Crash dampers

Crash Dampers: Ultimate Protection in Critical Moments

When machines stop abruptly due to unexpected impacts, the protection of assets, equipment, and personnel becomes the top priority. Crash dampers—also known as safety dampers—are single-use energy absorption elements designed to deliver just that. Engineered for emergency stop situations, these dampers provide powerful, fast-acting protection for a wide range of industrial applications.

Engineered for High-Impact Safety

ACE’s crash dampers are built from specially designed aluminium or steel piping. When an impact occurs, these dampers deform in a controlled manner, instantly absorbing kinetic energy. With energy capacities ranging from 100 Nm/Cycle to 11,200 Nm/Cycle and strokes between 11 mm and 160 mm, they offer flexible, scalable protection for different force levels.

Their 98% energy absorption efficiency ensures minimal residual energy is transferred, significantly reducing the risk of equipment damage or downtime. The reacting force ranges from 13,000 N to 92,000 N, making them suitable even for high-inertia systems.

Benefits Beyond the Impact

While the crash damper is a single-use component, its role in plant safety is far-reaching. After deployment, the deformation pattern helps reconstruct the incident, allowing engineers to analyse and prevent similar issues in the future. These systems are also known for:

• Simple installation
• Easy retrofitting into existing setups
• Fast replacement
• Reduced downtime after a crash

The units come in construction sizes from 20 mm to 88 mm, with outer diameters and finishes tailored for different environments. Options include powder-coated aluminium, steel, and zinc-plated or blank aluminium finishes.

Wide-Ranging Applications

Crash dampers are indispensable in applications requiring emergency stop damping, including:

• Linear axes in robotic systems
• Gantry or portal systems
• Tool machinery and machine tools
• Conveyor lines
• High-bay storage and retrieval systems
• Testing stations
• Electro-mechanical drive systems

With a maximum impact velocity of 5 m/s and an operating temperature range from -30°C to +100°C, these dampers are built for reliability under extreme conditions.

Crash dampers may be single-use, but their protection is long-term. In environments where equipment failure can lead to high costs or safety risks, these energy absorption devices provide peace of mind through their exceptional reliability and performance. Whether used in robotics, manufacturing, or automated storage, ACE’s crash dampers help ensure that a single impact doesn’t result in prolonged downtime—or worse.