OMEGA Ex - New wire rope hand winch for use in potentially explosive atmospheres.

Pfaff-silberblau has recently launched a number of new developments in its range of lifting equipment for use in potentially explosive atmospheres in ATEX protection zones 1 and 2. The new OMEGA Ex hand wire rope winch complements the Company's existing wall-mounted rack and pinion jack ZWW Ex for use in similar situations.

The OMEGA Ex is the first in a new line of wire rope winches which will be available from August 2008. Engineers at the lifting and material handling specialist have developed the OMEGA Ex especially to meet the stringent safety requirements of the ATEX Directives. This extends the field of application for Pfaff-silberblau hand wire rope winches significantly. The OMEGA Ex winch is available in three load capacities – 400 kg, 630 kg and 900 kg – with a 10 m lifting height. It can now also be used in safety critical environments in which there is a potential for explosion, such as in the chemical or petrochemical industries.

In cooperation with the independent technical standards organisation TÜV, Pfaff-silberblau successfully subjected the new OMEGA Ex to an extensive programme of hazard and ignition testing, with the result that the new hand wire rope winch is now licensed for use in ATEX areas in category 2 (= Zone 1/21) and category 3 (= Zone 2/22). Category 2 includes equipment that provides a high level of safety even where disruptions are expected, while Category 3 covers equipment which provides a standard level of safety when used normally.

The OMEGA Ex winch has been developed to DIN EN 1127 standards (potentially explosive atmospheres - protection against explosion), DIN EN 13463-1, -5, -8 (Non-Electrical Equipment for Potentially Explosive Atmospheres) and to BGR 132 (Avoidance of ignition hazards due to static electricity) and is labelled Ex II 2 DG ck 195 °C (IIB T3).

This means that all individual components of the OMEGA Ex are constructed from an energy engineering point of view in such a way that undue heating of the surfaces can be effectively prevented. Apart from that, its carefully selected materials and sophisticated construction prevent any mechanically induced sparks, for example through ingress of foreign bodies or materials. Equalisation of potential and surface restriction also prevent the new ATEX winch from becoming statically charged.