Factory automation safety market set to grow

Factory automation safety networks are emerging as the next competitive battleground in the automation network wars, fueling growth in the worldwide market for safety products. A new study from the ARC Advisory Group indicates that factory automation safety networks will grow at a compounded annual growth rate of 39.3 percent over the next five years.

The market totalled less than 700 thousand nodes in 2008, a figure that
is forecast to grow to over 3.6 million by 2013, according to the
report, Factory Automation Safety Networks Worldwide Outlook.

“The safety network market will benefit from the same quantifiable cost
savings in areas such as wiring and installation that fueled adoption
of standard device networks over hard wiring, plus they can deliver
concrete business benefits in areas such as regulatory compliance and
reduced shutdowns,” said Chantal Polsonetti, the principal author of
the study. “The timing and impact of safety regulations remains a wild
card in many parts of the world, but both existing suppliers and new
entrants are lining up their safety network strategies as the
technology increasingly emerges as a key differentiator."

According to the ARC Advisory Group, growth in the safety network
market will parallel that of serial-based device networks from the
perspective of the wiring savings a bus-based network can deliver
relative to hard wiring of safety components. These savings are
realized in areas such as reduced cable costs, smaller panels and cable
trays, fewer components required, reduced cost of wire installation,
and greater flexibility in reconfiguring the network as operations
dictate. Increasing availability of light curtains, safety switches and
other safe components with a network interface will only further the
potential cost savings in this area. Growth in interest in wireless
safety devices will further fuel cabling and installation savings.

Limiting the operational impact of a safety event is another business
benefit derived from the use of safety networks. The ability to
implement controlled or isolated shutdowns by decelerating motors or
isolating emergency stops to specific zones has significant benefits
relative to tripped E-stops or light curtains initiating complete
system shutdowns and often time-consuming restarts. Servo drive
manufacturers have already recognized this trend and are moving toward
integrated safety network components for their drive systems that allow
controlled or limited shutdowns.

Integration of safety functionality into servo drives and other motion
control equipment is one of the most intriguing drivers in the factory
automation safety marketplace. Embedding a safety controller and safe
I/O right into a servo drive with a soft starter eliminates the need
for a separate safety controller and I/O. Safety functions are
integrated directly into the drive, eliminating the need for external
power contactors and speed monitoring equipment, and enabling local
control.

For more information on this study, visit www.arcweb.com.