HMK, which claims to be the UK’s largest independent supplier of drive automation products, has formed a new business devoted to safety in the manufacturing and machinery sector. HMK Safety Engineering, headed by Rob Sharrock, will manage the entire safety lifecycle.

Although HMK’s existing customer base will be a starting point for the new company, it will operate as a separate business, based in the Irlam offices of HMK’s parent, the Entologi Group.

Explaining the reason for setting up the new business, Entologi CEO Carl Krajewski points out that “very few machine manufacturers and production engineers have the expertise to keep pace with legislation change, follow all the procedures, testing and audits, manage the requisite documentation and optimise production rates. We have that expertise.”

Sharrock (above) believes that if safety is considered early enough in a project, it need not push up costs. “Integrating control of safety systems into the standard automation platform allows greater flexibility in the control and management of hazards,” he points out. “For example, it may be better to run a machine at a safe slow speed to carry out a hazardous task, rather than having to stop the production line repeatedly.”