Pilz introduces MYZEL as a digital safety file for bridges and locks

Digital overview as the foundation of demonstrably secure management

Moveable bridges and locks require increasingly tight management. Technology is becoming more complex, regulations tighter and the pressure on availability greater. With the advent of the new EU Machinery Regulation, the requirements for demonstrable safety are changing. At the same time, obsolete installations are increasingly being combined with new digital components. As a result, knowledge often resides with a few specialists, while staff shortages increase the pressure on transfer. This requires overview and structure in man and machine. Pilz is responding to this with the new MYZEL Lifecycle Platform. The platform helps operators organize safety, documentation and authorizations structurally and digitally.

Working safely is not a new concept in the world of bridges and locks. What does change is the extent to which safety must be demonstrable. “You have to be able to show how your design process went through,” explains Arjan van Bommel, Director of Services at Pilz. “From control systems and sensors to drives and access systems: they are all critical components. The documentation behind them is decisive for CE marking.” In practice, that very documentation proves challenging. “We regularly work with parties who renovate bridges and locks. There we find that people struggle with version management and compliance. Where is which documentation? What has been modified? And who has access to it?”

Man, machine and powers connected

MYZEL brings all relevant information together in one central location. Design documentation, SIL and PL calculations, inspection reports, maintenance data and software versions are managed digitally and remain traceable.

In doing so, the platform connects assets such as bridges, locks, drives and components with employee data and safety documentation in one structured lifecycle view.

According to Van Bommel, an important point of interest is in the link between technology, operation and authorization. “You not only want to know how an installation is technically constructed, but also who has access to the installation, for example.” Access control and industrial security play an increasing role in this, especially in view of the new Machine Regulation. “It's not just about designing safely. You also have to be able to demonstrate that you have designed and manage it safely.”

Four core values as a compass

The platform is built around four core values: productivity, employee protection, liability protection and data protection. Productivity focuses on minimal downtime by keeping maintenance and emergency documentation and software available at all times. Employee protection revolves around up-to-date visibility into machine inspections and employee qualifications. Liability protection means that safety documentation is fully and systematically recorded so that legal obligations are demonstrably secured. Data protection ensures secure storage of information and controlled authorization management.

Availability as a precondition

Although the combination of these four is important, Van Bommel sees gains for GWW primarily in availability. “Availability is not a luxury in this sector, but a prerequisite. Any unexpected downtime has a direct impact on traffic and flow.” According to him, the platform's greatest strength lies in its preventive nature. “By keeping documentation, authorizations and software versions continuously up-to-date and centrally available, safety management remains structurally in order. If something happens, you don't want to search through archives first. With MYZEL, you have direct insight into design choices and software versions and can act faster, which prevents unnecessary downtime.”

Not asset management, but safety

MYZEL explicitly positions itself as a management tool for critical infrastructure and not as a general asset management or maintenance system. “This is about safety: man, machine and safety,” says Van Bommel. With the arrival of new regulations in 2027, he expects digital lifecycle management to become less and less non-committal. “The urgency is increasing. It starts with awareness, but eventually this will become a prerequisite to keep safety and availability under control structurally.”