Safety connection advances

"Changes to key safety standards mean that traditional hard wired series connection of switches using volt free electro-mechanical contacts is no longer advisable in higher risk applications,” says Dr Martin Kidman, safety specialist for Sick UK

"The new SICK Flexi Loop permits the series connection of dual channel devices, whilst allowing high diagnostic coverage and eliminating the potential for so called fault masking. It is a fully open system and can accommodate standard sensor/switch devices from any vendor. As a field I/O system, it allows a designer to connect any safety system in series with another without any compromise of the safety system performance to PLe integrity.”