Machine Guard Insights & Tech Resources

Modular Guarding for AGV and AMR Automation Areas

Automated guided vehicles (AGVs) and autonomous mobile robots (AMRs) move pallets, products and materials through warehouses, manufacturing plants and distribution facilities. An AGV typically follows a defined route or guidance…

Machine Guarding Solutions for Automated Packaging Lines

Automated packaging lines can combine conveyors, cartoners, case packers, flow wrappers, labelers, palletizers, robots and material-handling systems within a small production area. The right machine guarding solution must control access…

OSHA 1910.213: Woodworking Machinery Requirements

OSHA 29 CFR 1910.213 includes machine-specific safeguarding requirements for woodworking machinery used in U.S. general industry workplaces. It addresses hazards associated with saw blades, cutterheads, rotating spindles, in-running nip points,…

How to Inspect Modular Guarding After Forklift, AGV or Pallet Impact

A forklift, AGV, AMR or pallet impact can damage more than the visible guard panel. Even a minor collision may move posts, loosen anchors, create access gaps, reduce safety distance…

OSHA 1910.216: Mills and Calenders in the Rubber and Plastics Industries

OSHA 29 CFR 1910.216 sets machine-specific requirements for mills and calenders used in the rubber and plastics industries in U.S. general industry workplaces. These machines can create severe drawing-in, crushing…

How to Design Machine Guarding Around Existing Plant Constraints

Designing machine guarding around existing plant constraints requires more than measuring the available floor space and fitting panels where they will physically fit. The guarding layout must still control access…

Risk Assessment for Robotic Cell Guarding

A robotic cell guarding risk assessment should consider more than the movement of the robot arm. The assessment must identify hazards created by the complete cell, including end effectors, tooling,…

How to Assess Risk at Conveyor Transfer Openings

Conveyor transfer openings can be necessary for pallets, cartons, totes, product or materials to move between machines. They can also create access paths to conveyor nip points, robotic cells, palletizers,…

Modular Guarding Solutions for Palletizers and End-of-Line Equipment

Palletizers, depalletizers, stretch wrappers, case packers and automated transfer systems can create crushing, trapping, impact and access hazards around the end of a production line. Modular guarding provides a practical…

Modular Machine Guarding for Robotic Cells

Modular machine guarding is widely used for robotic cells because it provides a practical way to create perimeter enclosures, controlled access points and defined loading areas around automated equipment. A…

Machine Guarding Solutions for Food Processing, Meat Plants and Washdown Areas

Machine guarding in food processing, meat plants and washdown areas must do more than prevent access to hazardous movement. It also needs to support hygienic cleaning, remain suitable for the…

Using Modular Access Gates in Machine Guarding Systems

Modular access gates provide a controlled entry point into a machine guarding enclosure. They are commonly used around robotic cells, conveyors, palletizers, packaging lines and automated production equipment where people…

Risk Assessment for Machine Guarding in Washdown and Corrosive Environments

Machine guarding risk assessment in washdown and corrosive environments must consider more than access to moving parts. The assessment also needs to address how water, chemicals, food residue, corrosive dust,…

Choosing Panel Height in Modular Machine Guarding Systems

Choosing panel height in a modular machine guarding system is not simply a matter of selecting the tallest available guarding panel. The correct height depends on the location of the…

Installing Hygienic and Corrosion-Resistant Machine Guards

Installing machine guarding in washdown, food-processing and corrosive environments requires more than fitting panels, posts and gates around hazardous machinery. The completed system must control access to dangerous movement while…

Hygienic and Corrosion-Resistant Machine Guard Design Considerations

Machine guards in food processing, washdown areas and corrosive industrial environments must do more than prevent access to hazardous movement. They also need to support cleaning, resist environmental attack and…

Designing Modular Guarding in AGV Operating Environments

Designing modular guarding in an AGV operating environment requires more than placing fencing around automated equipment. The layout must control access to hazardous machinery while allowing automated guided vehicles, pallets,…

How to Replace Damaged Panels in a Modular Guarding System

Replacing a damaged panel in a modular guarding system is not simply a maintenance task. The replacement must restore the original protective function, including hazard coverage, safety distance, structural integrity…

Designing Modular Guarding Around Conveyors and Transfer Openings

Designing modular guarding around conveyors and transfer openings starts with the hazard, not the available panel size. Conveyor systems often need openings for product flow, pallet movement, loading, discharge, inspection…

Material Selection for Washdown and Corrosive Machine Guarding

Machine guarding in washdown, food-processing and corrosive environments must do more than prevent access to hazardous movement. It also needs to resist corrosion, support effective cleaning and avoid creating areas…

Insights & Tech Resources

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