Increase efficiency and effectiveness by choosing the right pneumatic control or regulation product for accurate, repeatable results. By Mindy Schoeff, Marketing Communications Manager, Proportion-Air Facilities that manufacture packaging products, or those that do the actual packaging, are no strangers to pneumatic control. Whether pressing a product, filling it, conveying or moving materials, testing or sealing, […]
Optimize air-operated double diaphragm pump with control unit
Ensuring that air-operated double diaphragm pumps run consistently and optimally through long cycles is easy with Proportion-Air’s new Pump Controller. Many AODD pumps operate with just a ball valve and shop air. This can lead to inaccurate, inconsistent material flow. The Pump Controller is a turnkey system that eliminates these issues. Run-dry situations can be […]
New Proportion-Air Supply benchtop testing device saves time
Proportion-Air is expanding its proportional electro-pneumatic pressure and flow control into the testing equipment field with its newest product, the Proportion-Air Supply. This benchtop unit for lab or manufacturing use is designed to regulate compressed air and other gases within prescribed pressure and flow limits for easy use. Suitable for developing, testing, and diagnosing pneumatic […]
Pre-configured and assembled air preparation units for safe food use
Festo introduces a line of pre-configured, assembled, and tested compressed air preparation units that not only makes specification and ordering faster and easier, but also ensures clean air in food and beverage production. Right out of the box, the new units meet the Safe Quality Food (SQF) guidelines of final filtration stage 0.01 micron (µm) […]
QBX proportional electronic regulator for low pressures and flows
Managing pressure regulation in applications with low pressures and low flows is easy with the Proportion-Air QBX electro-pneumatic proportional pressure regulator. With customizable pressure ranges and accurate, repeatable results, these compact devices can improve application performance in nearly any environment. The QBX boasts accuracy of up to ±0.2% and repeatability of ±0.02%, regulating pressures from […]
Automation24 expands portfolio with Norgren pneumatic components
Automation24 proudly announces the addition of Norgren pneumatic components to its portfolio. With this strategic move, Automation24 broadens its scope and capabilities to better serve its customers. Norgren air preparation products currently offered by Automation24 include regulators, filters, combination units (filter/regulator/lubricator), valves, and accessories. These proven air preparation products are built to overcome the common […]
High-precision pressure regulator offers stability under variable conditions
ControlAir LLC today announced the introduction of the new Type 410 high precision pressure regulator. The Type 410 provides a high level of regulation accuracy and repeatability during variable operating conditions. Designed with precision and reliability in mind, the Type 410 serves as a cost-effective yet highly efficient solution for controlling industrial processes. Despite its […]
High resolution proportional regulators for sensitive applications
Pressure regulation applications that require sensitive, high-resolution performance have found success with the Proportion-Air QPV series electro-pneumatic proportional pressure regulator. The QPV line boasts accuracy of up to ±0.2% and resolution of ±0.005%, regulating pressures up to 150 psig or equivalent. Calibration of ranges as low as 0-2 inches of water column are possible. These […]
ControlAir announces new electro-pneumatic vacuum regulator
ControlAir today announced the introduction of the new Type 1005V Electronic Vacuum Regulator. It is the first electronic vacuum regulator offered by ControlAir. The Type 1005V Electronic Vacuum Regulator is used in various industrial and automation applications to precisely control and regulate the flow of air or gases in a system. The Type 1005V Electronic […]
Understanding air flow and FRLs
By Josh Cosford, Contributing Editor Pneumatic systems are widely used within industrial environments to power machinery and equipment, providing reliable and efficient performance. The Filter-Regulator-Lubricator (FRL) is vital in maintaining optimal air quality and pressure within these systems. However, when selecting an FRL, one must not overlook the significance of understanding FRL air flow characteristics, […]
Lightweight, basic air preparation service units available from Festo
Festo launches MS-Basic, a family of pneumatic service units in polymer housings that offer attractively priced components covering most application needs. MS-Basic air preparation components have the functionality to perform the most important technical tasks necessary for proper compressed air preparation and consist of pressure regulators, filter regulators, electric on/off and soft start valves, as […]
Metal Work Syntesi air prep components available from AutomationDirect
AutomationDirect has added new Metal Work Syntesi air prep components to their pneumatic components category. This value-packed addition offers a full selection of combination pre-assembled air prep systems including manual shut-off, filter/regulator, and lubricator assemblies; filter/regulator and lubricator assemblies; filter and lubricator assemblies; and filter and coalescing filter assemblies. Also available are individual components including […]
Closed-loop feedback opens up possibilities
Manufacturers across all industries seek ways to electrify, digitize, and automate their systems to decrease costs and increase efficiency. Electro-pneumatic pressure regulators and valves enable such efforts while improving pressure and flow rate accuracy. Back in the day, there were only manual pressure regulators that relied on the skill and precision of the human hand. […]
ControlAir introduces Type 855BP miniature back pressure regulator
ControlAir, a leading manufacturer of precision pneumatic and electro-pneumatic control products, announced the new Type 855BP Miniature Back Pressure Regulator. Type 855BP is a compact relief valve that provides economical, high-performance pressure relief with an adjustable set point. The valve is normally closed and will remain closed until the inlet pressure exceeds the regulator’s set […]
Dealing with filter gauge issues
Air filters very often have differential gauges installed on them to help compressed air system operators detect when the element needs changing. It is very important for maintenance personnel to change the element when it is required. Having high pressure differential causes the air compressor energy input to increase by about 1% every 2 psi […]
Can electropneumatic regulators be used in hazardous locations?
