Raising the bar on safety | Nilfisk

Raising the bar on safety

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These days, robotics is the talk of the town in the professional-cleaning industry, but robots are nothing new; they have worked alongside people in factories and warehouses for decades. The International Federation of Robotics (IFR) confirms that more than 400,000 industrial robots were shipped in 2018, with a slight reduction in 2019, and average growth of 12% is expected from 2020 to 2022. (Source)

As technology advances, we are beginning to see greater diversity among sophisticated workplace robotics – and autonomous cleaning is a great example.

Autonomy advancements increase safety requirements

While traditional industrial robots often perform monotonous tasks, in unobstructed environments like assembly lines, self-operating cleaning machines are now designed to function in complex environments – with moving people, different obstacles which are often moved around, and changing work conditions.

Naturally, this raises the stakes when it comes to safety.

Third-party certified safety features

In January 2018, the first safety standard intended specifically for robotic floor-cleaning solutions came into effect. Developed by the American National Standards Institute (ANSI) and the Canadian Standards Association, this standard is also accepted in Europe. It requires all robotic floorcare machines to meet certain safety requirements related to a range of functions.

The safety requirements for commercial robotic-floorcare machines focus on the following features:

  • Stopping distance
  • Obstacle-detection/avoidance
  • Abrupt surface fall-detection
  • Critical-zone detection
  • Parking brakes
  • Max speed
  • Machine-start audio signal​

To put it simply, the new safety standard ensures that a certified autonomous machine will operate safely in areas with a combination of people, obstacles, drop-offs, and other potential hazards.

Amit Khamkar, Head of Connected Autonomous Solutions at Nilfisk, confirms that the Nilfisk Liberty SC50 is third party-certified according to the new safety standard.

“The Nilfisk Liberty SC50, which is the first autonomous solution on the market from Nilfisk, has been third party-certified against the new safety standard, and bears the cETLus Mark of Approval. The certification has been carried out by an independent laboratory, formally accredited by the U.S. Occupational Safety and Health Agency.” ​

Additionally, the Nilfisk Liberty SC50 passed third-party global IEC certification, and third-party approval in Europe, to show a presumption of conformity to the applicable Safety Directives and Regulations.

EXPERIENCE AUTONOMOUS CLEANING

Book your demo today

How does the process work?

Once you request a Liberty SC50 demo, an Intelligent Cleaning expert will get in touch with you to schedule a meeting.

  • STEP 1: Understanding your need. On the call, we will ask questions to help us understand your current cleaning operation, process, and ideal fit for autonomous cleaning.

  • STEP 2: Scheduling the visit. We will pick an on-site location and reserve a 2-hour time slot that works best for your team.

  • STEP 3: Seeing the solution in action! Our team will bring the Liberty SC50 to your site for a live demonstration.

Learn more about the Nilfisk Liberty SC50

After years of development, testing, refinement, live beta-testing, and more refinement, it’s ready for the biggest, toughest jobs you can throw at it. In airports, schools, gymnasiums, ballrooms, and beyond, the Liberty SC50 will get the dirtiest floors clean, any time of day, with no one watching over it.

So if you’re ready for autonomous cleaning, the Liberty SC50 is ready for you.