At the POWTECH 2023, the steute business unit “Controltec” will be presenting a new addition to its product range: the Ex STM 515 series of Ex solenoid interlocks with ATEX and IECEx approvals. Their purpose is to keep guard doors and maintenance flaps locked until dangerous movements inside machines and plants have come to a complete standstill.
They are also able to perform this task – and this is typical of steute “Extreme” switchgear – in adverse conditions and Ex zones. These new Ex solenoid interlocks have a robust die-cast aluminium enclosure which ensures durability even with extreme wear and tear. Multiple coatings (passivation, priming, powder coating) guarantee a high degree of corrosion protection classes IP66/67. The electrical connections are well protected inside a terminal compartment.
Additional practical features of the Ex STM 515 series include an actuator head which can be positioned in 4 x 90o increments. The mounting of the interlock is thus flexible, which together with the compact design make installation very versatile. Equally typical for steute switchgear is a modular design with a range of additional functions.
Users can choose, for example, between the closed-circuit or open-circuit principle, and can also optionally select both a manual release (from the access side) and an escape release (from the hazard side). The new solenoid interlocks in the Ex STM 515 series can be used in accordance with their ATEX/IECEx approvals in Ex zones 1 and 2 (gas Ex), as well as 21 and 22 (dust Ex). Typical application fields which steute had in mind during the development phase include guard doors and maintenance flaps on mixers and screening machines, as well as packaging plants for powdered or dusty goods. This makes the Powtech 2023 the perfect venue for the launch of these new Ex safety switching devices.