In manufacturing, fabrication, machining, and many other industries, safeguarding workers and machinery is essential. It reduces injuries as well as damage and wear. In doing so, it keeps repairs, replacements, unnecessary expenses, and other major problems to a minimum. Beyond that, keeping employees and equipment safe increases production, efficiency, and quality. Industrial protective systems are designed for those very purposes.
Exploring Different Types of Protective Systems
Several types of protective solutions are available. Each one plays its own role in improving safety and equipment longevity. Custom Protective Systems for Industry use take matters a step further by providing tailor-made barriers against damage and injuries. Take a look at some of the protective systems available to businesses.
Fixed Guards
Fixed machine guards are designed to provide permanent protection. As the name indicates, they remain in place around equipment to keep workers from coming into contact with moving parts. They can also keep outside contaminants from making their way into machinery in some cases.
Since they’re not meant to be opened or moved, they work best in situations where the equipment being guarded doesn’t require a great deal of maintenance or other types of human intervention. Though fixed guards can make maintenance and repairs difficult, they’re also difficult to get past. That means there’s little risk of anyone bypassing them and placing themselves in danger or damaging the machinery that’s being protected.
Adjustable Guards
Adjustable machine guards are also available. They can be modified for different materials, production runs, and other variables. They may have sliding, pivoting, or telescopic components that allow for adjustments as needed. Despite being movable and adjustable, they generally lock into place while machinery is operating. As such, they can still provide ample protection. Having moving parts may also mean they require more maintenance than fixed systems.
Way Wipers
Way wipers are designed more for protecting machinery and materials than keeping workers safe. They’re made of strips of material, like rubber or polyurethane, that are attached to machines. While the machines are operating, way wipers clear away debris, moisture, and other substances. That keeps them from getting into machines’ moving parts where they can cause corrosion and damage. Way wipers can help make machinery last longer, reduce breakdowns, and ensure debris and moisture don’t detract from the quality of the products being produced.
Bellows
Bellows are accordion-like covers that are made of durable but flexible materials. They can protect the components in machines from dirt, moisture, chemicals, and other contaminants. They’re made to expand and contract along with moving parts, and they’re sealed for optimal effectiveness. As is the case with other protective components, bellows can be made of various materials depending on the user’s needs, and they come in numerous shapes and sizes. In addition to safeguarding equipment, they can provide a certain amount of protection for operators.
Protecting Workers and Machinery
Keeping employees safe and protecting expensive machinery is crucial in manufacturing and many other industries. Several types of protective systems are available. Those listed here are only a few of the options currently on the market. From preventing injuries to minimizing wear and tear, each type of protective system does its part to protect workers and machinery. They can be used in conjunction for more well-rounded protection, and customized solutions provide even more benefits.
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