No more tripping over cables. How the MTPReel™ for HMI panels makes life easier on the shop floor?
Do you know this sight? - A robotic cell worth hundreds of thousands, and a multi-meter cable from the teach panel is tangled on the floor around the machine. You walk by and wonder when someone will trip over it, or - even worse - run over it with a transport trolley. Instead of constantly reminding employees to put the equipment back in its place, this problem can be eliminated technically. The MTPReel™ cable retraction system from Sumcab is a device that solves the two biggest pains of robotic cells: it minimizes the risk of workplace accidents and protects constantly damaged cables from destruction.
Every robotic systems integrator and production manager knows that machine downtime caused by cable damage is a loss of thousands. However, the main reason companies decide to optimize their workstations is operator safety.
The Problem: An invisible hazard underfoot
Mobile HMI operating devices (e.g. popular SIMATIC panels) are widely used in production and maintenance areas. During operation, connection cables often lie unregulated on the floor, crossing transport paths or are exposed to high tensile loads.
Typical consequences:
- Risk of tripping: Tripping over a cable is one of the most common mechanical hazards reported in occupational risk assessments.
- Equipment damage: Running over the cable with a forklift or regularly pulling it drastically reduces the cable's service life.
- Chaos at the workstation: Improvised solutions (e.g. tying up the cable) rarely solve the problem permanently and conflict with the 5S philosophy.
The Solution: MTPReel™ system, or safety in accordance with the law
According to the TOP principle in occupational health and safety (Technical, Organizational, Personal), technical protective measures always take priority over organizational and personal measures. This means that instead of training employees on "walking carefully", the problem should be eliminated at the source. The Italian, patented MTPReel™ system from Sumcab is an automatic cable retraction system that is not just an optional accessory – it is a preventive tool for protecting health and property.
Thanks to this solution, the programming panel cable is always under control:
Protection against damage
A durable, shock-resistant reel housing protects the cable from dirt and mechanical damage, extending the life of the HMI panel.
Smooth operation
The retraction system has a spring mechanism and a locking mechanism that stops the cable every 50 centimeters, preventing unnecessary tension during operation.
Risk level reduction
Installing the MTPReel™ reduces the probability of an accident from an "unacceptable" level to "low/acceptable", supporting compliance with the EN ISO 12100 standard. Loose cables create a high risk of tripping, which cannot be effectively eliminated by personnel training alone. Implementing the reel as a priority technical measure permanently eliminates this hazard at the source.
Dedicated solutions for the Siemens standard
MTPReel is a versatile system, compatible with robot brands such as KUKA, FANUC, or ABB.
What does this mean in practice for users of panels such as SIMATIC KTP or SINUMERIK HT8? Sumcab has designed incredibly efficient extension cords and adapters (e.g., a short 0.2m adapter cable) that allow you to seamlessly switch the panel between machine connections. Additionally, the engineers took care of every detail of the adapter plug. It has been equipped with specialized strain reliefs, double shrink tubing, and additional 3D printed reinforcements and unlocking systems (opposing the spring force). All this makes accidentally pulling the cable directly out of the HMI panel almost impossible.
An investment that pays for itself
Time is a key success factor in the industry. Manually coiling long cables is a waste of valuable minutes. Rapid and safe unwinding of the cable using the intuitive MTPReel drum frees up employees' time. Additionally, neat cabling completely eliminates errors related to connecting the wrong panel to the wrong machine when multiple cables are tangled around.
To sum up: The MTPReel cable reel is an investment in Maintenance (fewer broken cables) and the OHS department (fewer injuries and sick leaves). As market practice shows, purchase costs usually pay off with the first avoided failure of the power cable of an expensive Teach Pendant.
Do you want to improve safety on your production hall and implement 5S standards?
Contact our experts at DENTEC. We will choose the right solution for your robots and machines!
