A safety light curtain is designed to protect people from injury by automatically stopping dangerous machinery when someone enters a hazardous area. It creates a field of invisible infrared light beams between a transmitter and a receiver. When any beam is interrupted — for example, if a hand or body part passes through — the light curtain immediately sends a stop signal to the machine’s control system, halting all motion in milliseconds.
In industrial automation, safety light curtains are used around presses, robotic arms, conveyors, and packaging machines where moving parts could cause harm. Unlike physical guards, they provide non-contact protection, meaning operators can still load parts or make adjustments easily without needing to open a door or move a cover. This combination of safety and accessibility makes light curtains extremely popular in manufacturing environments.
Safety light curtains are available in two main categories — Type 2 and Type 4. Type 2 models are used in low- to medium-risk applications, while Type 4 devices are built for high-risk systems and feature continuous self-checking for higher reliability. They meet international safety standards like IEC 61496, ensuring compliance with machine safety regulations.
In simple terms, a safety light curtain protects workers by detecting movement into danger zones and instantly stopping the machine. It acts like an invisible shield — if you break the beam, the machine stops. This fast, automatic response prevents accidents, reduces downtime, and keeps operators safe without slowing down production.