Can we lower the height of the safety mesh here? Can we add hinges and angle the mesh here? Can we increase the clearance as there are conveyor systems that go in and out of the machine here? Can we create a fitting for this type of switch? Yes, of course we can! There’s always some kind of obstacle when creating a safety layout. This can be anything from an uneven floor to the fact that there are already several structures, such as beams, blocking the locations of the safety mesh.
But how do you get past problems that at first glance seem to have no solution? There are many approaches to overcoming obstacles, but the first and most important step in the process is communication. Talking about the problem with the relevant parties and then brainstorming it together. That’s the most useful and rewarding way to come up with solutions when producing a layout for a project. Together you go through what can be changed and how.
It’s the person on site, where the solution is to be installed, who has the knowledge on which the layout will be based. Without that information, we’ve nothing to go on. It’s like building a house without knowing what the foundations are going to be built on.
There are certainly a thousand different examples you can draw on about how politicians, doctors, football managers, etc. have managed to overcome various obstacles to succeed with their ultimate goal. But I stick to what I know, and that’s problem-solving for safety layouts in the world of warehouse solutions/robots.
I always have the attitude that we can solve any problem. When my colleagues ask me if we can create a certain type of solution, I always answer “no problem!” I feel that way you develop a more open mindset about how products can be adapted for a different solution than they were originally intended for. Fortunately, we don’t usually have to make extreme adjustments, as we have an ongoing product development process that instead leads to us developing new products as the need arises. New problems will always emerge, and it is solving those problems that feels so rewarding.
Finding solutions is not something you usually do alone, whether it’s family problems or work-related problems. You need to have a conversation, talk about the problem and then come up with a solution together. Burying your head in the sand and simply pushing on is never, in my opinion, something that works in the long run.
Listening to other people and having people around you who listen to you is important for effective communication. That’s one of the main reasons why I’m as happy at Garantell as I am. I can ask my colleagues and managers what they think about different solutions, just like they ask me. We’re equal and everyone is taken seriously.
So if you and I are working on a project together, don’t forget that I’m happy to go through layouts, ideas and the basic concept behind solutions more than once. We can both learn from one another!
Take care of yourselves.
How many risks are there in the workplace and does a totally safe workplace actually exist? Is it enough to have warning tape on forklifts, should there be specific lines on the floor indicating where forklifts may drive, or should ceiling lights be illuminated to ensure safety?
Among the most frequently asked questions I get from my customers are: “What is the difference between a point load and uniformly distributed load (UDL)? And why does it matter?” Distributors are struggling with this question, as their end customer is claiming that the competition is offering standard mesh decks which, as long as they are heavy enough, will hold the point load …
Our product range has been given several updates this spring. We have released new sliding doors for our machine guards. These can be adapted in height and width to suit any project perfectly. Two versions are available: bottom running with free opening height and top rail for larger dimensions.
We have recently installed a completely new powder coating line in our factory, in which objects of up to 2000 x 3000 x 700 mm can be powder coated in any RAL colour. The staff in charge have 50 years of experience in powder coating. This new investment means that we now can offer you an even better and faster service than before – a way of simplifying everyday life.
At Garantell we produce everything on demand. We design our mesh decks based on a lot of parameters such as the desired dimension, the weight and the type of load. A lot of customers ask us specifically for mesh decks with omega profiles. The supporting plate of the traditional mesh deck has flattened ends that rest on the pallet racking beams, which is called the omega profile. As these profiles are so common, they are almost perceived as a necessary component of the mesh deck. Which they are not …