New Options for Dual-Gate Safety Systems Bring Speed and Efficiencies to Operations
Mezzanine Safeti-Gates, Inc., an innovator in the design and manufacturing of industrial safety gates that provide fall protection in warehouses, distribution centers and manufacturing facilities, today announced it has expanded the power operation and technology offerings that can be added to its safety gate product line. The new power technology for safety gates will be showcased at the company’s booth, S2314, at ProMat 2019 in Chicago from April 8-11, 2019.
When added to any of the safety gate models, power operation and technology can save time and provide efficiencies in applications in which lift trucks are transferring material to and from upper levels. Updated commercial motors, wireless controls, sensors and software integration can make the operation of a safety gate seamless with operations, including those using automatic guided vehicles (AGVs) or robots.
In the dual-gate safety systems from Mezzanine Safeti-Gates, when the ledge gate is closed, the rear gate is open, which allows employees to access and pick from the pallet. When the rear gate is closed, the ledge gate is open, allowing for the pallet to be replenished. In many facilities, the lift truck driver is the same person that will access the material on the platform; with no one on the mezzanine when the material is loaded, power operation aids in remotely opening and closing the safety gate from the lower level, speeding the process.
Radio frequency is now offered in all power-operated systems in order to operate remotely with wireless radio frequencies on lift trucks. In addition, built-in safety features like photo eyes, which can detect the presence of a person or object and prevent the gate from closing and an adjustable clutch that engages if the gate makes contact with another object are now included. The commercial motors, which are available in water- and explosion-proof options to fit specific environments, have numerous controls that can be used, such as flashing lights and caution alarms.
“As automation continues to grow in material handling and distribution facilities, more and more companies are looking to use more technology, including power operating their safety gates,” said Aaron Conway, president of Mezzanine Safeti-Gates, Inc. “The technology we offer is designed to help companies speed their material handling operations, especially those that incorporate AGVs. We also made sure the technology integrations can keep operations efficient, without compromising safety.”
Controls and sensors integrate with power operations so that when the ledge gate is up, sensors send information to an AGV, telling it to load material to the pallet drop area. After the pallets are loaded, the sensors from the AGV send a signal to the power operations to close the ledge-side gate so employees can work with the material. Safety gates can also be wired into a facility’s software system to integrate with processing computers in order to track materials ad determine which areas must be replenished.
Used in thousands of locations throughout the world, Mezzanine Safeti-Gates offers dual, counterbalanced gate systems that maintain a safe environment for workers on elevated areas at all times. The interconnected steel dual-gate design creates controlled access areas that meet the ANSI standard requirements for pallet drop areas, as well as OSHA and IBC fall protection requirements.
All safety gate designs are available in single and double wide pallet widths, and customized to accommodate specific pallet widths, depths and heights. When the gates are power operated, can be customized to fit virtually any type of load. All models are available in powder coated mild steel or electro-polished stainless steel.
