Machine Safety Isn’t Just Compliance – It’s a Competitive Edge
18 May 2026 
In modern manufacturing, machine safety is no longer a box to tick—it’s a business differentiator. Companies that get it right don’t just meet regulations; they reduce downtime, protect their workforce, and build long-term operational resilience.
Yet many organisations still struggle with one key challenge:
How do you turn complex safety standards like EN ISO 14119 into practical, reliable and safe solutions?
That’s where the right technology, and the right partner makes all the difference.
EN ISO 14119: The Foundation of Safe Machine Access
EN ISO 14119 defines how interlocking devices should be designed and applied to ensure that hazardous machine functions stop when guards are opened and cannot restart unintentionally.
But beyond the standard, the design needs to take into consideration other aspects:
- Considering access is possible during clean down operation e.g. when the power is off
- Restricting access to only authorised operators, maintenance personnel and commissioning engineers
- Designing safety logic for more complex systems that fulfils the needs of the relevant standards e.g. ensuring safety overrides meet the requiredPerformance Levels (PL)under ISO 13849-1
This is where safety moves from theory into real-world engineering.
Performance Levels: Where Safety Meets System Reliability
Achieving the required Performance Level (PL) a-e is critical in modern machine safety design. It ensures that your safety function performs reliably under defined conditions.
With advanced safety components, you can:
- Achieve higher PL ratings with fewer components, saving installation time
- Reduce wiring complexity throughseries connection capabilities, while still achieving high levels of performance (up to PLe). Up to 20 devices can be wired in series using standard cables with BR Technology from EUCHNER.
- Gain real-time diagnostic data giving insights into equipment operation, increased productivity and ensuring downtime is minimised. Information such as number of operations, door position, lock status is easily obtainable from the communication outputs of selected EUCHNER devices such as the extremely robust CTA interlock with up to 8000N of locking force.
- Connect safety devices directly onto standard safety fieldbus networks including PROFISAFE, Safety Over ETHERCAT and CIP safety via Ethernet/IP. The EUCHNER MGB2 range of interlocks allow up to 6 door locking stations per bus module.
EUCHNER safety switch and guard locking solutions are engineered with this in mind, helping you reach high performance levels while simplifying your architecture.
The result? A system that is not only compliant, but leaner, smarter, and easier to implement.
Seamless Integration: Designed for Modern Automation
One of the biggest challenges engineers face is integrating safety into increasingly complex control systems.
Our solutions are built to integrate seamlessly into your existing environment and are compatible with leading control architectures, including Siemens, Beckhoff and Rockwell Automation.
For medium complexity systems IO-Link and IO-Link Safety solutions are available from EUCHNER, including non-contact and Locking Safety Interlocks.
Instead of adding complexity, safety becomes a natural extension of your control system.
Smarter Interlocking: Preventing Tampering by Design
EN ISO 14119 places strong emphasis on minimising the risk of bypassing safety devices—a common but dangerous issue in industrial environments.
Bypassing safety devices comes in two common forms – 1. where the operator or maintenance personnel overrides the guarding interlock to make life easier/faster. 2. Where there is a formal process to override the guards for operational purposes, e.g. setting up the machine, unjamming, etc. This should always be undertaken in a safe mode with additional safeguards when necessary.
Our product range addresses this directly through:
- High-level coded actuatorsto prevent unauthorised operation through the use of duplicate/spare actuators
- Robust mechanical and electronic designsthat discourage tampering and allow for safeguards when overriding interlocks, e.g. hold-to-run controls.
- Intelligent monitoringthat detects faults and misuse early and can even lock the machine down when suspicious activity is recognised.
This ensures your safety system performs as intended—not just during inspections, but every day on the factory floor.
From Safety Standards to Practical Applications
The EUCHNER MGB2, when combined with the CKS2 electronic key system, moves beyond conventional guard locking to provide a unified platform for implementing access control, safe lockout and controlled intervention functions within a single architecture. Rather than treating these requirements as separate layers of compliance, the system enables them to be engineered as part of an integrated, networked safety concept.
At the core of this approach is the integration of the CKS2 as a submodule within the MGB2. This transponder-based key system can be configured in the control system to function as a safe lockout mechanism, an authorisation system or a key transfer solution, depending on application requirements. The use of highly coded RFID keys ensures a high level of protection, while the embedded evaluation electronics eliminate the need for external key management hardware such as key exchange boxes or distribution panels.
This architecture allows multiple functions—such as access permission, safe restart control and mode selection—to be incorporated directly at the machine access point. Hold-to-run devices and enabling switches can be integrated as part of the same modular station, alongside guard locking and key-based authorisation, removing the requirement for separate operator stations and associated wiring.
The practical advantage lies in the transition
to a bus-based safety system. Via PROFINET/PROFIsafe or EtherCAT/FSoE, all safety-related signals—including guard status, key identification, enabling device status and emergency stop commands—are communicated through a single interface. This consolidates what would traditionally require extensive hardwired safety circuits into a streamlined network connection.
For engineering teams, this delivers a measurable reduction in hardware and installation effort. The need for dedicated safety relays, large I/O allocations and complex terminal arrangements is significantly reduced, as safety logic is handled centrally within the safety PLC. Multicore cabling is minimised, leading to shorter installation times, lower material costs and reduced cable tray requirements—particularly relevant in large automated warehouse installations.
In addition, the electronic key system introduces a level of flexibility not achievable with mechanical solutions. Keys can be assigned, modified and tracked within the control system, enabling configurable access rights, operator-specific permissions and traceability of interventions.
From a commissioning and maintenance perspective, the benefits are equally clear. The reduction in point-to-point wiring simplifies system validation, while integrated diagnostics provide real-time visibility of all connected elements.
Final Thought
The Safety Standards provides the framework.
The right technology turns it into a competitive advantage.
Because the best machine safety systems don’t slow you down—they move your business forward.
With high-performance, seamlessly integrated safety solutions, you’re not just meeting standards—you’re setting them.
Want to learn more?
Email: sales@euchner.co.uk or
call the Safety Technology Centre
on +44 (0)114 256 0123.
