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Castell Safety International, leading UK manufacturer of Safety Interlocking Systems, has launched the industry's first door interlocking solution specifically designed for manually-operated warehouse loading bay doors. The advanced drive-away prevention system - preventing the unauthorised movement of an articulated trailer during the loading or unloading of goods at a loading bay - incorporates Servocell's low-power Active Latch technology. The new system and its potential applications within the logistics industry will improve safety procedures throughout the warehouse.
A number of high profile accidents and near misses occur every year in the logistics industry. Typical accidents include trailers being driven away from loading bays before the loading/unloading process has been completed. The consequence of such actions can result in loaders falling through the gap between the loading bay and the back of the vehicle which can result in severe, if not fatal, accidents.
With ever-increasing penalties for health and safety regulations, the stakes are high for warehouse managers to ensure that safety measures are put in place that will ensure users' safety as well as improve warehouse efficiency. The new 'Salvo' solution combines Castell's Salvo Susie air brake locks with its new keyless door interlock, Gallant –the product having been designed with Servocell's Active Latch technology. The system forces operators and drivers to carry out tasks prior to the loading process beginning and so removing the opportunity for human error in the safety procedures.
It operates through a trapped-key methodology where operators can only ever undertake one action at a time, and only if the previous action is in the right state. For example: once a trailer is in position against the loading doors of the warehouse, its air brakes are disconnected to prevent the lorry being moved until the loading/unloading process is properly completed. The Castell Salvo Susie is locked in place on the airline coupling, to ensure that the trailer cannot be moved, at which point the key is released. The operative is then able to insert the key into Castell's control box adjacent to the bay door. This activates the Gallant – an Active Latch-enabled, lock mounted on the door. Only when the lock is activated can the loading bay doors be opened for loading/unloading to begin. Once the process has been completed, the doors locked and the key removed from the control box, drivers are then able to unlock the airline coupling in order to reconnect the brakes and move their vehicle.
"The trapped-key methodology is many years old, but Servocell's Active Latch has opened the doors to a wide range of new opportunities," explained David Milner, Managing Director of Castell. "It has allowed us to design and deliver to our customers an interlock solution that is highly cost-effective to install as well as increasing the safety levels throughout a plant. Using Servocell's technology we are able to produce products that are smaller, with low energy consumption and which will enable us to integrate our interlocking solutions with the complete monitoring system of the warehouse."
"Castell has been extremely visionary in applying our Active Latch technology to its safety solutions," said Simon Powell, CEO of Servocell. "It is extremely committed to improving the safety of warehouse procedures and its new interlocking system is going to be of particular importance to companies with many different sites in operation. We see the interlocking market as a growth industry and Castell's innovation is demonstrating a vision of the future, particularly when new functions such as audit trail are added to the mix."
The new keyless door interlock solution can be used in a variety of other warehouse bay door applications. Suitable for applications world-wide, the system will be of particular relevance to the US and Asian market where the majority of warehouse doors are operated manually rather than electronically.
Posted on 08 May 2006
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