Pet Food manufacturers use various types of process machinery, many being equipped with rotating blades. Clearly these represent danger to both production and maintenance staff and adequate precautions must be taken to ensure safe working conditions at all times.
Facing this challenge, one major UK pet food manufacturer chose MARECHAL DECONTACTOR™ sockets as the solution. The manufacturer specified optional features to its sockets enhancing safety at and around this type of equipment. Fundamentally it wanted the on-load make and break electrical performance of the standard DECONTACTOR™, but further safety options were specified to minimise risk including auxiliary contacts, padlocking and e-stop style socket latches. So how do these help plant safety?
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Firstly MARECHAL DECONTACTOR™ sockets, when fitted with 2 auxiliary contacts, can be used in conjunction with a contactor. Once the plug is released from the socket, the auxiliary circuit opens dropping out the contactor at the panel, cutting power to the socket. With no power at the socket the machine remains dead even if the plug is re-inserted.
Secondly, the MARECHAL socket is supplied with the padlocking option enabling the technician to tag out the socket, creating visible isolation. This provides safe working conditions for the maintenance on or re-positioning of electrical equipment.
Thirdly, if an operator needs to cut off power to the machine in an emergency, the eye is drawn quickly to the socket –mounted e-stop style latch. Pressing this red STOP latch with either a bare or gloved hand operates the integral socket switch (EN60947-3) under full load to cut power to the machine quickly and safely. At this point the auxiliary contacts drop out the contactor cutting power to the machine.
These features are available across the MARECHAL motor-rated DS and DSN (& DXN EX) DECONTACTOR™ ranges.
More information on request or visit the website www.marechal.com
