The IE-GuardFlex is the central control unit for 4B’s Distributed Hazard Monitoring Solution (DHMS). Using industrial Ethernet technology, the IE-GuardFlex controller connects to, and monitors multiple machine mounted sensors via 4B's class leading IE-Nodes. The complete IE-GuardFlex system can be configured to support multiple machines, IE-Nodes and sensors, and will interface directly to the machine MCC’s to perform a controlled stop in the event of the detection of a hazardous condition.

The IE-GuardFlex system is typically located within the plant MCC and dust hazard “safe area”. Connection is then made, via industrial Ethernet (CAT6 cabling) to IE-Nodes distributed locally to the monitored machines in the “hazardous area”. Typical machine types would be bucket elevators, enclosed conveyors, open conveyors, chain conveyors, roll stands, etc. The range of 4B hazard monitoring sensors are connected to the local IE-Nodes and monitor for hazardous conditions such as belt slip (SlipSwitch, Milli-Speed), belt misalignment (TouchSwitch, Bulldog), bearing temperature (ADB, Milli-Temp), Vibration (Milli-Vib), blocked chute (Binswitch), etc. 

With all IE-Nodes and sensors connected, the plant engineer can start the node search process using the intuitive GUI on the 7” colour touchscreen display. Found nodes can then be configured, and attached sensors allocated to user configured machines. 
The system allows for 3 stage ALARM / STOP configuration per sensor. Output relays can be assigned to ALARM and/or STOP conditions per sensor or per machine. In addition, the common ALARM and STOP output relays indicate if there is an alarm or stop condition present on any of the connected sensors.