The new range covers RFID switches, locking hardware, and gate-control boxes for automated equipment.
AutomationDirect has added IDEM safety switches for personnel protection, guard monitoring, and machine access control, according to Design World. The hardware is aimed at manufacturing, packaging, automation, and processing applications, including equipment such as automated production cells.
The range includes noncontact RFID safety switches, electromagnetic and solenoid locking switches, and multifunction gate boxes with built-in operator controls. RFID uses coded radio signals to identify a matching device without physical contact. Locking switches can help control access to a guarded area while equipment is operating.
AutomationDirect says the switches offer ratings up to Category 4 and Performance Level e under ISO 13849-1, plus Safety Integrity Level 3 under IEC 62061. These are safety-system ratings that describe potential risk reduction when the equipment is selected, installed, and integrated correctly; they do not by themselves certify an entire machine or robot cell.
The KLM-Z, MMZ, and MPZ models include RFID coding, flexible mounting options, and OSSD safety outputs, according to Design World. OSSD outputs are monitored safety signals intended to connect with a machine’s safety-control system.
Housing choices include polyester, die-cast metal, and stainless steel for industrial and washdown environments. That gives plant teams several physical formats, but the right choice still depends on the guard design, risk assessment, and existing control architecture.
The announcement does not provide pricing, installation requirements, machine-control compatibility, or a specific availability date. Those details should be confirmed before a plant specifies the hardware for a production line or automated cell.