Fortress Safety has become the first interlock manufacturer to secure IO-Link Safety conformance certification from TÜV SÜD, alongside functional safety approval, marking a notable step in efforts to modernise industrial safety systems.
Interlock manufacturers produce devices that prevent access to hazardous areas of machinery unless conditions are safe, typically ensuring that moving parts are stopped, power is isolated, or other safety requirements are met before a gate, guard, or enclosure can be opened. These systems are widely used in automated factories to protect workers and maintain operational integrity.
Fortress’s certification follows the integration of IO-Link Safety into its modular tGard product line, a development the company said will give manufacturers greater flexibility in how safety data are transmitted across factory networks.
The move highlights how the UK-based firm is positioning itself to serve increasingly automated production environments, where operators are seeking more connected, data-rich safety architectures.
Iain Grant, Head of Product Management at Fortress Safety, said the addition of IO-Link Safety capability offered a “future-ready solution that empowers our customers to create smarter, safer industrial environments”. He added that the certification “is a testament to the expertise of the Fortress team, and our dedication to innovation in the field”.
Fortress said it intends to play a leading role in the adoption of IO-Link Safety within interlocking devices, as manufacturers begin to assess the technology for next-generation production lines.
