Rotoline attended another Annual Rotational Molders Meeting – ARM. The event this year took place in Denver, Colorado in November 1-4, with “safety” as one of its primary subjects. The subject was addressed from different angles by several keynote speakers such fixed and moving parts guarding and more complex safety systems, like laser scanners motion detectors.
Rotoline’s Commercial Manager, Kadidia Umar, emphasizes how good it was to see Rotoline coming out ahead once again with regard to Rotational Molding Machinery safety, given that Rotoline has been offering solutions for operational safety and maintenance of its equipment since 2009.
Such was the case of the FULLY AUTOMATIC System for Dosing, Feeding, Opening and Closing Molds for Water Tanks production. In addition to enhancing the Machine’s productivity and reducing labor, the primary focus of this design was to offer safe system operation for rotational molders. This system considerably lowers the risk when opening molds and loading material. The operator no longer has to raise the arm, go underneath the arms and molds or work precariously, under the risk of falling and having accidents when closing the molds manually, or having ergonomics problems.
The Rotational Molding consultant, Ian Hansen, stressed during his speech at the event, the importance of working with Rotational Molding Machines that offer safety components as a standard item such as fixed chains and motors guards, he also emphasizes the need of working with safety fencing to restrict operator access to risk areas. Ian also mentioned Rotoline’s Safety Fences as a good option for Rotational Molders that already have their own machinery as Rotoline has sold fencing modules for new machines and to retrofit the existing ones.
Rotoline’s Automation Engineer, Antonio Carlos Pereira Filho, points out that the fence interlocked with safety switches and relays, complying with safety standards for the industrial sector. It has electric and electronic safety interlocking, limiting access by unauthorized persons. They are made of steel with electrostatic paint and is sold in modules, allowing for fast and easy assembly.
It can also be adapted to machinery from other brands and even for equipment in production areas other than rotational molding.
In addition to Interlocking Safety Fencing, Rotoline also offers other options as safety scanners, light curtains and presence sensing system to ensure greater access control for operators in areas of risk where the machine is installed.
Kadidia emphasizes that safety has always been part of Rotoline’s engineering designs.
“We are aware that Rotoline’s Machines need to be as productive, cost-efficient and automated as possible, but that it also has to be safe above all. The safety factor is in Rotoline’s Engineering DNA,” states the Commercial Manager.
Another issue covered in some speeches is the importance of working with equipment that has movement speeds of doors, carts, arms and plates reduced and controlled. “The cart, arm and plate movements are protected by a system in which the operator has to press the podium button along with the safety/redundant button to activate any of them, keeping them pressed in order to have movement. When they are released, the movement stops automatically”, explains the Engineer Antonio Carlos.
Likewise, the whole machine needs to have visual and audible warnings/alerts, power switch with Lock Out, and service order warning procedures. The equipment should come from the factory with safety signs, as well as specific manual and training on safety.
The engineer Antonio Carlos reiterates that these safety items are required under Safety Standards such as NR12 and OSHA.
Unfortunately the risk is inherent on industrial environments with intense pace of work, due to working with large-scale equipment and multiple teams in which not everyone is engaged regarding the safety issue. For this reason, Rotoline has been providing peripheral accessories that can help control such risks and prevent accidents.
The Work Platforms have proven to be an excellent ally in this matter, because they foresee working conditions with greater safety, risk reduction, increased productivity and ergonomics. They are electrically/electronically interlocked during arms/carts movement to ensure the operator’s safety, and they are equipped with operation/maintenance risk controls and guardrails.
All the new peripherals and safety systems developed by Rotoline in the last years are also available for installation on over the 300 machines currently in the market, and they can also be retrofitted and adapted with the more recently developed components.
Ultimately, safety has always been and will remain a relevant topic in all spheres, always warranting further discussion. It should also be taken into account, that regular inspection of machinery and equipment, preventive maintenance and well-trained operators make all the difference in risk and accident control.
For more information, please contact the Sales Department:
Phone: +1 330 677 3223
