DenTech has a long-standing relationship with a packaging solutions company where we’ve provided safety guarding in their facility.
The packaging company wanted to update safety measures on three of their production lines that produce metal cans for oil and paint. DenTech worked with them to provide a complete solution from design through installation.
We started with a risk assessment to identify safety hazards and ensure our safety solutions met the facility’s needs.
Challenge
The packaging company wanted to improve two aspects of their production lines:
1. Access to the machines for maintenance
Each production line has two machines: a flanger and a beader. The machines are in close quarters and have guarding directly on them, which is difficult to remove when operators need to work on the machine or fix a jam. Safety fencing would provide an enclosure around the machines to keep operators safe, without needing to have guarding directly on the machines.
2. Streamline the controls
The process was controlled by several junction boxes located around the production lines. A control panel for each production line that integrated all the controls into one place would make operating the line easier.
Solution
DenTech designers visited the packaging facility to field measure the existing machines and facility layout. The facility has existing panels and structures that DenTech had to design around, so having exact measurements onsite made planning more accurate. We created a draft drawing of the safety fencing and controls. The packaging company’s team reviewed the design and noted modifications. This pre-planning allowed for a smoother installation.
DenTech built the fencing and control panels at our facilities in Denver, PA. We purchased the aluminum extrusion framework for the fencing through one of our vendors. The control panels are in NEMA 12 enclosures and include a safety controller, emergency stop safety relay, and circuitry for safety interlock devices.
Our electrical team took care of the electrical installation at the packaging facility. Cables and baskets ran on top of cells and conduits dropped down into cells, so no cables were on the floor.
All the junction boxes that related to the flanger and beader machines were tied into our control panels.
Results
Each machine now has safety fencing around it, which removes the need to have guarding directly on the machine. Operators cannot go near a machine while it’s running. Access doors with Fortress interlocks include push buttons for Emergency Stop, Safety Reset, and Start. Now when a machine jams or needs maintenance, operators can stop the machine and safely enter the cell to work on the machine.
Control panels for each cell tie into existing junction boxes. Now the operator has one spot to control the production line, safely outside the cell. Operators no longer have to go to different junction boxes for different controls.
Learn more about our machine safety solutions.
