Guarding Manufacture
and Installation
Machine Guarding Manufacture
and Installation
Procter are one of the largest, oldest and experienced steel product manufacturers in the UK. We offer a complete solution, from concept to installation.
State-Of-The-Art Production Facilities
All of our high-quality machine guards are manufactured at our 36,000 sq. ft. state-of-the-art production facilities in South Wales by our team of over 70 highly experienced and skilled workforce. If required, this capacity enables us to take on the largest and most complex of machine guarding projects.
Sheet metal components are processed using our state-of-the-art CNC punch press and press brake to achieve high productivity and close tolerances. In addition we have in-house welding and finishing, which enables us to maintain control over quality and lead times for the entire production process.
Choice of materials
Thanks to our in-house cutting, forming and fabricating facilities we can process any material that might be specified for machine guards, including mild steel, stainless steel, aluminium, polycarbonate, wire mesh and specialist sound-deadening materials. The advantage of this flexibility is that our designers are not restricted in the types of material they can specify, so customers benefit from a truly optimised bespoke guarding design. Mild steel guards can be painted or epoxy polyester powder coated in the customer’s choice of colour.
Customer
designs
With some projects, particularly for OEMs such as machine tool manufacturers, we manufacture to the customer’s detailed designs and specifications, maintaining the highest quality standards. Our design engineers are also happy to advise customers where we feel that minor design improvements can be beneficial in terms of lower cost or better performance.
Inspections welcome
When we manufacture large or complex machine guards, customers are welcome to inspect the work at specific stages, such as when the fabrication is complete but prior to any powder coating or painting.
Alternatively, if you would like to see our design and production facilities before placing an order, we are happy to arrange this too.
Standards compliance
Our design engineers are highly experienced with machinery safety standards, so we ensure that standards are complied with when we design guards, or we work closely with customers to ensure the machine guards are compliant when manufacturing to their designs. Our ISO 9001 Quality Management System covers the design, manufacture and installation of machine guards.
Machine guard
installation service
We have over 30 years of experience installing machine guards using our own team of highly skilled engineers. Customers who have entrusted us with machine guard installations include some of the largest and most prestigious manufacturing companies: BAE Systems, BMW, Ford Motor Co, GlaxoSmithKline, Heinz, Honda, McLaren, Nissan, Procter & Gamble, Rolls-Royce plc, Sellafield and Tata.
Installations are often scheduled at weekends, overnight or during scheduled maintenance shutdowns so as to minimise disruption. Because we have a number of skilled teams available, even large projects can be completed quickly.
Furthermore, our installation teams also have fabrication skills, so they can usually carry out minor adjustments while on site.
All of our fitters have received health and safety training and have a Passport to Safety accreditation so they can demonstrate their competence to work on customers’ sites. We always conduct a risk assessment and prepare a method statement prior to commencing the installation; copies of these can be provided on request. Our ISO 9001 Quality Management System covers our installation service as well as the design and manufacture of machine guards.
Electrical installation
In addition to fitting physical guarding we also install electrical and mechanical door interlocks, emergency stop switches, safety light curtains and other electrical devices. If it is necessary to modify a machine’s safety-related control system to accommodate new safety devices, our electrical engineers can take full responsibility for this aspect of the work as well.
Maintenance and
aftercare
Our comprehensive service includes aftercare and maintenance so you can be sure your machine guards will have a long, trouble-free life. If we attend your site for a planned maintenance visit or unscheduled callout, we can carry out any of the following:
- Inspect guards to check they have not been damaged or subjected to unauthorised modification; repair or replace as necessary
- Inspect hinges and slides on moving guards; lubricate, adjust or replace as necessary
- Check operation of gas struts or counterbalances on lifting guards; lubricate, adjust, repair or replace as necessary
- Check operation and security of guard switches; replace any showing signs of damage or abuse
- Check for damage to cables connecting guard switches and other safety devices; replace as necessary
- Check for any modifications to the machinery that might mean the guards are no longer adequate; if necessary, assess risks and submit report
- Check for damage to guards caused by, for example, fork lift trucks; repair or replace as necessary
- Inspect fixed guards for missing or damaged fasteners that could allow dangerous parts of the machine to be reached through gaps; repair or replace as necessary
- Inspect clear polycarbonate infill panels; replace any that have become opaque due to abrasion or suffered damage from impacts
- On acoustic enclosures, check the seals around doors and opening panels are still in good condition; replace as necessary
- On machines with guards that are required to retain coolant or dust, check for signs of leakage; repair or replace seals as necessary
