Machine Guarding FAQs

Machine guarding is a physical safety barrier designed to protect workers from hazardous motion, pinch points, and moving parts on industrial machinery and robotic automation equipment. Proper machine guarding is required by OSHA machine guarding regulations and ANSI B11.19 standards to prevent injuries, reduce risk, and ensure robot safety compliance in manufacturing environments.

We provide heavy-duty steel machine guarding systems, including wire mesh guarding, polycarbonate guarding panels, solid steel panels, high-speed roll-up doors, laser welding enclosures, and safety-rated access doors. Our guarding solutions are engineered for robotics, automated machinery, and industrial manufacturing environments where worker protection and compliance are critical.

Robotic cell guarding is a perimeter safety system that surrounds an industrial robot or automation cell with steel fencing, safety gates, and interlocked access points. This guarding prevents unauthorized entry, contains robotic motion, and helps ensure compliance with RIA R15.06, ISO 10218, and related robot safety standards.

Our machine guarding and robotic cell fencing systems are designed to meet or exceed OSHA 1910.212, ANSI B11.19, RIA R15.06, ISO 10218, and ISO 13849-1 standards for industrial safety and automation.

We support your risk assessment process by providing guarding recommendations, engineering drawings, and compliance-aligned designs for OSHA and ANSI machine guarding requirements. While we do not perform formal risk assessments, our designs are developed with safety standards in mind to help you document and implement a compliant solution.

Fixed guarding is permanent (e.g., welded panels), while movable guarding includes doors, gates, or adjustable panels that allow access during maintenance. Both must meet OSHA/ANSI standards for worker protection.

Yes. All our machine guarding systems are engineered to comply with OSHA 1910.212 (general machine guarding requirements) and ANSI B11.19 (performance requirements for safeguarding), ensuring safe operation in industrial environments.

Our robot guarding solutions comply with RIA R15.06 (industrial robot safety), ISO 10218-1/2 (robot safety requirements), and ISO 13849-1 (safety-related parts of control systems) to ensure safe robotic cell operation.

Conduct a risk assessment, select guarding that prevents access to hazards, ensure proper installation, and verify interlocks and safety devices meet performance levels. We provide compliant designs and documentation to support your OSHA requirements.

Often yes. While collaborative robots (cobots) are designed for safe interaction, many applications still require cobot guarding due to tooling hazards, sharp edges, payload risks, or adjacent automation. A risk assessment is the best way to determine the correct level of protection for your cobot cell.

In some applications a light curtain can replace physical guarding, but not always. Light curtains detect entry and stop motion, but they do not contain debris, broken tooling, or high-energy robotic movement. High-speed or high-energy equipment typically requires steel perimeter guarding for full protection and containment.

Pricing depends on layout size, panel type, access points, and customization level. We provide fast, accurate quotes for steel machine guarding systems based on your equipment footprint, safety requirements, and project timeline.

Cost is influenced by panel height, material type, number and style of doors, interlock requirements, and whether the system is standard or custom-engineered for your robotic automation cell. Freight, accessories, and special colors or finishes can also affect total project cost.

Yes. We offer volume pricing for integrators, OEMs, and multi-facility customers who standardize on our industrial safety guarding solutions. Standardizing on a common guarding platform can reduce engineering time and lower total cost across multiple projects.

Lead times depend on project size, configuration, and customization level. We prioritize predictable delivery for all robotic cell guarding systems, and most of our standard panel sizes are stocked for quick shipment. Your quote will include an estimated lead time based on your specific layout.

Our powder-coated steel guarding requires minimal maintenance. Routine cleaning with mild detergent and water keeps panels looking new, and periodic inspections ensure mounting hardware, hinges, and latches remain secure and in good working condition.

Yes. We supply replacement panels, doors, hardware, and accessories for both new and existing machine guarding installations. Replacement components help you keep your safety systems performing like new over the life of your equipment.

We offer a manufacturer's warranty covering materials and workmanship on all steel guarding systems. More information is available in our terms and conditions. If there is an issue with your guarding, please contact us and we will work with you to make it right.

With proper installation and basic maintenance, steel machine guarding can last for decades. Heavy-duty construction and corrosion-resistant finishes help ensure long-term performance in busy industrial environments.

We combine heavy-duty steel construction, modular flexibility, fast installation, and engineering support tailored to robotics and industrial automation safety. Our systems are built for long-term reliability and compliance, with everything designed for easy installation. All hardware is pre-attached, including post feet and safety electronics, and custom panels, doors, and colors are handled in house to keep costs low and lead times short.

Yes. We partner with integrators and OEMs by providing CAD models, standardized guarding kits, volume pricing, and engineering support for robotic automation projects. Standardizing on our guarding platform helps streamline design, simplify installation, and support consistent safety across multiple facilities.

Most projects follow a clear timeline: requirements review, layout and quote, customer approval, manufacturing, shipping, and installation. We communicate schedules up front so your robotic cell guarding arrives when you need it and your project stays on track.

Yes. We provide turnkey machine guarding solutions from design through manufacturing and delivery for complete robotic and automation safety systems. You receive a fully engineered guarding package ready for installation around your robot or automated equipment.

Yes. AMGS offers free online configurators for custom panels, custom doors, full guarding layouts, and wire way mounts. Design, export CAD and BOM files, and request quotes at no charge from our configurators hub.

The Guarding Layout Configurator is a free online tool to draw complete machine guarding and robotic safety fencing layouts with panels, posts, and doors. Optimize panel splits, then export BOM, DXF, PDF, and 3D STEP files. Open the Guarding Layout Configurator.

Yes. Import a facility or equipment DXF as an underlay, set the correct units, and draw AMGS panels, posts, and doors over the existing linework so your guarding layout matches the real floor plan.

Yes. After you build a layout you can open the 3D preview and download a STEP (.step) model of the guarding assembly for use in SolidWorks, Inventor, Onshape, and other CAD platforms.

Yes. Sign in to your AMGS account to save layouts and reload them later. You can share projects with company teammates through your AMGS portal and optionally share with AMGS engineering for design help or quoting.

Use Submit for Quote in the Guarding Layout Configurator, or contact AMGS with your saved project, exports, or requirements. Designing and exporting files remains free; quoting is handled by our Hibbing, MN sales and engineering team.

Fixed guarding is permanent (e.g., welded panels), while movable guarding includes doors, gates, or adjustable panels that allow access during maintenance. Both must meet OSHA/ANSI standards for worker protection.

Yes. We offer laser-safe enclosures and guarding with interlocked doors, viewing windows, and compliance with ANSI Z136 and OSHA laser safety standards.

Wire mesh is the go-to choice for most applications — strong protection, good visibility, and lower cost. Polycarbonate is better where debris containment and clear sightlines matter. Solid steel is best for spark/flash containment and privacy. See our full mesh vs polycarbonate vs solid comparison guide, or contact us to choose based on your risk assessment.

We offer Category 3/4 safety-rated interlocks, light curtains, safety relays, and E-stop systems fully compliant with ISO 13849-1 and ANSI standards.

Yes. We offer custom powder coating in any RAL color to match your facility branding or equipment.

Yes. We design and manufacture guarding for conveyors, palletizers, material handling lines, and automated sortation systems.

We accept returns for standard items within 30 days if unused and in original packaging. Custom or modified products are non-returnable. Contact us for details.

Design online with our free configurators, submit your layout or requirements through our contact form, email sales@advmgs.com, or call (218) 389-7559. We typically respond with a quote and CAD drawings within 1-2 business days.