A safety curtain, also known as a safety light curtain, is used to protect people working near hazardous machines or moving equipment. It acts as an invisible protective barrier made of infrared light beams that detect if a person’s hand, arm, or body enters a dangerous area. When any of these beams are interrupted, the safety curtain immediately sends a signal to stop the machine, preventing possible injury.
In industrial automation, a safety curtain is installed around machines such as presses, robotic cells, packaging lines, or cutting equipment — anywhere there is a risk of accidental contact with dangerous moving parts. Instead of using physical guards or gates, a safety curtain allows free access for materials while keeping operators safe. It provides both operator protection and process efficiency, as the machine only stops when the light beams are broken and resumes operation when the area is clear again.
Telemecanique Safety Light Curtain systems are designed for reliable and fast response to any interruption of the protected area. They use advanced optical sensing and self-monitoring circuits to ensure maximum safety even in demanding industrial environments. These light curtains can detect even small objects, making them suitable for finger, hand, or full-body protection depending on the model. They are commonly used in automated production lines, packaging machines, and material-handling systems where high-speed operations require dependable safety monitoring.
The main use of a safety curtain is to create a non-contact safety zone that stops machine motion instantly when someone enters it. This helps prevent accidents, reduce downtime, and comply with international safety standards. It also improves productivity because operators can load or unload materials freely without opening physical barriers.
In summary, a safety curtain provides a safe working environment around dangerous machines by detecting human presence through light beams and automatically stopping operations. Systems like the Telemecanique Safety Light Curtain ensure both worker safety and smooth production flow in modern industrial automation.