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World’s Safest Emergency Stop Switch EXCEEDS International Safety Standards
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Sunnyvale, CA – IDEC is very excited to introduce the XA (16mm) and XW (22mm) series Emergency Stop (E-Stop) switches. These new switches are the first of their kind in the world to include a revolutionary new technology called "safe break action" that provides greater levels of operator safety! E-Stop switches are widely used in Human Machine Interface (HMI) environments to allow operators to instantly stop a machine's motion, particularly where automated production systems are in use.
The emergency stop button is a critical component on any machine because its failure has the potential to cause severe injury or loss of life. Such a malfunction can cause equipment damage, personal injury, down time, etc. and as a result, increase the exposure to liability issues, and can even lead to more catastrophic failures like fires and life-threatening accidents. Malfunctions may occur due to improper installation of the switch, accidental removal of the contact block, improper wiring, and even vibration during transportation of the finished product causing dislocation of the contact block.
To reduce the risk of potential disaster, IDEC has designed the XA/XW series switches to reduce the impact of these failures, and complies with the most up-to-date international safety standards (ISO13850 and EN60947-5-5). The XA/XW emergency stop switches actually exceed these requirements by turning off when a part fails or the contact block and the actuator are improperly installed. As these new E-Stop switches surpass current international standards, they are the world's safest switches!
Conventional E-Stop switches are designed with energy (spring pressure) on the Normally Closed (NC) contacts, keeping them in the closed position and allowing the machine to operate. Excessive force to the stop button in an emergency may break or dislodge a functional part, allowing the spring loaded contact to stay closed and therefore, not stop the machine.
The XA/XW series, however, incorporates an innovative "safe break action" concept. This one-of-a-kind design reverses the energy direction and uses the spring-pressure to assure that the NC contacts will open if the emergency switch is damaged or the contact blocks break off due to excessive force. "Our new E-Stop switches are designed to forcefully open the NC contacts even when breaking the contact blocks. The NC contacts will reliably open, even if they are welded, thereby stopping the machine" said Lanny Schuberg, Director of Product Marketing. "We call this revolutionary safety-ensuring design 'safe break action'. Combined with IDEC quality, this is the switch you want!"
One of the most exciting aspects of both the XA and XW switches is the fact that they include up to four contacts in a very compact package. In today's automated world, more customers are requiring E-Stop switches with at least three contacts. (Two of the contacts trip the power and the third contact is used to alert a safety-monitoring relay.) Both the XA and XW series switches offer up to four "safe-break" contacts with a depth behind the panel that is half of those of conventional E-Stop switches. This means that there is an additional contact available and the switches can be used in Level 4 safety category applications.
IDEC's new E-Stop switches are secured from the rear of the control panel, therefore, the buttons cannot be removed from the front. Another feature of the XA/XW switches is that either push-turn or push-pull reset methods can be used to reset switches. This complies with many European and US standards and eliminates any possible confusion for operators when resetting the switch. The durability and quality of these new E-Stop switches make them extremely reliable and can withstand even the highest stress caused by panic or a reaction to an emergency situation.
For more information on the XA and XW series of E-Stop switches, visit IDEC at www.idec.com.
Sunnyvale, CA – IDEC is very excited to introduce the XA (16mm) and XW (22mm) series Emergency Stop (E-Stop) switches. These new switches are the first of their kind in the world to include a revolutionary new technology called "safe break action" that provides greater levels of operator safety! E-Stop switches are widely used in Human Machine Interface (HMI) environments to allow operators to instantly stop a machine's motion, particularly where automated production systems are in use.
The emergency stop button is a critical component on any machine because its failure has the potential to cause severe injury or loss of life. Such a malfunction can cause equipment damage, personal injury, down time, etc. and as a result, increase the exposure to liability issues, and can even lead to more catastrophic failures like fires and life-threatening accidents. Malfunctions may occur due to improper installation of the switch, accidental removal of the contact block, improper wiring, and even vibration during transportation of the finished product causing dislocation of the contact block.
To reduce the risk of potential disaster, IDEC has designed the XA/XW series switches to reduce the impact of these failures, and complies with the most up-to-date international safety standards (ISO13850 and EN60947-5-5). The XA/XW emergency stop switches actually exceed these requirements by turning off when a part fails or the contact block and the actuator are improperly installed. As these new E-Stop switches surpass current international standards, they are the world's safest switches!
Conventional E-Stop switches are designed with energy (spring pressure) on the Normally Closed (NC) contacts, keeping them in the closed position and allowing the machine to operate. Excessive force to the stop button in an emergency may break or dislodge a functional part, allowing the spring loaded contact to stay closed and therefore, not stop the machine.
The XA/XW series, however, incorporates an innovative "safe break action" concept. This one-of-a-kind design reverses the energy direction and uses the spring-pressure to assure that the NC contacts will open if the emergency switch is damaged or the contact blocks break off due to excessive force. "Our new E-Stop switches are designed to forcefully open the NC contacts even when breaking the contact blocks. The NC contacts will reliably open, even if they are welded, thereby stopping the machine" said Lanny Schuberg, Director of Product Marketing. "We call this revolutionary safety-ensuring design 'safe break action'. Combined with IDEC quality, this is the switch you want!"
One of the most exciting aspects of both the XA and XW switches is the fact that they include up to four contacts in a very compact package. In today's automated world, more customers are requiring E-Stop switches with at least three contacts. (Two of the contacts trip the power and the third contact is used to alert a safety-monitoring relay.) Both the XA and XW series switches offer up to four "safe-break" contacts with a depth behind the panel that is half of those of conventional E-Stop switches. This means that there is an additional contact available and the switches can be used in Level 4 safety category applications.
IDEC's new E-Stop switches are secured from the rear of the control panel, therefore, the buttons cannot be removed from the front. Another feature of the XA/XW switches is that either push-turn or push-pull reset methods can be used to reset switches. This complies with many European and US standards and eliminates any possible confusion for operators when resetting the switch. The durability and quality of these new E-Stop switches make them extremely reliable and can withstand even the highest stress caused by panic or a reaction to an emergency situation.
For more information on the XA and XW series of E-Stop switches, visit IDEC at www.idec.com.
Contact: Lanny Schuberg
IDEC Corporation
1-800-262-IDEC (4332), ext. 206
About IDEC: IDEC Corporation designs and manufactures control automation products sold to original equipment manufacturers. With products that direct processes and systems, IDEC components are used in a wide variety of applications. Part of a global network, IDEC is known worldwide for its quality and reliability in the pushbutton industry for over half a century. With a strong presence in Asia, North America, Central and South America, Australia and Europe, IDEC products are found all over the world. For more information, please visit www.idec.com.Back to List.