When thinking of hazardous locations, one’s mind conjures an oil/gas drilling rig, refinery, or underground coal mine — all these locations have in the past utilized traditional pneumatics as risk reduction because they do not have a spark risk, which a solenoid’s electrical actuation requires and creates. Expanding our view of hazardous locations, we should […]
Why is condensate disposal important in compressed air systems?
A wood products company had a two-compressor system installed on a mezzanine. Under the compressors and dryers were the piping and storage receivers. Each tank and each compressor had timer drains installed to expel the condensate that forms when the compressed air cools in the compressor aftercooler, piping, and storage vessels. The outlets of these […]
Compressed air fail: Flowmeter position
A local food company was resizing its compressed air system while renewing its plant operations. To get the sizing correct, the plant maintenance foreman purchased a flow meter to measure the output of the compressors. The meter was installed with a data logger to capture the flow profile of the plant. The readings showed that […]
Using compressed air hoses safely
Compressed air is often disregarded as a common utility in factories, but risks are high with pressurized air running through pneumatic hoses. Learn how to use these tools safely. Contributed by Mindy Schoeff, Marketing Communications Manager and Ron Hibbler, Applications Manager, Proportion-Air Compressed air is nearly ubiquitous in factories. It’s part of the power behind everything […]
Are electropneumatic controllers suitable for vacuum applications?
Both electropneumatic pressure regulators and flow control valves can be utilized in controlling vacuum systems. By using an electropneumatic pressure regulator, the designer develops a system which the suction force of the vacuum cup can be precisely controlled. The function of the electropneumatic flow control remains the same when controlling the flow of air in […]
Can electropneumatic controllers control force, tension, and torque?
Contributed by Justin Fluegel An electro-pneumatic pressure regulator is an ideal option to control the force, tension, or torque within a system. The pressure within a system directly correlates to the amount of force available to the actuator — lower pressure results in a lower force and vice versa. For the controller to regulate the […]
Compressed air fail: The mystery filter
By Ron Marshall A building products company had a compressed air system that featured one large 1,500-cfm compressor and three smaller ones. The compressed air flow had grown to a point where the large compressor could only be turned off during shutdown periods; when it was turned off, the plant pressure would collapse. The large […]
4 best practices for providing dry air in a job shop
Contributed by Mike Kreklau, Technical Sales at Tsunami Compressed Air Solutions Downtime and inefficiency don’t have to be your production line’s worst enemy. You want shop equipment that comes with no strings attached — no downtime and no maintenance. Maybe that’s a pipe dream, but there are ways to fix many air-related symptoms of an inefficient […]
Edwards offers vacuum pump control and connectivity
Edwards has introduced EJGO, a next-generation vacuum pump controller with cloud connectivity and control for industrial vacuum pumps and systems. EJGO intelligently manages, commands, directs, and regulates the operation of Edwards vacuum pumps and offers flexible accessibility and outstanding control functionality. The Edwards EJGO vacuum controller is a one‐stop solution with all the necessary pump information […]
Where are electropneumatic flow controllers used?
By Justin Fluegel, Contributor Flow in a fluid power system is synonymous with the velocity of an actuator. Electro-pneumatic flow control valves are used in applications where it is important to control the revolutions per minute of a pneumatic motor or speed of the linear actuator in machinery, such as this plastic roll machine. Both […]