Light Curtains

Light curtains are optoelectronic safety devices used to guard hazardous machine zones by creating an invisible infrared detection field that triggers a safe-state output when interrupted by a person or object. Controls engineers, machine builders, and panel shops specify light curtains for press guarding, robotic cell access points, conveyor entry zones, and automated assembly equipment where physical barriers are impractical. This category includes finger-detection curtains with fine resolution (14mm and smaller) for point-of-operation guarding, hand-detection curtains with medium resolution (25–30mm) for perimeter access control, and welding-environment variants with optical shielding designed to withstand weld spatter and high-ambient-light interference. Products span protective heights from 150mm to 2000mm or more to suit a wide range of machine openings. Key selection criteria include IEC Type 4 / Category 4 safety rating, resolution, protective height, response time, and compatibility with the machine's safety relay or safety PLC architecture.