Pilz appoints Elite as certified system integrator

Elite Control Systems is the first Certified Pilz System Integrator: covering safety relays, monitoring relays, touchscreen HMIs, light curtains, configurable safety controllers and safety systems

Pilz Automation Technology has appointed Elite Control Systems of Livingston, Scotland, as its first Certified System Integrator.

This agreement covers the full product range from Pilz, including safety relays, monitoring relays, touchscreen HMIs, light curtains, configurable safety controllers and programmable safety systems.

Elite will be the first Certified System Integrator for Scotland, though the company also serves customers from as far afield as Azerbaijan and the USA.

West Lothian-based Elite was the first automation systems integration company of its size to obtain accreditation to the coveted BS EN ISO 9001:2000 TickIT certification for design, development, production, support and installation of control and monitoring systems.

Pilz and Elite have worked together closely for several years, but the situation is now formalised.

To reach the current situation has taken about two years of work by both companies, with the companies jointly developing a competency management scheme specifically for system integrators.

Based on the CASS (Conformity Assessment of Safety Related Systems) approved competency management scheme already used by Pilz, the new Certified System Integrator scheme takes into account the different knowledge and skills required by system integrators.

Following the completed assessment of all of the Elite technical staff, the process of continuous improvement will be ongoing as a condition of the company retaining the Certified System Integrator status.

This situation means that with complex projects, the Elite staff and Pilz staff can pool their knowledge and expertise, certain of providing the customer with a competently conducted project.

The question of competency is being thrust to the fore as the implications of IEC 61508 (Functional safety of electrical/electronic/programmable electronic safety related systems) are becoming more widely understood, both by end users and the health and safety authorities.

Those employing system integrators need to be aware of the difference between claimed competence and demonstrable competence.

And while many system integrators may claim to be competent in what they do, it is doubtful that any have a competence management scheme in place that is as rigorous and fully documented as Elite's.

John Popham, General Manager of Pilz Automation Technology, comments: "This has been a major exercise, with a heavy commitment from both parties, to reach the stage where Pilz is prepared to recognise Elite formally as a Certified System Integrator.

"Having got to this position, we are looking forward to Elite helping Pilz penetrate markets where we have not traditionally had a presence - such as the oil and gas, petrochemical industry, and semiconductor processing - but where the Pilz technologies are highly applicable.

Elite is a supremely professional company, with genuine skills and expertise.

We are very pleased to have Elite as our first Certified System Integrator." Sam Mackay, Managing Director of Elite Control Systems Limited, adds: "Of course, Elite has expertise and experience in delivering well engineered solutions to a wide range of clients both in the safety and non-safety arenas.

"However, we recognise that safety is crucial for all our customers, as there is frequently an element of safety in general control system projects.

For several years we have been operating our own management systems, which, it transpires, were close to those outlined in IEC 61508.

"Nevertheless, while we only had to make minor changes to our management systems to achieve the status of a Certified System Integrator for Pilz, we had to work hand-in-hand with Pilz to develop the competency management system, then implement it and undertake appropriate training where necessary.

It has taken us hundreds of man-hours to gain our certification, but there is no question that it is worthwhile.

We are looking forward to a close, fruitful, long-term relationship with Pilz.''.

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