Dear all,

Greetings from ITC limited,

We would like to use this forum to discuss on one of the safety risk that we have identified on our gravure printing machine and seek the experts’ views/opinions,

Recently, during machinery safety risk assessment review. Safety team has identified risk of hand entrapment while performing impression sleeve off-centre alignment/adjustment activity due to inadvertent activation of impression sleeve down command from the main control panel of the machine.

As per the current logic provided by OEM, the sleeve engagement/disengagement can be done from local panel provided at each individual printing units as well as from the main control panel only when the machine speed achieved to 20 m/min cylinder rotation, exhaust on and Doctor blade on. However, there is possibility of injury, if someone activates the impression sleeve engagement command from the main control panel while person at work.

The machine is manufactured by BOBST and model is ROTOMEC-5002

We would like to seek your team views/suggestions to establish proper safety controls to mitigate/control the above highlighted safety risk. 

Here are few discussions questions, that we would like to put forward to initiate the discussion. 

1) What is the work procedure followed for impression sleeve off-center adjustment on gravure printing machine?

2) On gravure printing machine, what is provision available for energy isolation of individual printing unit during maintenance activity? 

3) Is there any interlocking provision available for impression sleeve access area? If yes, what is the logic?

Regards