February 2021

In the age of digitisation, in 2021 Pilz is creating another milestone for safe automation: a new, continuous digital process that encompasses creation, simulation and ordering is a key feature of the new safety relay myPNOZ, the world's first safety relay produced in batch size 1. Here, HaraldWessels, Vice President Product Management at Pilz GmbH & Co. KG, and Florian Rotzinger, responsible for safety relays in the automation specialist's Product Management team, report on what exactly this milestone means, both from a technical/technological perspective and for users. A milestone –What is it that is so brand new on myPNOZ? Harald Wessels: For our new safety relay we have established a completely new type of process, from creation through to ordering and delivery: customers “create” their own safety relay via our online tool myPNOZ Creator. For the first time anywhere in the world in this sector, you can put your own product together and receive it pre-assembled and ready to install in batch size 1. You mentioned the online tool. Where exactly is the added value for users? Harald Wessels: The myPNOZ Creator provides users with logic editor functions, a hardware view with editor, simulation and documentation. In our Creator, customers can assemble their needs-based solution from a wide range of options. The highlight: they can generate their tailor-made product with absolutely no software skills for programming or creation. Users select their safety functions and the corresponding connections; the Creator selects the ideal hardware. The connection logic for the safety functions is defined through the plug- in sequence. The Creator takes care of that: so myPNOZ has an internal safety logic, which is the result of the system structure. How does this internal logic work? Florian Rotzinger: For users it’s totally intuitive, as myPNOZ Creator provides support with translating the logic. Users determine the number, type and logic of the safety functions, following a transparent procedure that’s kept simple. Depending on their safety requirement they interconnect E-STOP, safety gate sensors or light curtains using logic AND/OR connections, for example. All users need to bear in mind is that at least one output must be positioned at the end of each safety zone. Users can simply add it in myPNOZ Creator. The online tool displays any logic errors in the safety function sequence via a symbol. Users can also simulate the created logic directly in myPNOZ Creator, in order to verify whether myPNOZ is reacting as intended. And then they can order at the same time; everything is in one tool. Order immediately? Like an end customer can with trainers or chocolate for example? Florian Rotzinger: Yes, if the selected logic connections are valid, the myPNOZ Creator automatically calculates which modules are needed and the sequence in which these n COVER STORY A synergy of tradition and innovation! myPNOZ