A PILZ safety relay is a protective control device used in industrial automation to monitor safety functions and ensure machines stop safely during hazardous situations. Manufactured by Pilz, these safety relays are widely recognized under the PNOZ series. The main purpose of a PILZ safety relay is to detect faults or emergency conditions and trigger an immediate, reliable shutdown of connected machinery. For example, it monitors safety inputs such as emergency stop buttons, safety doors, light curtains, or two-hand control systems. When any of these safety devices are activated, the safety relay cuts off the power supply to the machine actuators, preventing accidents or unexpected restarts. Each relay is designed with redundancy and self-monitoring, meaning it can still perform its safety function even if one component fails.
PILZ safety relays are trusted for their reliability, compact design, and easy integration into different automation systems. They automatically test the switching contacts during each operation cycle to ensure the relay is functioning correctly. Many models include LED indicators that display operating and fault conditions for quick diagnostics. These relays come in various configurations with different numbers of safety contacts, voltages, and terminal layouts to suit applications in packaging, robotics, press machines, and conveyor systems. The PNOZ X, PNOZsigma, and PNOZmulti are popular Pilz relay families offering solutions from simple to modular and programmable safety systems. In short, a PILZ safety relay acts as the brain of a machine’s safety circuit — continuously monitoring critical functions and guaranteeing that the machinery stops safely whenever a risk is detected, making it an essential component in industrial safety and compliance with international standards like ISO 13849 and IEC 62061.