The packaging industry, with its sometimes complex processing and production systems, places high demands on safety technology, as this must contribute to the flexibility, efficiency, availability and connectivity of the systems. The safe field box is an installation solution that simultaneously enables flexible and individually configurable safety solutions for larger machines and systems as well as the transmission of diagnostic and status information.

A wide range of different safety switching devices, such as electronic and electromechanical solenoid interlocks, sensors, control panels, light curtains or switches, can be connected via the universal device interfaces for eight-pin M12 plugs. This means that numerous combinations are possible and the Safety Fieldbox can cover typical safety concepts that are usually used on multi-part, modular packaging systems.

For example, two or three safety switching devices or solenoid interlocks for monitoring the position of a safety gate or a maintenance flap, a safety light curtain for area guarding of an insertion point and a control panel with emergency stop button can be connected to the higher-level safety controller via the Safety Fieldbox. By using the M12 power connector to supply the Safety Fieldbox, up to ten Safety Fieldboxes with 80 devices can be easily connected in series, depending on the type of switching device and current consumption.

Thanks to an integrated digital input on each eight-pin device slot of the Safety Fieldbox, the diagnostic signals of all connected safety switching devices can be evaluated, which contributes to greater process transparency and fault-free operation of the machines. This is because operating data can be collected, transmitted and evaluated. This information can be used to detect irregularities and enable early intervention in the event of a fault. The Safety Fieldbox thus becomes a component of systems for condition monitoring and predictive maintenance. as