Configurable aluminium safety switches

The Fortress tGard is a modular, configurable safety switch designed to control access to hazardous machinery and safeguarded areas. It combines machine safety functions such as guard interlocking, guard locking, mechanical key locks, emergency stops and push buttons into one compact unit. Its modular construction makes tGard suitable for a wide range of industrial machine guarding applications.

A tGard safety switch without guard locking monitors the position of a machine guard and can initiate a safety-related stop when the guard is opened. A tGard safety interlock with guard locking additionally keeps the guard locked until access can be permitted safely. This is particularly important for machinery with a run-down time, where hazardous movement continues after a stop command.

Standard electromechanical tGard configurations are designed for applications requiring up to Performance Level d (PL d), Category 3 according to EN ISO 13849-1, or SIL 2 according to IEC 62061. Configurations incorporating a high-coded RFID safety switch can support applications requiring Category 4, PL e or SIL 3, depending on the system architecture. The achieved safety performance must be verified for the complete safety-related control system.

Yes. Fortress tGard can be equipped with an electromechanical guard locking function that keeps a machine guard locked while hazardous movement continues. With a specified holding force of 2,500 N, the guard locking device is suitable for applications where access must be prevented until a safe condition has been reached. Unlocking must be controlled by the machine’s safety system, for example using safe standstill monitoring or an appropriately validated time delay.

Yes. Fortress tGard has a modular design with more than 50 selectable modules and millions of possible configurations. Depending on the application, a tGard assembly can combine guard locking, coded safety keys, emergency stop buttons, illuminated push buttons, selector switches, escape releases and status indicators. This allows machine builders to integrate multiple safety and control functions into a single compact assembly.

Yes. Fortress tGard can incorporate personal safety keys and escape release mechanisms to reduce entrapment risks in safeguarded areas. A personal safety key can be removed as part of an interlocking sequence that prevents the guard from being locked or the machine from restarting until the key is returned. An escape release provides a means of opening a locked guard from inside the safeguarded area. These functions must be selected and integrated according to the machine’s risk assessment and applicable requirements of ISO 14119.

Fortress tGard is designed for medium-duty industrial machinery applications. It features a powder-coated aluminium housing, stainless steel contact components and an IP65 protection rating against dust and water ingress. Its slim 40 mm housing is suitable for installation on machine frames, access doors and safety fencing. A 360° rotatable interlocking head provides installation flexibility for different guard arrangements.