System Offers Flexible, Secure Management of Machinery Access

With the RFID-capable PITreader card and stickers, the access permission system has new formats to offer, enabling a more efficient and secure access permission system. Photo Credit: Pilz

Pilz’s PITreader is an updated version of its electronic access permission system for flexible, secure management of access to machinery. Utilizing the PITreader card unit, operators can assign permissions on RFID transponders in card or sticker format.

This format is designed to offer efficient control of access permissions. The RFID-capable PITreader card and PITreader sticker can be used in conjunction with or instead of the existing PITreader key. Machine operators can have their individual permissions on the transponder and use them to authenticate themselves on the PITreader card unit to gain entry to a plant or machine.

The system enables companies to increase industrial security because they control who has what permission and granted access to the process. At the same time, they also meet the requirements for functionally safe operating mode selection. 

The RFID transponders are available as freely writeable and preconfigured versions. A transparent window on the PITreader card enables users to still read the LED status indicator when the card is held up to it. If the company already uses RFID-capable cards, these can also be used in conjunction with PITreader card unit. In this case, users need only one card for multiple functions. This can save time during authentication in the plant or on the machine, and offers a flexible and easily manageable solution. With the PITreader S card unit, Pilz is also introducing a version for integrating the OPC UA standard, enabling optimum safety and connectivity.

Administrators manage their user settings, block lists and user data for the transponder keys, cards or stickers via the graphical interface on the corresponding software solution PIT Transponder Manager (PTM) from Pilz. With preconfigured templates, individual user permissions are written into the RFID transponder in just a few steps. The import function enables information to be read quickly and directly into the integrated database, saving the administrator time. If a company uses several readers and PITreader, these are organized using the User Authentication Service (UAS) software tool.

PITreader card units can be used efficiently in combination with the Pilz configurable small controller PNOZ  or the automation system PSS4000 for control of access permissions and safe operating mode selection. Thus, the complete solution contributes toward greater safety and security in the widest range of processes.