IN GERMANY alone, an average of nine reportable accidents occur per workday on table and sliding table saws (Deutsche Gesetzliche Unfallversicherung, DGUV). This figure underscores the responsibility that manufacturers, companies, and users bear when it comes to machine safety. With HAND GUARD, Altendorf is pursuing a clear vision: The safety assistance system is designed to help prevent these accidents — in daily workshop operations, in industrial manufacturing, in training facilities, and wherever people work with sliding table saws.
Safety that intervenes earlier
HAND GUARD is the world’s first and only certified AI- and camera-based safety assistance system for sliding table saws, according to the company. The system detects hands in the monitored work area and triggers a protective response even before contact with the saw blade occurs. Its functionality can be compared to modern driver-assistance systems in cars: A collision warning system does not react only upon impact, but recognizes a critical situation in advance and supports the driver in a timely manner. HAND GUARD applies this principle to the sliding table saw. The system helps defuse dangerous situations early on and prevent injuries.
Optical system with artificial intelligence
HAND GUARD operates using a dual-camera optical system and artificial intelligence. The cameras monitor the area around the saw blade, synchronize with each other, and are continuously monitored. The system recognises different hand shapes as well as suitable gloves and can be used with any material — including wood, plastics, and aluminum. If a critical situation is detected, the saw blade is lowered and slowed down in a controlled manner. The advantage: The system protects people, machines, and materials without fundamentally changing the work process.
Greater protection in real-world work environments
Different safety approaches on sliding table saws are based on various operating principles. While capacitive systems only react when the distance to the saw blade is very small, optical systems such as HAND GUARD monitor a significantly larger work area and can therefore provide support earlier. A study by the Fraunhofer Institute for Manufacturing Engineering and Automation (IPA) compared camera-based and capacitive safety assistance systems, focusing in particular on rapid hand movements, as these frequently lead to serious injuries in practice (Fraunhofer IPA).
The findings from this study show that optical systems enable earlier intervention in the work process and thus make a decisive contribution to prevention — because the hand does not become a risk only when it is immediately adjacent to the saw blade, but can be detected as early as during the course of the movement.
Improvements for greater safety and productivity
Altendorf continues to advance HAND GUARD consistently. Since August 2025, all newly delivered machines equipped with HAND GUARD come as standard with the latest generation of the safety assistance system — featuring targeted improvements derived directly from real-world use.
Key enhancements include an optimised infeed area for more comfortable handling, as well as the option to temporarily disable the safety function for clearly defined applications. A gentle shutdown process protects system components and extends service life. An expanded AI database reduces unintentional activations — a key factor for everyday acceptance. In addition, the so-called HAND GUARDing Zone is now clearly defined and visually marked for operators through precise laser identification.
These developments demonstrate how consistently Altendorf integrates user feedback into product development: the system becomes easier to operate, more robust in use — while remaining true to its core principle of not trading safety against productivity.
Particularly relevant for training and inclusive settings
HAND GUARD supports not only experienced users. The system also helps people who are just learning how to safely operate sliding table saws or who require special support. Especially in vocational schools, training workshops, and inclusive facilities, HAND GUARD can help make work processes safer. Trainees, career changers, and people with varying levels of experience can practice the correct use of the sliding table saw in an additional safety-enhanced environment. HAND GUARD is a system that supports every skill level — from beginners to experts.
Award-Winning Safety Innovation
HAND GUARD has received multiple awards. These include the prestigious German Occupational Safety Award, which HAND GUARD won in the “Workplace” category. The award is presented by an independent jury and recognizes solutions that make work safer and healthier.
In addition, Altendorf was honoured with the ISSA Safety Award — the leading international award from the International Social Security Association (ISSA) for outstanding solutions in the field of machine and workplace safety. The ISSA “Machine and System Safety” section thus recognises innovations that make a measurable contribution to improving safety. HAND GUARD was honoured in particular for its contribution to preventing serious hand injuries and for advancing machine safety.
Making AI Visible in the Skilled Trades
HAND GUARD is also an example of how artificial intelligence can be applied in the skilled trades. Within the framework of the KI.NRW initiative, HAND GUARD was showcased as a practical example. KI.NRW is the central competence platform for artificial intelligence in North Rhine-Westphalia and was initiated by state ministries and the Fraunhofer IAIS, among others. The goal is to make AI applications from research, industry, and technology transfer visible and usable. Thus, HAND GUARD stands not only for a technical solution but also for a broader development: AI is effective where it concretely protects people and makes work processes safer.
Safety as part of the Altendorf vision
Altendorf views safety as a core task of modern woodworking. HAND GUARD combines this commitment with concrete technology: The system helps prevent accidents before contact with the saw blade occurs. Thus, HAND GUARD directly contributes to Altendorf’s vision: to make the trade safer, more productive, and simpler—with machines that protect people and support businesses in their daily operations.
See page 30-31 of our June/July 2026 issue on our Back Issues page.
