Invisible Barriers, Visible Results: ReeR EOS4 Light Curtains in a Smart Automated Warehouse
The automation of warehousing is advancing at a remarkable pace, driven by the need to streamline logistics and integrate storage directly with production. In such environments, speed and coordination are everything—yet so is safety. When automated vehicles, conveyors and stacker cranes operate simultaneously, the risk to operators at entry and exit stations becomes critical. The challenge is clear: how to guarantee maximum protection without slowing down the relentless flow of materials.
This was the scenario faced in a large-scale project developed by an OEM specialising in intelligent industrial systems for a leading manufacturer of premium household appliances. At the heart of the project lies a three-dimensional automated warehouse (ASRS), where handling, storage and picking are managed in full integration with the production line.
To ensure safe operations in such a complex environment, the OEM selected ReeR Safety as its trusted partner.
The core of the solution involved the installation of 103 pairs of EOS4 series safety light curtains across three warehouse levels. Positioned at workstation entrances, the EOS4 units form an invisible but highly reliable barrier between people and moving loads. Their role is subtle yet decisive: to allow goods to pass unhindered while instantly reacting if a person attempts to cross.
Achieving this balance requires more than light curtains alone. A coordinated sensor system was implemented to discriminate between packages and human presence. When goods approach, two frontal photoelectric sensor pairs detect their arrival and signal the automated vehicle to halt precisely at the transfer point. A diagonal sensor then initiates communication with the conveyor, confirming readiness before the exchange begins. During this process, the EOS4 curtain supervises the passage. If the system recognises a package, muting is activated for just long enough to let it through. If a person attempts to enter, the light curtain immediately triggers a stop, preventing hazardous access.
This integration of sensors and safety light curtains ensures that muting cannot be exploited or triggered by deceptive behavior. The system is therefore both efficient and tamper-resistant. Operators remain fully protected, while the automated flow of goods continues without interruption.
The results speak for themselves: no compromise between productivity and safety, a drastic reduction in false alarms and downtime, and full compliance with international machine safety standards. Most importantly, the application demonstrates how safety technology, when intelligently designed, supports rather than hinders the efficiency of advanced logistics.
By adopting ReeR EOS4 light curtains, the customer has secured a warehouse infrastructure that is not only automated and efficient, but also resilient and ready for the future.
