Safety relays are half as wide

Pilz, the German safety specialist which claims to have pioneered the safety relay on 1987, has developed a new generation of relays which are up to 50% narrower than their predecessors. The company says that the new PNOZsigma relays will allow safe automation systems to be implemented quicker, with greater flexibility, at a lower cost, and occupying less space. The smallest relays (shown below) are just 12.5mm wide.

One relay is used for each safety function, such as monitoring emergency stops, safety gates, or light curtains. The operating and reset modes, and the time functions are set via switches, allowing each relay to perform different safety functions. Users will thus be able to stock fewer types.

Pilz says the relays will also save engineering and installation time through the use of standardised terminal locations and designations, and the same functional set-up for all models. In addition, jumpers used to expand contacts can cut wiring by up to 20%, while installation times are reduced through the use of plug-in terminals and a new spring-loaded terminal technology.

The relays, which can switch up to 10A, include six diagnostic LED indicators.

"PNOZsigma is the sum of our experiences in safety technology," declares Renate Pliz, the company`s managing partner.