Leading innovative company in automation technology

'We always look from the safety aspect'

Netherlands waterland. Cliché, but true. To meet the challenges of all that water, for both land and shipping traffic, we use more than 1,500 movable bridges and almost 2,000 locks. For these so-called movable "wet" infrastructure objects, Pilz supplies total solutions for safety and automation technology. "Machine safety and functional safety are our core competencies here," says Arjan van Bommel, Director of Services at Pilz Netherlands.

As an expert in the safety of man, machine and environment, Pilz offers customer-oriented solutions for all industrial sectors worldwide. "Including, therefore, bridges and locks, where we use our years of experience to make structures sustainably safe and ensure that they comply with applicable laws and regulations." In doing so, Pilz works with clients from various governments, water boards and other market players.

Machine safety and consulting

In the area of machine safety and consultancy, Pilz offers various services. "We make risk assessments for an object, from which recommendations then emerge. On the basis of those recommendations, we start putting the necessary measures on paper and design the control of the object. The functional safety test validates the movable object in practice. The purpose of this is to determine whether the control engineering safety functions are correctly incorporated into the operating software." The Compliancy test determines whether the object complies with the current laws and regulations in accordance with CE-worthiness. This involves checking both the hardware and the software. To arrive at a CE-worthy installation, Pilz guides the client and contractor through the CE process. "We do this on the basis of a detailed step-by-step plan," says Van Bommel. "Preferably, we are already involved in the design phase, so that we can capture any risks at an early stage and no additional measures need to be taken after implementation." In the area of Cybersecurity, Pilz provides a Quickscan based on ISO 270001 / IEC62443. "A quick GAP-Maturity Analysis of the organization, processes, physical security, technical infrastructure and SLA partners," Van Bommel explains.

Engineering

Pilz is also the right place to go when it comes to engineering. "Our safety engineers look at the control-technical safety of an object with a technical eye. By means of a visual inspection, a 0-masurement with regard to the control-technical safety for both hardware and software is carried out. Based on the available safety documents, we determine whether the safety functions are correctly included in the safety software. We also give advice regarding hardware that is decisive for the maintenance of the object," Van Bommel explains. The FAT tests (Factory Acceptance Test) are performed in-house at Pilz, the SAT tests (Side Acceptance Test) on site. "We do all that in-house, with our specialists. Only when everything is right does commissioning of the object follow."

Ensuring safety and sharing knowledge

"At Pilz, we always look from the safety aspect! That's where our focus lies," says Van Bommel. He notes an increasing demand from the market in the field of machine safety and cybersecurity. "In order to proactively advise provinces and governments in this, we are already developing in the background and find knowledge sharing very important." In line with this, Pilz has entered into a partnership with Witteveen+Bos and Royal HaskoningDHV in the field of Industrial Automation and CyberSecurity in civil infrastructure under the name IMPAKT IB. This name stems from the Department of Public Works' assignment in which the three companies worked together on the IMPAKT program: the IMpuls-Program Approach to Critical Technical Infrastructure, which monitored and improved the safety and security of almost all complex Dutch engineering structures (including movable bridges, locks and barriers).