• By reversing the position of the spring, the contact’s relaxed state corresponds to its safety position (when contacts are open, the machine is at a standstill). The spring does not undergo any load once the plunger has been pressed down and as a result, risk of malfunction is significantly reduced, especially when the push-button has been damaged.
• By using ‘safe brake action’ technology, the emergency stop is put in its safety position (contacts open) whenever the ‘On’ button is not properly positioned, has been damaged or is detached. In this position, any risks resulting from poor installation or damage are avoided. “This technology is especially useful in emergency stop switches that are in highly prominent positions or which have a detachable contact block and are more liable to be accidentally damaged,” said component distributor Foremost, which is stocking the switches.

Idec’s XA, X6, XN1E/5E, XN4E, and XW emergency stop switches are fitted with these improvements.

For situations where machine operation must be prevented temporarily, the XN4E series also includes padlock eyelets to lock them in their safety position – several padlocks can be fitted at the same time, allowing several operators to work on different areas of the installation at the same time, without fear that one can restart the machine before the others have finished and removed their padlocks.