Rockford Systems Announces Partnership with Unitrol Electronics to Distribute Soft Touch Pinch-Point Safety System

Soft Touch is a passive, fail-safe system that prevents riveters, spot welders and other small machines from cycling if the system detects fingers in the point-of-operation area, while not interfering with the production process during normal operations. Versatile by design, Soft Touch is easy to install on pneumatic riveters and resistance welders, such as spot welders, rocker arm welders, portable gun welders, and hanging gun welders performing spot, projection and seam welding. Since its introduction thousands of Soft Touch systems have been successfully deployed around the world. 

 "The addition of Soft Touch to our pinch-point safeguarding product portfolio provides Rockford Systems another opportunity to do what we do best:  help improve operator safety by reducing machine injury risks," said Carrie Halle, Vice President of Marketing and Business Development for Rockford Systems, LLC. "We are very excited to introduce the Soft Touch Safety System for pneumatic riveters and resistance welders that:  1) cannot be bypassed by operators, 2) will not slow down production, 3) was co-developed by OSHA, and 4) protects employers and workers from potential finger or hand amputations."

Spot welding and riveting can be exceptionally dangerous jobs. Most spot welding and riveting machines complete a full sequence automatically when initiated, regardless of what is between their electrodes where up to 12,000 pounds per square inch (PSI) of force is delivered to the production parts. Because operators often need to hold parts close to moving electrodes, hands or fingers can be caught between the tips resulting in amputations and other crippling injuries. According to OSHA 80 percent of hand injuries are caused by pinch points.

 

To prevent these types of injuries, Soft Touch measures electrical continuity between the electrodes to verify they are actually touching the part that is being welded. In the event an operator's fingers or hands blocks the movement of the electrode, Soft Touch will not detect continuity and the electrodes will open automatically, not going into riveting or welding force. Electrodes only increase to full force after contacting the metal part being welded or riveted.