New safety features for long-serving multi-stage press

(See Pilz at MachineBuilding.Live, 15 October 2025, on stand 212)

The Bauer Group owes its global expansion to its so-called lever lock coupling. The press it is manufactured on was designed in-house, with forming tools which are tailored precisely to the individual requirements of the production process. Purchasing a new press was not an option. The control technology and safety devices were to be modernised.

A safety solution comprising the guard locking device PSENmlock, the control unit PITgatebox and the light curtain PSENopt II from Pilz provided the safety update on the press as part of a comprehensive retrofit. Today, the multi-stage press once again has state-of-the-art safety technology and meets all the requirements.

Practical safety upgrade for optimised production processes

In the conveyor infeed and workpiece outfeed area, the multi-stage press is secured with safety gates and safety fences. To ensure that the interlocking and guard locking measures provide reliable protection for operating personnel, the safety locking device PSENmlock - including an integrated actuator and escape release - is used in combination with the pushbutton unit PITgatebox. The latter is needed to operate the safety locking device.

At the front and back of the machine, where operating personnel actually work, the safety light curtains PSENopt II provide the necessary access protection so that operators have an unobstructed view of the tools and workpieces during the pressing process. They have the operations safely in sight. Today, the long-serving but completely overhauled Bauer multi-stage press meets all the demands made of it - in terms of safety and specific production requirements.

Josef Marcher, Head of Mechanical Production at Bauer, says: "For us, the safety aspect and user-friendliness were centre stage. Pilz impressed us with its technical competence and highly structured approach. We have found a partner we can rely on in every respect. The entire retrofit project was carried out very professionally, from A to Z."