Claitec’s work philosophy has a strong environmental component: we are convinced that companies are key players that must ensure our societies are more responsible with their environment. That’s why, our environmental quality and control systems are certified in accordance with the requirements of ISO 9001: 2015 and 14001: 2015 for the activities of design, development and commercialisation of safety systems for the protection of people.

In this context, today we’d like to discuss the analysis we conduct on the life cycle of each of our solutions with the goal of evaluating the different processes through which every product undergoes, as well as identifying points of improvement in its environmental management that helps us generate the least possible impact.

What is the analysis of the life cycle of a product?

It’s the detailed analysis of each of the phases undergone by any of our solutions with the aim of detecting its environmental impact. These are the phases analysed in a standard product:

• Composition (chemical products and raw materials)
• Manufacturing process (chemical products and process)
• Distribution
• Use of the product
• End of life
  
  

In the first step – the composition – we analyse which raw materials and chemical products are used for the elaboration of the solution, observing, for instance, if they are recyclable and whether we are looking at new, recycled or non-recycled raw materials. We also determine if any of the elements can be adjusted or replaced by choosing a more ecological option, or if there are products that can be used in smaller quantities – among several other variables.

During the manufacturing process we study, on the on the one hand, whether the product is certified or not, and on the other, whether its environmental impact is evaluated. Sometimes improvements can be implemented, while in other cases, for example, in outsourced manufacturing situations, it is more complex to implement any changes.

Next, we look at distribution. In this step Claitec always determines the type of packaging of the product, the material used and how much of it is necessary. In addition, attention is paid to the means of transport used, and conditions and/or recommendations are made to ensure this stage is as efficient and as respectful towards the environment as possible.

After that phase, we analyse the future use of the product. In a way, Claitec has certain influence at this stage, since we can control the possible impact when designing the solutions, but not so much in the way our clients make use of them. Beyond that, our analysis also seeks to address how our products are used, what type of energies our customers are provided with and the level of environmental care taken in order to advise and accompany them on a path towards a more responsible use.

Finally, we reach the stage known as “end of life” of the product. This has to do with the management of the tools once they are considered waste. In this sense, Claitec complies with all current regulations related to waste management of electrical and electronic equipment, and the company is also a member of the ECO-WEEE GIS, which facilitates WEEE waste collection points and controls its management.

If you want to find out more about our product life cycle, or for specific questions about  this topic or if you want to have further information about our solutions, please don’t hesitate to contact us, we are here to help!

At Claitec we work permanently to provide our customers with modern, efficient and practical systems. We listen and try to understand your needs and from there we generate improvements and provide solutions for you. That’s why in this article we want to discuss the advantages offered by the VAS System – one of our latest developments – compared to some traditional safety alert systems used in workspaces.

For starters, the VAS solution (Visualisation of Safety Alerts) consists of a new development that warns pedestrians and/or forklifts in risk situations, by projecting signals on the ground.

And these are the four reasons why this option stands out over other less innovative solutions in the market:

1) Easy to install and high durability

The VAS system stands out for being extremely easy to install. Implementing this solution only involves placing the projector where we want to locate the warning signals. And that’s it! In addition, this tool differs from other more traditional options because of its extreme durability. The VAS system does not suffer the great wear and tear that other options such as self-adhesive signs placed on the floor, traditional signage or even panoramic mirrors do.

2) High visibility

Our clients’ experience shows that the signals projected by the VAS system are very visible to operators and easily detected in workspaces. They stand out against panoramic mirrors and posters that are traditionally used in industries. These mirrors are often placed too high to be seen or they end up becoming part of the general landscape in the worksite and people stop using them.

3) Customisable

In a way, the VAS system is a suit tailored to the needs of each client. The system is placed in the required place, and then it is a matter of only configuring the desired signal. Unlike a sign or an ad painted on the floor, which logically has only one use, this system is versatile and can be adapted and used in different situations and for various options. Some examples of what can be projected are: a forklift, a pedestrian, a STOP warning sign, a crosswalk, speed limits, a “no smoking” sign or prohibited the use of mobile phones, among many other examples.

