Food & Drink Process & Packaging Issue 24 2019 | Page 15

The additional use of bridging sensors the creative Leuze development in often required more space, leading to numerous practical tests. “Smart Process an even less-compact system design. Gating” was then put through its paces The installation and service effort for at and by WITRON on its test tracks in the additional set-up, alignment and re- its company headquarters in Parkstein alignment of these sensors also resulted in the Upper Palatinate region where it in additional work. "This led WITRON was optimized together in detail. “The to search for a solution that combines result is impressive: a clever solution was process reliability, system availability created that combines the requirements and easier operation with one another," for safety at work with high process explains Schmid. reliability and system availability,” explains Josef Apfelbeck, key account Muting reinvented At that time, Leuze electronic did not yet have a practical answer to this requirement, but did already have a project idea: “Smart Process Gating” – based on its MLC safety light curtains. Leuze electronic presented this to its key customer WITRON in a very early development phase. WITRON was quickly convinced of this idea and accompanied manager and specialist for intralogistics at Leuze electronic. With “Smart Process Gating” a new process was created that enables muting processes to be executed more easily, more compactly and more stably. With the SPG principle developed on the basis of its MLC safety light curtains, it is possible to completely forego the previously necessary signal- emitting sensors. Process-controlled access guarding in intralogistics. Josef Apfelbeck, Leuze electronic (l) and Stephan Schmid, WITRON (r) have collaborated for many years. FDPP - www.fdpp.co.uk 15