L O G I S T I C S
SEE-THROUGH POLYCARBONATES
RESPOND TO NEW GENERATION
MACHINERY SAFETY NEEDS
Advances in engineering
plastics are delivering
new machinery
and structural
safeguarding benefits with light and
extraordinarily strong see-through
materials such as Wearguard
polycarbonates which can be used
in place of metals for outstanding
protection against hazards.
These transparent and tough
materials - which simultaneously
facilitate high visibility of processes
at the same time as providing
protection against hazards
- are well suited to industrial
machinery retrofits, updates and
new technology installations as
employers introduce advanced and
often high-speed machinery to gain
the benefits of digital automation
initiatives under Industry 4.0.
“As the pace of industrial change
accelerates, employers have a
commensurate obligation to update
their risk management plans in
accordance with recognised Safe
Work codes and employer Duties
of Care,” says engineering plastics
industry authority Laurie Green.
These changing needs – and the
see-through protective materials
applicable to them – particularly
apply to industries that may
be employing new technology
or introducing new workplace
environments centring on highspeed
production, distribution and
maintenance. The environments
against which employees must be
protected include impact and injury
hazard, moving parts and electrical,
heat and chemical processes
across a diversity of industries –
ranging from mineral processing
and bulk materials handling,
through to metals fabrication,
construction, architectural
materials, manufacturing and
food and beverage processing,
packaging and distribution, says
Mr Green, managing director of
Cut To Size Plastics. Mr Green has
more than 40 years’ experience in
engineering safely and protective
solutions throughout the Asia-
Pacific, representing some of
the world’s leading brands of
engineering plastics.
One of the future-focussed
materials from his company’s global
ranges of engineering plastics is
Wearguard polycarbonate, which
is outstanding for its impact
resistance (IZOD impact tested to
90 KGfcm/cm) and for its shock
load resistance, which is many
times that of acrylic clear sheet, for
example.
These properties make it ideal for
see-through safety and indoor and
outdoor glazing and protective
applications which until recent
years required the use of metal or
similar material, says Mr Green.
Wearguard is virtually unbreakable,
even where exposed to robust
interior industrial environments, or
to exterior security or protective
Protective transparent
safety screening responds
to changes in production,
processing and packaging
as Industry 4.0 advances
challenges where it may be
required to resist rough weather
and vandalism. Applications
include:
• Viewing and protective panels
and machine guards for safety in
industry
• Cabin panels on heavy machinery
and materials handling machinery,
including forklift side screens
• Acoustic panels on expressways
• Anti-vandal glazing, security
glazing, skylights, sign faces
• Shatterproof boat and marine
environment windows
• Electrical guards and covers,
meter covers, light covers,
terminal blocks
• Sight glass tubes for observation
of industrial and process liquid
levels
Wearguard consistently displays
high transparency – commensurate
with thicknesses used – and also
offers high heat resistance, with
a melting point of 150 degrees
Celsius. The material is not
influenced by sudden changes in
temperature and humidity, which
38 MARCH 2020