4) Easily combined with other tools

The VAS system can also easily work with other safety systems in the industry. One of the clearest cases is the possibility it offers of interacting with the PAS System, which warns drivers when it detects a person at distances of 1 to 6.5 meters. The two tools complement each other, generating an intelligent circuit of care and support for operator safety. Toyota, for instance, has integrated the PAS and VAS systems to solve a need for OEZ Letohrad, a company which produces automatic compact switches for customers around the world.

Do you have any questions about this system?

Any other queries?

Do you need our advice?

Please don’t hesitate to contact us, we are here to help.

Tags are increasingly being used to improve occupational safety and to prevent accidents at work. In this post, we´ll be discussing the possibilities offered by two of the tags Claitec offers its clients which, are already giving great results in different industries.

1. The T-10R tag is a long-lasting active RFID device that can be placed on any person, equipment or active element in our industries to be accurately detected by the AC-50 Activator. This tag stands out for its robust design and overall resistance, which makes it very tolerant to all the hustle and bustle of our daily tasks. Its battery can be recharged wirelessly, adding additional comfort and safety for the operator and ensuring the tag always has enough energy.
   
   
   
2. The T-10 R Badge Tag is an adaptation of the T-10R which functions also as a card holder. This allows us to solve a problem reported on multiple occasions by our clients: forgetting, loosing or other human errors which tend to be the causes of so many accidents. With this tag, the operator only carries one object, but contemplates two key elements: the safety tag and the personal identification card.
   
   The T-10R Badge is a long-lasting active RFID device that combines dual passive and active RFID technology, and allows our customers to maintain the functionality of existing access control, adding PAS (pedestrian alert) safety.
   
   
   

In addition, the mobile inhibitor T-10, a device that is placed at the front of the driver´s protection keychain.

This allows the operator to drive the truck safely, keeping the Pedestrian Detection system activated preventing accidents with other forklifts circulating in the work area or nearby boundaries.

Using the mobile inhibitor, the worker can abandon the forklift and perform other operations with the certainty that s/he will be protected the moment s/he steps out of the vehicle, thus achieving a perfect mixture of safety and practicality.

Are you keen to learn more about the systems mentioned above?

Do you have any specific inquiries?

Do you want to receive more information about any of our solutions?

Do not hesitate to contact us, we are here to help!

As you´re probably aware of, in this space we like to address all aspects pertaining to the improvement of occupational safety and the prevention of accidents at work. Today, to our occupational health concerns, we´d like to add our concern for and commitment to our precious environment.

So here are some recommendations to help us achieve a greener industry.

1) Responsible energy consumption

Let us first put a focus on energy saving and responsible energy consumption. What we´re proposing here are not only concrete and “physical” measures, but also “cultural” measures. All industries can seek energy savings through the incorporation of lighting or air conditioning equipment with low consumption and low or no environmental impact. For example, led lights can be extremely helpful, as are solar panels or wind energy equipment – all of them can lit up spaces as well as heat water and work areas. But, beyond these structural transformations, we must ensure that our entire work team is aligned with the subject, that it acquires energy consumption habits and it takes simple steps like turning off the lights when leaving a room or turning off and unpluging the equipment when no longer in use.

2) Recycling policies

To improve environmental responsibilities in our industries, it is essential to incorporate recycling rules to our day to day tasks. Waste is generated in all work areas and as such we should develop policies that help us manage it, seeking to reuse or recycle as doing so will help us minimise our environmental impact. For large industries this is a key part of their daily tasks, and they can teach many other medium and small businesses how to act in this regard.

3) Efficiency and impact reduction

It is also important to talk about the efficient use of resources in our industries, and aim to reduce our environmental impact. For example, we can work hard on using paper efficiently, a resource that is often used in an excessive or an unconscious way, and which we could easily try to consume to a much lesser extent. We can use less paper – giving priority to digital systems -, use recycled paper or even reuse paper sheets, thereby making a more efficient use of this precious resource. Setting up recycling stations is also very useful as operators can leave their waste knowing that most of it will be recycled or reused. For example, any business could easily install recycling stations for plastic bottles, used notebooks or batteries. We can also follow the example of many companies that are promoting a more conscious use of transport systems, encouraging buses that transport several operators in a single trip and shared trips between operators on the way to work – with shift systems according to the day of the week – or also the use of bicycles or other options that do not emit polluting gases.

