www.drivesncontrols.com October 2023 43 TALKING INDUSTRY n Advances in safety engineering and security The most recent edition of the Talking Industry series of Webinars considered how implementing safety initiatives can enhance efficiency, while addressing the risks. Consultant editor Andy Pye, who chaired the session, gives an overview of the event. Talking Industry Talking Industry is a freeform conversation between industry experts, rather than a scripted Webinar. On this occasion, our three speakers interpreted this intention perfectly, and the session almost morphed into a single conversational piece, where a wide range of the topics was covered within a single chat session. Our three speakers were Ian Holland from Dold Industries, Peter Keckes from Red Lion Controls and David Dearden from Euchner (details below). David Dearden provided a general perspective of trends in safety and security technology. As the cost of safety I/O has come down, he sees safety solutions changing from hard-wired physical relay-based systems to programmable systems. The number of vendors offering programmable or configurable safety control systems is also increasing. Whereas it was previously relatively prohibitive to use a programmable safety system on a machine – apart from in highly specialist circumstances – it is now becoming the norm. If you have a programmable controller or a PC-based control system that’s managing the rest of the control functions, why wouldn't you also include it in the safety functions? With the advances in automation and robotics, safety systems are also becoming far more complex. It was not long before the other speakers entered the fray. Peter Keckes made the case for the continued use of hard-wired and simple logic systems in some areas where speed is critical. This is because no conversions are needed between the analogue and digital worlds. However, there is a requirement to take digital information out of a wired system, so that the information can be used elsewhere for monitoring and management purposes. Ian Holland also made the case for relay logic, pointing out that his company still supplies millions of relays every day. Much of this demand is down to cost and the different skillsets required. He said that cost is a major factor and, with the price of energy going up, the price of resource and infrastructure spending has to come down. But both Holland and Dearden agreed that when building a new production line or a new warehousing logistics centre, it is now rare for the safety-related control system to be based on relay technology. The session then moved on to discuss other aspects, including changing skillsets and the challenge of working with multiple protocols. It concluded with more futuristic concepts, including how artificial intelligence will influence safety and security technology over the coming five to ten years, both for good and ill – if it is not already here! Standards are trying hard to catch up with the fast-moving technology. As you might expect, the latest regulations are found within Europe, because the Machinery Directive now has a strong focus on cybersecurity. Do feel free to contact us with any further questions you may have, which we will readily pass on to the speakers from the session. The Talking Industry live event is just the start! n Talking Industry is sponsored by the Drives & Controls Exhibition which takes place from 4-6 June 2024, at the NEC, Birmingham, in association with Manufacturing & Engineering Week 2024. www.drives-expo.com Now available as a podcast If you missed this Talking Industry Webinar, there are various ways to catch up. It available as an on-demand video on YouTube via https://www.youtube.com/@talkingindustry and also as a podcast via https://talkingindustry.podbean.com The online panel On the panel for this Webinar were: • Ian Holland, Managing Director, Dold Industries • Peter Keckes, Strategic Account Manager UK&I, Red Lion Controls • David Dearden, Managing Director, Euchner UK
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