Safety

In power generation plants, large ball, gate or butterfly process valves control the flow of steam, oil, water, or gas. Because of the massive amount of power required and the intrinsic risks within, hydraulic systems and power units designed for operation in non-classified or hazardous classified areas, are used to maximize power generation efficiency and…

Wieland Electric, in collaboration with Ross Controls, has introduced new TÜV-certified training courses titled “CFSE – Certified Functional Safety Expert for Electrical and Fluid Power Systems.” This five-day course is intended for engineers, designers, developers, maintenance engineers and safety officers who want to expand their understanding of functional safety. It covers the application of functional…

Rod locks are crucial safety devices for hydraulic and pneumatic cylinders — they are designed to automatically clamp a cylinder to hold a load safely in case of power loss. They are designed to hold loads of hundreds up to millions of pounds. Advanced Machine & Engineering Co. (AME) manufactures both pneumatic and hydraulic rod…

Festo introduces an innovative suite of safety products, including its new CIP safety module, that ensures the safe operation of pneumatic systems and lowers the risk of injury and system and product damage.  Festo pneumatic safety solutions are compatible with the top industrial Ethernet protocols – EtherNET/IP, PROFITNET, and EtherCAT – which gives them near […]

Fluid power engineers are familiar with hydraulic load-holding or counterbalance valves that prevent sudden load drops and control descent speed. Such valves ensure smooth, stable operation and provide a safety mechanism in mobile and industrial machinery. The downside is they can fail due to wear, incorrect positioning, or failures in the hydraulic system. Pennsylvania-based York […]

Denios has introduced the SpillGuard leak recognition system, which instantly alerts users when a leak is detected. This unique, FM-approved technology is placed within the sump of a spill containment device, or near the equipment to be monitored, and alerts users with an audible and visual alarm for a minimum of 24 hours when contact…

Despite years of warnings — and the development of OSHA standards — there are still many dangerous compressed air blow wands in service at facilities throughout the world. Countless injuries and even deaths could have been prevented if safer devices were used or the blowing eliminated altogether. Fig. 1 shows a wand used to clean […]

Compressed air is often disregarded as a common utility in factories, but risks are high with pressurized air running through pneumatic hoses. Learn how to use these tools safely. Contributed by Mindy Schoeff, Marketing Communications Manager and Ron Hibbler, Applications Manager, Proportion-Air Compressed air is nearly ubiquitous in factories. It’s part of the power behind everything […]

Machine & Process Safety Assessment Group (MPSA), a division of Airline Hydraulics Corp., launched its new machine safety website, mpsasafety.com, on March 1, featuring faster browsing speeds and a new blog, “Machine Safety Talk.” Site users can easily learn about turnkey machine safety solutions offered through MPSA’s six-step safety process and access best practices, FAQs, […]

The M35 series valve from Ross Controls is designed to supply air to a zone or entire machine/system until signaled to shut off and exhaust residual downstream pneumatic energy from the machine. This reduces the hazards associated with the presence of residual energy during employee access and/or minor servicing. The safety function of the M35 […]

For more than 85 years, rupture disks have served as an effective passive safety mechanism to protect against overpressure or potentially damaging vacuum conditions. The disk, which is a one-time-use membrane typically made of metal, is designed to activate within milliseconds when it experiences a predetermined differential pressure. They can be used as standalone devices…

At IFPE this week, HAWE Hydraulik is highlighting its newest technologies, including the LE-X hydraulic locking unit, a state-of-the-art safety solution for passenger restraint systems on amusement park rides. The LE-X is designed for high loads — breaking load is 28,000 N. This design ensures the safety of the passenger even in the most demanding…