Posted to News on 10th Feb 2026, 09:00
Machine access technology
At Machine Building Live, Pilz Automation Technology sales manager Jason Reed discusses products that will help businesses comply with the Machinery Regulation that will be implemented in 2027, with a demonstration of authentication technology to determine who can gain access to a machine.
(See Pilz at Machine Building North, 13 May 2026, on stand 62)
Within its "Identification and Access Management" portfolio, Pilz offers a comprehensive range of products, solutions and software for the implementation of both safety and security tasks.
These cover applications from simple authentication to complex access permissions, and access management through to safe operating mode selection, maintenance safeguarding and safeguarding of data and networks.
One such solution is the 'key-in-pocket' maintenance safeguarding system for protection against unauthorised restart. This solution ensures that a machine cannot resume operation while people are still in the danger zone. The key-in-pocket maintenance safeguarding system is designed for machines with danger zones, which are protected by a safety fence and which employees need to access - robot cells for example.
In comparison with conventional lockout-tagout (LOTO) systems, maintenance safeguarding with the Key-in-pocket solution is implemented via RFID keys with corresponding permissions and a safe list in the Pilz controllers. As a result, it provides purely electronic restart protection and makes mechanical interlocking devices and warning tags redundant.
