if these are handled in a careless way. Turck’s new inductive safety sensors react immediately to movement and eliminate any risk.
Injuries caused by machines in medical research laboratories are an unwanted side effect of lab automation. The dangers inherent in pipetting and sampling robots, dosing and gripper systems, and agitators and presses should not be underestimated. Mechanical safety switches are one possible solution. However, they require a separate actuator, which makes them complex and time-intensive to install.
Turck’s new inductive safety sensors for position and range monitoring round off the automation specialist’s already extensive portfolio of products for ensuring the safety of people and machines. The innovative components have two OSSD (output switching signal device) outputs. They operate contactlessly and therefore do not show any signs of wear even when used intensively for long periods, as is common in laboratory processes. In addition to movement, they also detect short circuits, overload and cross-circuits, thus protecting the laboratory systems from stoppages and damage. They also test switch-off capability using self-tests. Their functional safety meets the requirements of SIL 2