A car
without Airbags in 2022? Definitely unimaginable. A sliding table saw without
an AI and camera-based safety system to effectively prevent injuries? Also no
longer an option in the not-too-distant future. HAND GUARD is now certified as
of 09.05.22 by the German Wood and Metal Trade Association (BGHM) and redefines
the safety standard for sliding table saws on the global market with the German
“GS” seal of tested safety (GS = tested safety). This means that the up to 120
reportable accidents per month in Germany in connection with sliding table saws
can be almost completely prevented. Following the immediate EU-wide start of
deliveries, HAND GUARD will also be shipped in North America after successful
UL/CSA certification, coinciding with the worldwide marketing launch.
Minden
Germany, May 9th 2022 a product must comply with all current standards before
it can go on sale in Europe. This guarantees a homogeneous level of protection
to prevent accidents when using machinery. Even with misuse, safety is then
also guaranteed. When these criteria are met, the product receives the CE mark.
The manufacturer can usually award this certification mark itself – an
independent inspection body does not have to be used. Such, however, is not the
case with sliding table saws. As these are listed in Annex IV of Machinery
Directive (MD) 2006 EC and are therefore classified as dangerous machines, the
manufacturer must commission an approved inspection body with a test
examination to inspect for standards compliance and concomitant therewith for
the CE mark. So far so good: But what happens if there is still no standard for
a technical achievement?
HAND GUARD
is the world’s first and only safety assistance system for sliding table saws
to receive the GS seal for tested safety.
This was
the Altendorf Group’s challenge with HAND GUARD, a completely new safety system
for sliding table saws. To date there was no standard for AI and camera-based
safety assistant systems, therefore the Altendorf Group commissioned an EC type
examination with the Trade Association (TA). Along with thousands of material,
design and functional tests, the TA also defined the following conditions for
the certification: 1. Functionality with hand speeds of up to 2 m/s (typical
reflex- and slipping movement) & 2. Performance level C (requirement,
previously placed on sliding table saws) & 3. Appropriate hand detection
reliability (oriented on the taxonomy criteria for autonomous and AI systems).
The TA’s goal with HAND GUARD was to redefine a high safety standard for
sliding table saws. This will apply in the future as the benchmark for all
other market participants. As an AI and camera-based safety system for sliding
table saws and the correlated definition of a completely new safety standard
are extremely complex, the machine had to be examined by an independent test
institute. After most intensive testing, it’s happening: HAND GUARD gets the GS
seal of approval.
Potential buyers can now clearly see that
its safety has been confirmed by a test institute. “As a developer of premium
sliding table saws, for us it was especially important to conduct further
research, to ultimately bring a safety system that would almost entirely
prevent accidents to the market. We’re moving forward as pioneers with HAND GUARD.
There is no comparable system, which also complies with the conditions of this
certification,” says Peter Schwenk, Altendorf Group CEO. Technical progress is
always preceded by a vision. No more injuries in the timber trade – was the
Altendorf Group’s vision. And so the company based in Minden Germany developed
HAND GUARD. In all probability, in the future no joiner or carpenter will work
on a sliding table saw without an AI or camera-based safety system. Utopia?
Well no, not really. But at the end of the day, nobody drives without airbags
either. Courtesy: www.altendorfgroup.com
