Manual restart is a thing of the past

Unilin's goal is "Zero Harm" – i.e. to create a working environment in which safety for human and machine is the top priority. However, the existing woodworking processes at the production site in Izegem, Belgium, did carry certain risks. For example, the need to leave the forklift during material transfer could lead to injuries to the driver. Or if a driver remains unnoticed in the safety zone before the process is restarted. The solution: safe radar sensors – installed at each corner of the safety zone. The current safety concept using the safe radar system PSENradar from Pilz now ensures the necessary efficiency and optimised safety. 

The start position in Izegem: forklift trucks have to load and unload roller conveyors along an existing production line. To restart the line, the drivers had to reset the light curtain manually when leaving the safety zone. If the driver forgot to do this, it led to unnecessarily long machine downtimes and product bottlenecks. With the help of the safe radar sensors PSEN, the machines now restart automatically: with a range of up to five metres, the sensors reliably monitor the "danger point" and immediately detect if an employee is in the danger zone. As soon as the radar system stops detecting movement, it enables the restart in seconds. PSENradar can even register a human heartbeat – for "zero" risk of injury to Unilin employees and greater efficiency.

• Automated restart without manual intervention
• Greater efficiency: no unnecessary downtimes, no product bottlenecks
• Greater safety for employees when restarting 

Unilin is one of the leading manufacturers of wood materials and wood composites. Its products include floorings for interior design and wood-based materials for the construction industry. With its headquarters in Wielsbeke, Belgium, the company employs 7800 people at 105 locations worldwide. Founded in 1960, the company has always focused on innovative solutions: for example, the first adhesive-free click system for floor coverings in 1997. Safety and productivity are firmly anchored in Unilin's "Zero Harm" culture.