Collaborative robots, or cobots, can work near people. That ability makes them useful for many automated tasks. However, a cobot alone does not make every application safe. The robot may handle sharp parts, heavy products, or other equipment. Its tools may also create hazards. A risk …
Machine Safety
Lockout/Tagout vs Machine Guarding
Machine guarding and lockout/tagout both help protect workers from machine hazards. However, they serve different roles. Machine guarding helps protect workers while equipment performs its normal job. Lockout/tagout, or LOTO, controls hazardous energy during certain service and maintenance …
Understanding ANSI B11 Machine Guarding Standards
Machine safety involves more than adding a guard around moving parts. Teams need to identify hazards, assess risk, and choose the right way to reduce that risk. The ANSI B11 standards provide guidance for this process. They cover many parts of machine safety, from risk assessment to the use of …
Machine Risk Assessments Explained
Every machine creates a different set of risks. A conveyor may create pinch points. A robot can move into an employee's work area. Other equipment may expose workers to cutting, crushing, or flying debris. A machine risk assessment helps teams find these hazards before someone gets hurt. It also …
Machine Guarding for Coiler Machine Safety
Machine Guarding for Coiler Machine Safety Project Overview: Safety plays a key role in every part of steel production. Bekaert Steel wanted to strengthen its safety approach while supporting an efficient work environment. CMM Industrial helped the company find a WireCrafters solution built …
Fixed Guards vs. Interlocked Guards: Which Is Right?
Choosing the right machine guard starts with the work taking place inside the guarded area. Some machines need a barrier that stays in place. Others need regular access for loading, service, or other tasks. Fixed guards and interlocked guards can both help protect workers. However, they work …
840 Wire Partitions Improve Steel Mill Safety
Project Overview: Steel production requires safety solutions that can withstand a demanding work environment. Nucor West Virginia turned to Airline and WireCrafters to help strengthen safety across its growing facility. The project combines durable guarding, integrated safety features, and expert …
Common Machine Guarding Violations Found During OSHA Inspections
An OSHA inspection can reveal machine safety issues that teams may overlook during daily work. A missing guard, an open access point, or a disabled safety device can expose workers to serious hazards. OSHA requires employers to protect workers from hazards such as points of operation, rotating …
OSHA Machine Guarding Checklist for Manufacturers
Machine guarding protects employees from serious workplace hazards. It also helps manufacturers meet OSHA requirements and create a safer production environment. The challenge is knowing where to begin. A simple checklist can help identify gaps before they become safety problems. Here are six …
Custom Machine Guarding for Automated Material Handling
Project Overview: Automation can improve speed and efficiency, but it also creates new safety needs. UPS needed to protect employees around material handling equipment in an area with limited space. An undisclosed dealer partnered with WireCrafters to develop a machine guarding system that fit the …
Industrial Robot Safety With Rapid Guard® II
Project Overview: Safe automation starts with strong machine guarding. Robotic cells and conveyor systems require reliable barriers that protect employees without slowing production. Aii Systems partnered with WireCrafters to install RapidGuard® II machine guarding, creating secure work cells that …
Safety and Regulatory Compliance in Robotics and Automation: Best Practices for Safe Industrial Automation Deployment
By Erik B. Johnson Director of Innovation, WireCrafters Robotics and automation continue to transform manufacturing, warehousing, and distribution operations. From industrial robots and autonomous mobile robots (AMRs) to automated storage and retrieval systems (AS/RS) and advanced conveyor …
Protecting Employees Around Aluminum Roll Unwind Equipment
Project Overview: Employee safety starts with protecting the areas where people and machinery work side by side. At an undisclosed manufacturing facility, an aluminum roll unwind station created a high-traffic environment where reliable machine guarding was essential. WireCrafters designed a custom …
Steel Machine Guarding Reduces Cost and Installation Time
Project Overview: Choosing the right machine guarding system can improve safety, reduce installation time, and lower project costs. For this project, Rockford Systems needed a solution that delivered all three without compromising performance. Steiner Electric partnered with WireCrafters to provide …
WireCrafters Showcases Complete Machine Guarding Solutions at Automate
From June 22–25, 2026, the WireCrafters team exhibited at Automate 2026 at McCormick Place in Chicago, Illinois, joining thousands of manufacturers, system integrators, OEMs, and automation professionals to explore the latest advancements in industrial automation and robotics. As one of North …
Creating Secure Storage Zones in an Automotive Facility
Project Overview: Organization and inventory control play a critical role in maintaining efficiency on a busy manufacturing floor. For a large automotive supplier, properly separating parts, tools, and waste streams became increasingly important as the facility worked to reduce errors and improve …
Safety Considerations When Integrating Automation into Your Facility
Automation continues to transform manufacturing and warehouse operations. From collaborative robots to fully automated production lines, companies use new technologies to improve efficiency, increase throughput, and address labor challenges. As automation expands, facilities must also closely …
Heavy-Duty Machine Guarding for Forklift Fuel Cell Automation
Project Overview: Automation can improve efficiency, but it also introduces new safety challenges that require careful planning and protection. When Concentric LLC developed an automated fuel cell replacement system for forklift trucks, safeguarding employees around the equipment became a critical …
Machine Guarding for the Automotive Industry: Key Considerations
Few industries rely on automation as heavily as automotive manufacturing. Robotic weld cells, stamping presses, conveyors, assembly lines, and material handling systems all work together to keep production moving. With so much equipment operating at once, facilities need machine guarding solutions …
Comparing Wire Mesh vs. Solid Panel Machine Guards: Which One Is Right for You?
Machine guarding needs to do more than surround equipment. The right guarding system should protect employees, support workflow, and fit the environment where the machine operates. One of the biggest decisions facilities face is whether to use wire mesh guards or solid panel guarding. Each option …
