How Tenaris made automated pipe coating safer for its people
Schmersal safety laser scanners now watch the hazardous area around the robotic pipe-handling system. If anyone is detected inside it, the robot is prevented from moving.
- CLIENT
- Tenaris
- INDUSTRY
- Oil and gas steel pipes
- APPLICATION
- Robotic pipe handling and coating
- SOLUTION
- 6 Schmersal safety laser scanners
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The challenge, the risk, scanner coverage and installation, and the results.
Operators had to step into the red zone before the robot could lift the pipe.
Tenaris is one of the leading players in the energy sector, producing and coating the steel pipes used in demanding oil and gas applications. At one coating facility, the pipes handled are extremely large, with diameters of more than 5 metres. An automated robotic system lifts and positions each one.
Before the robotic arm could lift a pipe, an operator had to walk into the designated red zone to check that the pipe was properly clamped and secured.
A person could still be inside the hazardous area while the robot was stopped. An unexpected start could mean serious injury, equipment damage or loss of life.
Make sure the robotic system can reliably detect anyone inside the hazardous area before it starts to move.
Schmersal safety laser scanners watch the whole area around the robot.
The scanners continuously monitor the defined hazardous area and detect people who enter or remain inside the protected zone. Each one covers up to 20 metres with a 270° scanning angle, giving full coverage of the critical area around the robotic operation.
Safety scanners and their control panels installed during the summer shutdown.
Giving Tenaris a modern, reliable and automated approach to personnel safety while the coating process runs as required.
We are proud to have partnered with Tenaris on this important machine-safety project and to contribute to a safer working environment for their personnel.
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