As you can see, there´s a lot that can be done in our industries and work spaces to help us promote more responsible environmental policies. One thing is certain – all that effort will result in a clear improvement that we and future generations will be able to enjoy. And we need to start as soon as possible!

If you´d like to learn more about our solutions, for specific inquiries or to have more information about any of our tools, do not hesitate to contact us! We are here to help!

Needless to say that working at temperatures below zero is one of the most difficult tasks in our industries. We must take care of teams working in such conditions, we must be vigilant of the ways cold temperatures decrease safety and the many ways cold and humid conditions can affect our equipment.

We have received numerous enquiries recently on this subject and that´s why we´ve decided to clearly explain in this post the many possible ways Claitec´s tools can be applied to achieve safer work spaces at low temperatures, as low as -30° C.

First, prevention is key. The consequences of an accident that happens at temperatures below zero are a lot more serious and the time we have to react a lot less.

The PAS System (Pedestrian Alert System) is a very helpful tool to protect teams working under this type of conditions. Easily adapted to any situation, this solution warns forklift drivers when there is an operator in distances between 1 and 6.5 meters. The system is capable of identifying people and objects, and it even detects operators located behind a bookshelf, a wall or a pile of merchandise.

The Low Speed Areas System is used to reduce forklifts speed inside cold rooms, for example, thus achieving much safer environments, and greatly reducing the probability of work accidents. This solution complements very well with other systems – such as the aforementioned PAS – and it stands out for being easy to install, practical and very resistant.

We have also tailor-made specific systems for our clients which, get activated when a forklift approaches a door, notifying the driver whether it is closed or ajar. This is especially useful in contexts with low visibility, and in very low temperature climates, where doors must remain open as little as possible.

This system is achieved by combining a two-way Tz2 tag installed on the door and the PAS Solution installed on the forklift. That way, if the door is closed or half open, the Tz2 tag sends a signal through the PAS system to the approaching vehicle, and the system immediately turns on the light beacon and/or the audible alarm warning the driver about the situation. When the door is completely open the TZ2 tag doesn´t send the signal, thus avoiding accidents or possible crashes.

Remember that the PAS and LSA devices can be easily adapted to work at -30°  C, since the only requirements are a heating resistance and a pressure balancing system, which can both be done very easily and economically.

Keen to learn more about these solutions?

Do you have a question for us?

Don’t hesitate to contact us, we are here to help!

Claitec is always innovating and expanding and this month we welcome a new member to our team!

Maria Izquierdo join us to offer support in the areas of administration, sales, communication and production.

She studied sociology at the UAB and has a masters in communication. She has spent some time in Germany, but affirms she can no longer live away from the Mediterranean Sea.

Passionate about interacting with people, she has worked for the last six years on web projects and promoting digital communication for clients from a wide variety of sectors.

Always looking for the most eficient and empathic way to communicate with others, she now takes on the challenge of delving into our sector.

She defines herself as a multi-tasker and an enthusiast of continuous learning. Her hobbies include basketball and she’s always committed to defending her team.

She believes maternity changes one´s life and affirms having children is equivalent to doing a master’s degree in non-verbal communication!

Welcome to the team, Maria!

We’ve often talked in this space about the different systems we offer our clients.

Today, we want to go a little further and delve into our working methodologies.

And that’s because for us, at Claitec, there’s no better product than that which delivers safety solutions for our customers.

This is how we approach our tasks and challenges every day, and today we want to share it with you.

What is Claitec’s work methodology?

1. The first step in our work process starts when we receive a specific query or need from a new or existing customer.
   
   Generally, the focus of these enquiries is on requests for safety solutions, improvements in safety in a workplace environment and enhancements in the prevention of occupational accidents for very diverse industries.
   
