EMERGENCY STOP BUTTONS AND OTHER SIGNALLING AND COMMAND DEVICES

Signalling and control devices facilitate communication between man and machine. People expect high levels of reliability from them. Intuitive operation is desirable not just from an ergonomic point of view, but also with regards to safety at work. The type of machine and the environmental conditions mean that the demands made of command and signalling devices are very different. Consequently, there is a wide range of different designs available. In addition to classic command devices and indicator lights for installation on operator panels, pull-wire switches, foot switches, cross-switches and buttons as well as two-hand controls and enabling devices, for example are in common use.

EMERGENCY STOP BUTTON: RELIABLE AND ROBUST

In order to meet the many different requirements in machine and plant construction, the Schmersal Group offers a very extensive range of products, including pushbuttons, impact switches, illuminated pushbuttons and indicator lights and selector switches as well as key-operated selector switches. Switches in the E range are particularly suitable for applications in harsh operating conditions, while the variants in the N range are used in connection with food, hygiene and outdoor applications. The R programme is designed for heavy-duty applications, the A programme for industrial applications. The E-STOP buttons are of particular importance within this series. They are used to stop a machine immediately in the event of a hazard or to put it into a safe state. The pushbuttons are used all over the world in mechanical engineering and plant construction and stand out due to their extremely robust design. On vibrating machines or with frequent shock loading, these EMERGENCY STOP buttons function reliably and thus increases the machines' productivity and extend their service lives.

E-STOP buttons should not be confused with E-STOP switches: EMERGENCY STOP emphasises switching off the supply of electrical energy, e.g. to reduce the risk of electric shock or other hazards. EMERGENCY STOP rather emphasises a standstill, the deliberate halting of a movement or process in an emergency.

EMERGENCY STOP COMMAND DEVICES ACCORDING TO EN ISO 13850

All emergency stop buttons in the Schmersal Group range, as well as other signalling and emergency devices, are manufactured in accordance with EN ISO 13850. This standard defines the functional requirements and design principles for the control function of emergency stops - regardless of the type of energy used. Further detailed information on the individual product ranges and the corresponding contact and spring elements can be found in the Schmersal Group's extensive online catalogue.