RIA User Membership Swells before national safety conference.
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Press Release Summary:
Corporate membership by robot users has risen at RIA, and National Robot Safety Conference is driving this surge. Many users who register to learn about new safety standard elect to take free, 6-month trial membership. Now, RIA user membership is up 53% compared to the same time in previous year. Concern for robot safety is often a catalyst for RIA membership, and RIA offers custom training to help companies comply with National Robot Safety Standard.
Original Press Release:
RIA User Membership Swells Before National Robot Safety Conference
ANN ARBOR, Michigan USA - Corporate membership by robot users has gone up significantly at Robotic Industries Association and the National Robot Safety Conference is driving the surge. Many users who register to learn about the new safety standard elect to take a free, six-month trial membership. Now, RIA user membership is up 53 percent compared to the same time last year.
Concern for robot safety is often a catalyst for RIA membership. Safety affects almost everyone in the supply chain from robot OEMs to integrators and users. RIA offers custom training to help companies comply with the National Robot Safety Standard. Discounts on training fees are available to qualified members.
RIA is secretariat for the ANSI/RIA R15.06 robot safety standard, and the new standard (expected to go into effect early next year) is harmonized with new world standards including ISO 10218. Although the new ANSI/RIA standard is not yet official, some robot makers already sell robots that comply with its requirements. This and more is covered during RIA's National Robot Safety Conference XXIII, September 19-21, 2011, Knoxville, Tennessee.
"If an accident in the workplace happens, OSHA generally looks to see if the user complies with industry standards," said Jeff Burnstein, RIA President. "For more than a decade we've had the same ANSI/RIA standard for robot safety but that is all changing now."
Robots have had a very safe track record since their deployment to the factory floor 50 years ago which may explain why there is no official tally of robot accidents. In fact (according to RIA Standards Development Director, Jeff Fryman) many accidents attributed to robotic systems happen when personnel bypass safeguards.
"The new standard is meant to simplify safety and streamline a work cell. For instance, safety-rated soft axis and space limiting software are ways to eliminate certain hard stops," said Fryman. "One of the biggest changes has to do with risk assessment which is now required for all new robot work cells."
Users of advanced automation convene soon at the National Robot Safety Conference XXIII to learn about the new robot safety standard, and RIA offers limited-time, free user membership to help raise awareness. RIA serves suppliers, integrators, educators, consultants and users. Benefits are designed to improve business for members, facilitate networking and make it easier to succeed with and install safe robotic systems.
Online registration is available for RIA's National Robot Safety Conference, which now has more than 120 people on the books. Space at the Crown Plaza Hotel Knoxville is limited and only a few rooms remain. Other hotels in the area are highlighted on the Conference website. For more information about the event and venue, visit http://www.robotics.org/safety11.
About Robotic Industries Association
Founded in 1974, RIA represents leading robot manufacturers, component suppliers, system integrators, end users, educators, research groups, and consulting firms. The association sponsors the biennial Automate Show and Conference plus many regional events, and is secretariat of the ANSI/RIA R15.06 Robot Safety Standard. RIA also serves as North America's representative to the International Federation of Robotics and provides detailed quarterly North American robot statistics. Full information on RIA activities is on Robotics Online, the world's leading robotics resource on the Worldwide Web.
Contact:
Brian Huse
Robotic Industries Association
734/994-6088