   As mentioned, we usually receive new queries from direct and established customers, new customers, distributors, through web consultations, after participating in national or international fairs, and also after reading one of our articles and getting in touch via mail, phone or social media.
   
   
   
2. Once the request in question has been received, Claitec’s technical-commercial team starts its engines and, after due evaluation of the situation, informs the client about the possible solutions to his request.
   
   Sometimes we have a product tailored already to that particular need.
   
   In other cases, it’s necessary to make small adjustments to an existing tool.
   
   And in other instances, we are forced to decline our assistance as unfortunately we don’t have a solution for that particular case.
   
   
   What have we found in time?
   
   
   We have discovered that the cases where we are unable to help on the fly are the best seed for innovation, and the perfect boost for our team in the development of new solutions in safety and improvements in the prevention of work accidents.
   
   So much so that, in more than one occasion – as you might have read in different articles of this blog -, we have developed a tool from scratch to provide a solution to the problem presented by our client. To give you an example, we have managed to innovate and continue to improve our specialisation in areas such as traffic management, the detection of people in workspaces, safety zones and speed limitations, among other work specialties.
   
   
   
3. Then, the third step is the elaboration of the technical-commercial proposal.
   
   A large team of specialists intervenes in this process.
   
   First of, the technical-commercial engineers, with a strong experience in occupational safety.
   
   Then, the focus comes down to the design of the solution, in which experts work in electronic and radio frequency design, mechanical and/or product design, automation design and other key suppliers that collaborate in the process of developing the solution.
   
   
   
4. Once the solution has been developed, the product’s distributor or installer, or the vehicle’s distributor/installer, normally intervenes, while the Claitec team is responsible for the coordination of all tasks, with the aim of facilitating our customers the installation and access to their new solution.
   
   
   

This culminates a process that always aims at satisfying our clients and their needs, as well as providing real solutions to labour safety problems, rather than products or tools in particular.

Do you have any further doubts to Claitec’s work methodology?

Or perhaps you’d like more information about our solutions?

In any case, please don’t hesitate to contact us.

We are here to help you!

Investing attention and guidance when welcoming a new member to our work teams will help prevent safety errors and accidents at work.

Today’s suggestions will help you establish a more efficient induction stage for new employees as well as for their team leaders:

1) Welcome and training.

A new operator should never be abruptly introduced into the work team and their new role and functions. It must be a gradual process of sharing information and responsibilities. The person entering a new workplace generally faces a very diverse range of information and complex processes that he or she needs to assimilate. There’s also a large number of people to meet, which will require a lot of attention and mental wear and tear, which he will do while attempting to perform at the top of his/her abilities. All of that should be considered and carefully planned, and the person should receive an appropriate welcome to help them navigate through all these new situations and to process and assimilate all the necessary information for his/her job.

2) Guidance and progressive advancement.

During the first hours and days of work, operators will be more likely to make mistakes in their tasks, partly because of their lack of knowledge, and also because of their lack of control over their own environment. Therefore, it is essential to accompany, teach and assist them in whatever it’s necessary, understanding their doubts, and easing them into a gradual integration. In many cases, it is useful to assign an accompanying operator for that first period – a person of reference to assists the new member of the team and collaborates with him/her to help prevent errors and minimise the possibility of causing accidents at work or impacting job safety. While this is only done in the operators’ initial stages, it has a long-term effect and it improves safety levels, lowering the chances of accidents at work.

3) Monitoring and evaluation.

Once this second stage is completed, the operator will begin to perform his/her tasks with total normality, and with the ample support given throughout the welcoming process. In any case, it is positive and advisable to establish an evaluation and monitoring calendar of the operator’s performance. This has a double positive impact:  On the one hand, it will allow the work team and the responsible person to ensure that the operator is complying with the established objectives and procedures, acting in accordance with the standards. And on the other hand, it will provide the operator with another chance to communicate and raise doubts and comment on how s/he has been feeling while performing the tasks, how s/he finds the work environment and any other aspects deemed relevant.

For any questions, for specific inquiries or for more information about our solutions, please don’t hesitate to contact us, we are here to help!

