Banner Engineering, a provider of technology for industrial automation, today announced the release of SI-RF Series RFID safety switches for monitoring doors, gates, and other moveable machine safeguards.

SI-RF Series safety switches uses RFID technology to monitor mechanical guards separating personnel from a hazard. They can be deployed alone to safeguard a single machine access point or in a cascade series to simplify the safeguarding of multiple access points. Cascade models can be connected in a series of up to 32 switches using a standard 4-wire cable, T-adaptors, an end plug, and just two terminals on a safety controller.

Used alone or in a series, SI-RF Series safety switches achieve Category 4, PL e, or SIL CL 3 safety ratings. Each switch consists of an RFID safety sensor that detects the presence, absence, or movement of an RFID coded actuator installed on a guard. Outputs on each sensor in a cascade series are continuously monitored to detect any faults, eliminating the possibility of fault masking at any point in the system and ensuring operation at the highest levels of safety.

The In-Series Diagnostics (ISD) communication protocol provides performance and status information from each sensor in a cascade series to the PLC and/or HMI. Notification is sent for the opening or closing of a door, mismatched or misaligned sensors and actuators, and a range of additional system health attributes.

SI-RF Series RFID safety switches are available in low, high, and unique code models to meet the tamper resistance needs of a wide range of applications. They have a rugged, IP69 construction, a non-contact design with no moving parts, and a very high tolerance to misalignment. They will perform reliably in challenging applications where exposure to high-pressure, high-temperature washdown as well as machine vibration and impact are possible.

Banner Engineering
www.bannerengineering.com