When Industrial Safety Has to Withstand Water, Steam and Extreme Conditions

Industrial environments are becoming increasingly demanding, making environmental protection an integral part of safety system design rather than an optional accessory.

Industrial safety devices are expected to perform reliably regardless of the environment in which they operate. However, applications involving high-pressure washdowns, steam, condensation, salt spray or freezing temperatures introduce challenges that standard installations are not always designed to withstand.

In these situations, protecting the safety device becomes just as important as selecting the device itself.

Protecting the safety system, not just the sensor

Safety light curtains are designed to safeguard operators and machinery with high precision and fast response times. Yet their long-term performance also depends on their ability to resist the surrounding environment.

Frequent cleaning cycles, rain or water infiltration, mechanical impacts, humidity and sudden temperature changes can all affect the reliability of a safety installation, increasing maintenance requirements and reducing operational continuity. For applications where environmental conditions become part of the challenge, dedicated protection is essential.

Designed for harsh industrial environments

ReeR developed its WT (WaterTight) enclosure range to allow its safety light curtains to operate reliably in demanding environments where moisture, water, dust and aggressive cleaning procedures are part of everyday production.

WT enclosures provide IP67 and IP69K protection, ensuring complete resistance against dust and high-pressure water jets up to 100 bar at temperatures reaching 80°C.

Beyond environmental sealing, the enclosure also protects the sensor from accidental impacts and mechanical abrasion. An integrated GORE™ vent prevents internal condensation, preserving the transparency of the PMMA tube and maintaining the accuracy of the optical beam throughout the product's lifetime.

One solution, different industrial challenges

Different applications require different levels of protection.

WT Heated (WTH)

For refrigerated warehouses, outdoor installations and low-temperature environments, WTH versions integrate a thermostatically controlled heating system that allows operation down to -25°C. By preventing condensation and frost formation, they ensure uninterrupted visibility of the protected area.

WT Food (WTF)

Designed specifically for food processing environments, WTF enclosures are manufactured using AISI 316L stainless steel, Delrin and PMMA, materials chosen for their resistance to aggressive detergents and disinfectants.

Their compliance with demanding washdown procedures and Ecolab standards makes them particularly suitable for food and beverage applications where hygiene and safety must coexist.

Application focus

Outdoor Automation – Port of Brisbane

One of the most demanding outdoor applications for industrial safety can be found at the AutoStrad™ Terminal within the Port of Brisbane, Australia. Here, overhead cranes, quay cranes and Autonomous Guided Vehicles (AGVs) operate continuously to automate container handling with minimal human intervention.

Although automation significantly improves efficiency and operator safety, it also requires reliable perimeter protection capable of preventing unauthorised access to hazardous operating areas. In this environment, safety devices must withstand far more than normal industrial conditions. Continuous exposure to rain, salt spray, intense UV radiation, condensation and wide temperature variations can quickly compromise conventional installations.

To address these challenges, ReeR supplied Admiral WTH UV Dual Beam safety light curtains installed inside heated, IP67-rated WT enclosures specifically developed for harsh outdoor environments. The solution combines long-range detection (up to 50 m) with Dual Beam technology to reduce unnecessary interruptions caused by birds or windborne debris, while the heated enclosure prevents condensation and ensures reliable operation even at temperatures down to -25°C.

Corrosion-resistant stainless steel mounting accessories further increase system durability, providing long-term protection in the highly aggressive marine environment.

The result is a perimeter protection solution capable of maintaining reliable safety performance while minimising maintenance requirements and ensuring continuous operation in one of the world's most advanced automated port terminals.

Hygienic Food Processing with Elcat

Food processing machinery must combine two equally critical requirements: protecting operators while meeting the industry's strict hygiene standards.

Italian machine builder Elcat designs and assembles automated systems for handling, dosing and packaging products such as sliced cheese, cold cuts, hamburgers, olives and other food products. Every machine is built using stainless steel and food-grade materials capable of withstanding intensive daily washdown procedures with detergents and disinfectants.

In these environments, safety devices are exposed to the same aggressive cleaning cycles as the processing equipment itself. Reliability therefore depends not only on the performance of the safety light curtain, but also on its ability to withstand water, steam and chemical cleaning agents without compromising detection accuracy. For these applications, Elcat selected ReeR EOS4 safety light curtains equipped with WTF (WaterTight Food) enclosures, specifically developed for hygienic food processing environments.

The WTF housing provides IP69K protection, allowing the system to withstand high-pressure washdowns and temperatures up to 80°C, while the use of AISI 316L stainless steel, Delrin and PMMA ensures compatibility with food industry requirements and resistance to aggressive detergents and disinfectants. For refrigerated areas or applications subject to significant temperature variations, the WTHF (Heated) version integrates a thermostatically controlled heating system that prevents condensation from forming on the transparent housing, ensuring uninterrupted visibility of the detection field even at temperatures down to -25°C.

By combining hygienic design, environmental protection and reliable safety performance, the EOS4 WTF range enables food manufacturers and machine builders such as Elcat to maintain both operational continuity and compliance with demanding food production standards.

Engineering Reliability Into Every Environment

Industrial environments are becoming increasingly demanding, making environmental protection an integral part of safety system design rather than an optional accessory.

Whether protecting automated equipment operating outdoors or ensuring reliable performance in hygienic food processing plants, ReeR WT enclosures extend the capabilities of EOS safety light curtains where conventional installations may struggle.

Because in challenging environments, protecting the safety device means protecting productivity, reducing maintenance and ensuring long-term operational continuity.

Learn more about ReeR's WT solutions and discover how they can support your next safety project at www.reersafety.com.

Visit ReeR website and contact us to learn more about our full range of safety solutions.

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