Machine & plant safety: The winners of category A at the GIT SECURITY AWARD 2026
The security industry remains on the move - and will continue to demonstrate its innovative strength in 2026. Experts, users and industry insiders have voted: The winners of the Machine & Plant Safety category have been determined and deserve full attention. Discover here which solutions were particularly impressive this year and why they won the GIT SECURITY AWARD 2026.
GIT SECURITY International has been honoring pioneering products, systems and services every year since 2005 - now for the 21st time. The award recognizes innovation, cost-effectiveness and practical relevance. The finalists were nominated by an independent jury and the winners were chosen by public voting. Further information on the GIT SECURITY AWARD and all other award winners can be found here.
1st winner category A: Leuze with the RSL 200 safety laser scanner
Safe laser scanners are irreplaceable for industrial applications, both stationary (point of operation guarding or area guarding) and for mobile applications such as automated guided vehicles (AGVs).
There is a clear trend towards miniaturization, particularly in such AGVs, which also limits the installation space for the sensors. With the RSL 200, Leuze presents the smallest safety scanner on the market with ultra-compact dimensions of 80 x 80 x 86 mm. The space-saving mounting bracket for easy alignment of the RSL and rotatable connectors for M12 standard cables offer designers maximum freedom for integration in the tightest of spaces
Miniaturization also requires diagnostics to be rethought. Instead of a space-consuming display that is often difficult to read, the new RSL 200 app makes everyday life easier for the maintenance engineer or system operator in conjunction with a standard mobile device for fast diagnostics with comprehensive information via Bluetooth.
Despite consistent miniaturization, no compromises were made in the performance of the RSL 200. It is approved for the highest achievable performance level for scanners, PL d, and with a scanning angle of 275° at 3 m protective field and 50 or 70 mm resolution, it offers all possibilities for safeguarding compact machines and AGVs. Field triples, consisting of one protective and two warning fields, can be switched in up to 32 configurations to adapt the RSL to changing conditions. The RSL provides measurement data for the navigation of AGVs.
Special attention was paid to the configuration and diagnostic options: parameterization can be carried out via Bluetooth, USB or Ethernet TCP/IP using the Leuze Sensorstudio software, which can also be used for detailed diagnostics.
Service has also been taken into consideration: for a quick device change, even without specialist knowledge, the RSL 200 has an exchangeable configuration memory for transferring to the new device.
Contact and further information in the Leuze Company Channel
2nd winner category A: Georg Schlegel with 2BSecure interface protection
Unprotected interfaces on machines and systems pose a significant security risk. They can become a gateway for malware or data manipulation.
The 2BSecure system from Schlegel prevents this by deactivating interfaces as standard. Access is reserved exclusively for authorized persons who activate the interface using a key switch or RFID. Only then is data transmission possible. This access restriction not only protects the machine control system, but also sensitive data within the entire network.
2BSecure was developed as a flexible and easy-to-install black box solution that is installed between the interface and the end device. The black box is usually installed well protected inside the machine. The interfaces meet the typical requirements for USB-A, USB-C and Ethernet. The dimensions of the black box are very compact at 50 x 60 x 17 mm.
2BSecure can be easily integrated into existing machine and IT infrastructures. The black box is controlled by the end device itself, which guarantees seamless implementation. 2BSecure can also be adapted to different requirements and areas of application. 2BSecure helps to meet the strict requirements of the new EU Machinery Regulation 2027 and the Cyber Resilience Act (CRA) by controlling open interfaces.
Contact and further information in the Georg Schlegel Company Channel
3rd winner category A: K.A. Schmersal with the DHS door handle system
Thanks to RGB technology, the DHS door handle can light up in seven colors and thus clearly and unmistakably signal different machine statuses.
The user can control these colors individually and assign them to the desired operating status. The door handle is also equipped with a push-button, the color of which can also be individually defined by the user using the push-button caps supplied. The push button can be used for a reset function, for example.
For the manufacturer, the new DHS door handle system offers the advantage that no separate door handles, indicator lights or control devices need to be installed. This saves time during installation. The operator benefits from the fact that the machine status is visible at a glance and all the necessary operating functions are at hand. This is possible because a matching control panel called BDF40 has also been developed for the DHS door handle system.
The control panel with four operating/display elements is characterized, among other things, by its flat design, which allows it to be easily integrated into the surrounding structure. It is available with or without an emergency stop function and can be seamlessly combined with the DHS door handle system via a connecting element.
In addition, the DHS door handle system can be combined with safety switching devices so that the system can also monitor the position of the safety gate in this combination. There are two options: The first is a safety sensor from the RSS260 series. In the F0 and F1 variants, the RSS260 takes over the tasks of a safety relay module. The advantage: the use of a separate evaluation unit is not necessary.
If dangerous overtravel movements are to be expected or if the safety gate should not be opened for process protection reasons, the DHS system also offers a solution: the combination with the compact AZM40 electronic solenoid interlock.
Contact and further information in the Schmersal Company Channel
TO THE WINNERS OF ALL CATEGORIES
Further information on the GIT SECURITY AWARD - and all other winners here.
