When it comes to safety in the workplace, safety light curtains play an integral role by protecting workers from the risks of accidents and lowering their chances of accidental harm from automated machinery and other equipment. There are different kinds of safety light curtains, which can be subdivided into two main types: basic light curtains and advanced safety light curtains. The former can perform the job just fine, but advanced safety light curtains have a lot of key features that may be ideal for your project.

It has enhanced functionality for a variety of complex applications.

Safety light curtains are known to light on/off when they detect a body or certain objects nearby. But for advanced safety light curtains, go beyond this simple on/off feature, offering a wide range of attributes that address the unique needs of modern industrial environments.

Integrated laser alignment. Generally speaking, basic safety light curtains are easy enough to install as they are, but their advanced version is much easier to install and maintain, saving time and labor.

Blanking and muting. This feature allows the selective deactivation of certain lights so certain objects can pass through safely while also maintaining the employee’s safety. This minimizes the need to halt performing tasks and decreases the number of unnecessary machine stops.

Diagnostic capabilities. One of the better features of advanced safety light curtains is their ability to provide real-time information about the system’s status. At a glance, they can pinpoint errors, signal strength, and many other diagnostic data that can help identify potential problems. By doing so, business owners can nip the problem in the bud and minimize downtime.

Cascading and zoning. In workplaces, sometimes hazardous spaces are portioned in separate corners, while others encompass a larger area. For spaces like these, it’s ideal to have a long strip of safety light curtains that are interconnected. By doing so, it creates a larger safety net around complex machines, further subdividing them into zones with multiple segments. Now, these areas have their own output signal so workers can effectively monitor the different areas in the safety zone.

Configuration allowability. Another great feature of advanced safety light curtains is they now operate on more configurable settings. This allows users to customize the system’s settings, adapting it according to the operations’ requirements; some of the more configurable settings include response time and beam resolution, to name a few.

It has improved safety features.

Another upgrade seen in advanced safety light curtains is that newer models are equipped with enhanced safety and reliability features.

Self-checking and monitoring. Many newer models come with self-checking and monitoring options to see the integrity of the safety light curtain. It’s thanks to these new features that users can check that the system is functioning properly and has the right response time.

Electromagnetic compatibility (EMC). Another great feature of newer and advanced safety light curtain models is that they’re designed to adhere to the strict requirements of EMC standards, minimizing the chances of interference from other electrical devices or equipment.

Integration and communication capabilities are enhanced.

Seamless integration between safety systems has been the standard of new basic and advanced models. They’re designed as such so different communication programs can organize their integration.

Truthfully speaking, these features are just the tip of the iceberg when it comes to new features in safety light curtains. There are many not included in today’s list and many more are being invented as we speak. At the end of the day, considering the functionality of each model is key to optimizing the features of your advanced safety light curtains according to your project’s needs and preferences. By doing so, you’re providing the highest form of protection to your employees while also maximizing productivity.