The PLASTICS Machinery Safety Technical Committee recently approved several new working groups:
- Extrusion: B151.7-2014, safety requirements for extrusion machines is due for five-year review in 2019 and will serve as the base document for the ISO project related to extrusion. The working group will review the document and make any necessary changes.
- Robots: B151.27-2013, safety requirements for the integration of robots with injection molding machines was due for five-year review in 2018. This working group will review PLASTICS technical documents (including guidelines for electrical interface and mounting patterns) related to robots and IMMs and provide a recommendation back to the committee. The first call of this WG is scheduled for Dec. 12, 2018, at 10 a.m. CT. The consensus body agreed that individuals with expertise regarding robots and injection molding machines are desired for this project.
- Blowmolding: B151.31-2014, safety requirements for blow molding machines, is due for five-year review in 2019. This working group will review the document and make a recommendation regarding whether to revise, reaffirm or withdraw.
- Safety Signs: AN-137, Recommended Guideline for Safety Signs for Plastic Machinery and Related Equipment needs to be reviewed to determine whether there are certain plastics-specific safety signs that should be retained for future use.
The Plastics Industry Association (PLASTICS) is accredited by ANSI to develop, approve, reaffirm, revise or withdraw American National Standards and Technical Reports covering manufacture, integration, care and use of plastics machinery or materials throughout the supply chain. Participation in the committee is open to all interested stakeholders, and there is no charge for membership. These standards and guidelines include requirements for the manufacturer of the equipment as well as the user (the processor). To meet ANSI balance requirements, the committee needs additional non-equipment manufacturer members.
If you are interested in joining any or all of these working groups, contact Megan Hayes at mhayes@plasticsindustry.org. To learn more or to get an application, visit www.plasticsindustry.org.