Wholesale stores are a very attractive option for clients on the look out for good opportunities and products at reasonable prices. There’s no denying, though, that wholesale stores are not the friendliest spaces to navigate through! Clients are often thrown into an industrial style space where they have to constantly avoid the forklifts that are responsible for replenishing merchandise and put some sort of order to the stores. It’s fair to say that the safe coexistence between vehicles and pedestrians in wholesale centers is a somewhat complex matter!

As a result of several enquiries we have received from some of our clients, we would like to discuss some of the benefits that the Traffic Control System (TCS) presents for this type of environments.

A practical and useful tool in accident prevention, the TCS Solution consists of a comprehensive traffic control system, which does not depend on batteries or mobile devices. It also works completely passively, which means that it doesn’t require human attention, constant maintenance, or usage monitoring.

The only elements required for the proper operation of the TCS Solution are: one AC-50 activator, one TZ2-Tag, one control box, a beacon, a traffic light and a gate. These are really durable and resistant pieces in a typical industrial environment.

The devices allow the detection of the forklifts previously equipped with the activator, and they send the information – if necessary – to the traffic lights, the signaling beacons, the safety gates and the handrails, in order to separate vehicles on one side and pedestrians on the other.

Similarly, when a truck enters the safety zone defined by the TZ2-Tag, the vehicle and warehouse lighting warnings are activated, alerting them to their presence. At the same time, the pedestrian traffic light turns red and the previously installed safety gate is blocked. When the truck is removed from the safety space, the traffic light automatically turns green and the previously activated mechanisms are unlocked.

This innovative system can be applied in large warehouses, wholesale supermarkets and markets, so as to make possible the coexistence of circulating cargo trucks and pedestrian traffic without exposing any of them to any risks.

In this way, the space is not only more orderly but also – most importantly -, safer, avoiding accidents and injuries.

Would you like to learn more about this innovative product?

Watch this informative video.

Would you like to find out more information about this topic or about any of the products we develop at Claitec?

Please, don’t hesitate to contact us! We are here to help you!

We all try to prevent accidents from happening every day. We look for all possible ways to reduce risks and avoid problems for our workers and workmates. However, we know that accidents – or rather, unforeseen events -, are always present. That´s why today we´d like to share some smart tips that can help you act more effectively when you need to respond to unforeseen events in our workplace.

1. First of all, we must bear in mind that it´s essential that operators and area managers must be trained in and knowledgeable about first aid. This is a worldwide trend, and the training and periodic updating of knowledge for workers in our industries or factories should always be considered a key part of our training.
   
   
2. Secondly, we must bear in mind that very often, the extent of the consequences of a work accident and its effects on the future of that person, could very well be determined by how quickly the problem was answered or given attention to. Therefore, time is money in these situations, and just as important is to give a trained, reasoned and comprehensive response, and not act in an imprudent and impulsive manner, simply being motivated by the willingness of “wanting to help”.
   
   
3. We know that having a first aid kit is key. In most countries this is mandatory, but beyond that, we must check it constantly and ensure that is kept complete and with all the articles in the correct form and expiry dates. All first aid kits must have – according to local regulations – the items needed to take care of cases such as minor injuries, cuts, scratches, punctures, wounds, burns, blisters, bruises and sprains. They must also be easy to transport to the location of the accident in question.
   
   
4. During an accident we must remember three words: protect, warn and rescue. Protect implies that before taking any action, we must be sure that both the injured party and ourselves are out of risk and out of reach of further damage. This means stopping the machine in question, preventing further loss of gas or liquid, or other similar actions. As far as “warn” is concerned, we need to seek assistance from specialists: doctors, firemen, etc. And finally, “help”: we must act on the injured person within our capacity to do so by assisting with things like checking their state of consciousness and pulse.
   
   
5. Extreme caution in the mobilisation of the injured. The general notion is that the injured person should not be moved unless their integrity is in danger if they remain where they are: for example, in a fire. If it’s necessary to transfer them, it must be done with complete caution, and according to the criteria previously decided, as mentioned at the beginning.

Are you keen to have further information on some of the tools available at Claitec for the prevention of accidents in your industry?

Don´t hesitate to get in touch!