Contrinex slimline light curtains revolutionise press shop safety

(See PLUS Automation at FoodManufacturing.Live, 15 October 2025, on stand 48)

The challenge between operational efficiency and operator safety leads manufacturers to seek intelligent solutions that elevate safety without shackling output. For press shops, heavy-duty machinery presents a considerable hazard, with traditional safeguarding methods having long been a source of frustration, introducing unwelcome delays and ergonomic compromises.

The inherent risks associated with industrial presses are well-documented. Historically, operators relied on robust, interlocked physical guards - an approach that inevitably impacted productivity and flexibility. The modern press shop, especially within a lean manufacturing framework, demands agility. The ability to execute rapid changeovers without a moment's hesitation on safety is paramount. Here, non-contact safety systems demonstrably outperform their inflexible, physical counterparts.

A typical scenario sees an operator loading one press while another press completes its cycle. This delicate ballet is only achievable when unimpeded access is married with robust safety. This is precisely where Contrinex's high-integrity Type 4 active optoelectronic protective devices (AOPDs), aka machine safety light curtains, come into their own, offering the reliability essential for secure access control in such demanding environments.

Slimline solution

Contrinex's YBES Extended Slim safety light curtains have been engineered with the power press application firmly in mind. Equipment designers, keenly aware of the severe injury potential, consistently specify Type 4 light curtains with a 30mm beam width for hand protection. The YBES range not only meets, but exceeds, these stringent requirements, holding TUV, CE, and UL certifications in accordance with IEC 61496-1/2, IEC 61508-1/2/3, and ISO 13849-1.

A slender profile of only 26 x 26 mm is coupled with an innovative internal architecture that eliminates any blind zone, so that these Extended Slim light curtains are effortlessly integrated and remarkably unobtrusive. This supports presses with open-fronted design, granting operators immediate and unfettered access for loading and unloading. The days of engineers grappling with cumbersome guards and fencing during product changeovers are, thankfully, drawing to a close, yielding tangible savings in both time and cost.

Boasting an operating range of up to five metres and detection heights spanning 170 mm to a substantial 1610 mm, YBES light curtains maximise the available obstruction-free working area. Their IP65 rating and rugged aluminium housings ensure they are built to endure the rigours of the press shop, shrugging off shocks and vibrations with ease. Connection to the machine control system is straightforward, via a 0.3m pigtail cable and M12 connector.

Further enhancing their appeal, these units feature integrated External Device Monitoring (EDM), complete with a relay-monitoring function, obviating the need for additional, costly wired monitoring relays. Start and restart interlocks can be configured for either manual or automatic operation, while three beam-coding options offer versatility. With permanent auto-control and optical synchronisation, commissioning is further streamlined by the wireless configuration and monitoring capabilities, accessible via a Bluetooth signal and the user-friendly ContriApp smartphone application.

In essence, the Contrinex YBES Extended Slim light curtain isn't just a safety device; it's an enabler of enhanced productivity, offering a highly reliable, cost-effective solution that simultaneously improves workplace ergonomics and dramatically reduces changeover times. It's a testament to how intelligent automation can truly empower the modern British factory.