Providing a rapid, safe fix
May 1st 2005

Safety in the production and materials storage environments is a key area of concern for IP&E.

Ian Clay met up with David Teulon, MD of safety and partitioning specialist Troax, to discuss how his company is helping address problems in these areas as well as its recent launch of the Toledo clean room panel system.

Troax UK is an industrial panel producer operating in the materials handling, logistics and machine safety fields. The company’s main focus in the machine safety environment is on putting across the benefits of its Rapid Fix machine guarding system. David Teulon says the product is “well engineered” and has a super fast” installation and demounting capability, saving time and space at automated production cells. Should there a breakdown or failure in production, Rapid Fix panels can be safely and rapidly removed, enabling operatives to carry out repairs, ensuring production resumes quickly. David Teulon believes that Rapid Fix can be installed in up to one third of the time takes to install conventional guarding systems. Rapid Fix has been designed for fast assembly and dismantling by one operative using just one tool. This last point important as David highlights “In order to conform to the European Machinery Directive then those dismantling machine guarding have to use a tool other than a screwdriver. Rapid Fix uses an Allen key”.

This prevents unauthorised dismantling and access to the production area.

Rapid Fix saves floor space within production areas as the panel system’s 100mm x 23mm mesh aperture enables the protection to be placed very close to the automated machinery. Longer runs, for example along a conveyor system, can be dismantled rapidly for repairs, thereby minimising the need for extra interlocked doors. Rapid Fix meets the requirements of current standards for machine safety such as EN-953 and EN-292. Backing up David’s claim that the product is ‘well engineered’ is the fact that the panels are automatically robot welded and every wire is welded to the frame. This feature gives the product extra strength and the panels are tested for both static and dynamic loading. The simplicity of the Rapid Fix installation process is ably demonstrated in a CD-ROM produced by Troax which is available from the company. It demonstrates the ease with which one operative can install and dismantle the product. If you would like a copy of this CD-ROM please email Troax via www.ipesearch.com/enquiry.

Safe Lock Another machine safety product for which the company is well known is the Safe Lock interlocking closing system. The more widespread use of powerful robots and other automated high capacity machinery increases the risk of workplace injuries. The Safe Lock was developed to minimise these hazards. Versions of the Safelock comply fully with the European Machine Directive 98/37 as well as with EN 1088 and EN 954-1. This low cost interlocking system (costing between £250 and £400) is increasingly being specified as an integrated unit on doors. For example the Troax Swing Door 1088 is installed at Peugeot plants around Europe using Rapid Fix technology fitted with a three or four state Safe Lock. The advantage of this is that the pre-assembled door with integrated Safe Lock facilitates rapid installation due to the pre-assembly.

Managed installation service Troax also operates a managed installation service to assist its customers systems integrators and end users) in ensuring machine safety compliance with Health and Safety regulations. The company supplies a team of installation operatives, installation manager and project engineer. The idea behind this service says David Teulon is to “take the concern and the risk away from our customers.” Recent developments A recent development for Troax has been the launch of its Toledo double skin partitioning system for cleanroom applications. Toledo is an advanced version of the company’s original Excalibur product, featuring flush glazing, reduced junctions and ledges and coved skirting.

Used in conjunction with the correct air handling and HVAC systems Toledo is suited to working towards ISO 14644-1 Class 6 cleanroom environment.

One of the other applications for Troax’s partitioning is to build separate rooms in manufacturing facilities that can be used as offices or rest areas. The Excalibur and Toledo systems are suitable for this application as they reduce noise. “The Toledo will be tested later this year”, says David Teulon, to enable Troax to provide specific data on its noise reduction properties.

Troax has a straightforward product range which plays an important role in fulfiling perimeter protection requirements in production, logistics and storage areas.

The introduction of the Rapid Fix system has addressed the problems fixed guarding presents and the managed installation service is a boon when it comes to ensuring ‘duty of care’. The message that came across clearly when speaking to David Teulon is that Troax offers a well designed, high quality range of products, backed up by a well-trained, accountable installation team. All these benefits add up to give users peace of mind, the one feature everybody wants their installation to have.

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