New RobotGate Provides Fall Protection for Robotic Workforce

We have a brand new safety gate! The RobotGate™ protects industrial robots from falling into shafts of vertical reciprocating conveyors (VRCs) or elevators in automated storage and retreval systems (ASRS) of material handling, warehousing and distribution facilities.

The new RobotGate utilizes a power operated, single gate system that provides fall protection for ASRS automated robots and pallet shuttles as they move from level to level. The steel safety gate interlocks with the elevator or VRC and mounts to existing pallet rack and any floor rails the robots use to move around the area. RobotGate keeps its shaft-facing gate closed in order to keep the robot away from the ledge of the elevator shaft, only opening when the elevator is present and aligned with the floor on that level.

“The investments being made into automation, including robots that help in material handling applications are not small. Just like making an investment in the safety of your human workforce, companies also need to think about investing in the safety of their robotic workforce,” said Aaron Conway, president, Mezzanine Safeti-Gates, Inc. “We created the RobotGate out of need, as many facility managers have reached out after an incident, most of which required a complete replacement of the robot. RoboGates provide the same level of safety for operations, as our Roly® safety gate provides for people and products.”

The RobotGate is another instance in which a custom engineered safety gate design has evolved to become a standard model sold by the company. Other models that started as custom designs include the Open Top, Tri-Side, Dock-Lift and High Pallet Pivot safety gates.