Packaging

Ambassadors for safety

Wednesday 30. April 2008 - Complete one-stop solutions for safe automation

Faster, more flexible, safer – with this objective in mind, the level of automation on plant and machinery continues to advance in every industry. This places new demands on production systems. Worldwide the name Pilz is synonymous with the safety of man, machine and the environment; as a complete supplier for control and safety technology, Pilz offers one-stop automation solutions for every industry.

Right from the start, innovation was the key to success. Since1948, this highly traditional family business has continued to set new standards: in 1968 with the first two-hand control relay and in 1987 with the first emergency stop relay PNOZ (Pilz E-STOP Positive-guided) – an unusual name for an unusual product. The PNOZ quickly became the most widely used safety relay in the world. This was followed in 1997 by the safe, open bus system SafetyBUS p, for decentralised networking of plant and machinery. The multifunctional safety system PNOZmulti came along in 2002; for the first time users were able to configure the safety functions they required on the PC, rather than implement them through the wiring as before.

Founded by Hermann Pilz in Esslingen, Pilz GmbH and Co. KG has continued to develop. Son Peter changed the business model in the 60s: The former glass blowers became suppliers of electronic control and monitoring devices as well as programmable logic control systems. Following the death of Peter Pilz in 1975, Renate Pilz took over the management of the company. “I wanted to continue my husband’s vision to create an international company, beholden to its staff and its customers, and one day to pass this on to our children as our joint life’s work,” says Renate Pilz. Now, with daughter Susanne Kunschert, son Thomas Pilz and Hans-Axel Gielow, together they form the management board of the international technology leader.

The realtime Ethernet SafetyNET p and SafetyEYE, the first safe camera system for three-dimensional zone monitoring, are among the latest innovations. As part of the Hannover Fair 2007, SafetyEYE was nominated for the Hermes Award, the richest international economy and technology prize. These positive developments, together with a turnover of 150 million Euro in 2007, are reflected in the planned investments. This year they include an expansion of the company’s headquarters. “As a medium-sized, independent family business we manufacture at our German site despite, or even because of, our worldwide activities. Our products are of very high quality, so it is important to have production and development in one place” says Thomas Pilz, explaining the reasons behind the planned expansions in Ostfildern.

The company makes its many years of expertise available to its customers through a comprehensive range of services. “Safety is more than just a product” says Susanne Kunschert. “With safety consultancy and engineering we offer a comprehensive, competent service – from plant assessment to risk assessment, through to the safety design and safety sign-off at the customer’s premises.” On request, at the early stages of planning a plant, Pilz can not only provide advice on products but can also give detailed advice on safety matters, providing support to customers as they configure, select and use their systems. This includes product training in the expanded, redesigned training area in Ostfildern. Here users can refresh their knowledge of safe automation, based on the motto: “Practical knowledge for practical situations”.

At Pilz, products are developed jointly with customers or on behalf of customers. “The most important task of our research and development department is to develop products that meet customer and market requirements. Customer proximity and innovation belong together and are mutually dependent. That’s why we work closely with our customers, universities and approvals bodies. So we are always able to bring innovations to the market and set new standards”, explains Hans-Axel Gielow. As a result of these innovations the company was selected in 2006 as one of the sites in the “Land of Ideas”, an initiative of the German government and the German Industry Association (BDI).
The company has followed a clear strategy to develop into a complete supplier with solutions for both safety and standard control technology.
Pilz system solutions are used in all areas of mechanical engineering, as well as the automotive, food and woodworking industry. Products from the technology leader also guarantee that baggage handling systems run safely at airports, theatre scenery moves smoothly and funiculars or roller coasters travel safely.
The company’s product range dovetails control and safety technology to form intelligent, complete solutions. So the company takes the experience and knowledge it has gained from safety technology and transfers it to the general control requirements of plant and machinery. The benefits for the customer: Tailored, one-stop automation solutions. The range of products includes electrical monitoring relays, systems for control technology, sensor technology and automation solutions with motion control.
Not only do Pilz system solutions ensure greater safety for man and machine, they also provide greater economy because production cycles can be designed more efficiently and downtimes can be avoided.

Safety for man, machine and the environment – not only does the company wish to contribute through its products and solutions, it also wishes to act accordingly. The issue of environmental protection is anchored in the corporate objectives: from the development of energy-saving products to the ecological design of buildings through to environmentally-aware work practices. There are many examples: the switch from lead-based to lead-free solder, the installation of a photovoltaic plant or the reduction of lamps used in manufacturing – all these measures help to lighten the load on the environment.
“As ambassadors for safety our aim is to improve the safety of man and machine throughout the world” says Renate Pilz, summarising her company’s mission. “And that includes the environment in which we live and work.”
In addition to the company headquarters in Ostfildern, Pilz supports users with subsidiaries and branches in 24 countries, offering local sales and engineering services directly. Worldwide there are more than 1200 employees sharing their knowledge in the service of safe automation, so that it can also become established in new markets.