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, 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 […]

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 […]

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 […]

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 […]

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 […]

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 […]

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 […]

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 […]

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 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 […]

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 […]

By Justin Fluegel, Contributor Electropneumatic pressure regulators are commonly used to control the force, tension or torque output of an actuator in a machine. These are found in a wide range of applications from custom machinery, food processing, semiconductors, cyclic testing machinery, and welding applications. The breadth of opportunities is vast for this technology, given […]

Tsunami Compressed Air Solutions has four new products ready to order for the new year – adding more capacity and customization to its product line. Tsunami’s new products include: an 80 cfm Pure Series Dryer, an 800 cfm Oil Coalescing Filter, a 120 cfm Activated Carbon Filter, and a pneumatic drain option for the Tsunami […]

Controlling the flow of air within a pneumatic circuit can be done with an electropneumatic mass flow control valve. Flow within a fluid power circuit is hard to visualize. For a pneumatic system, imagine having just inflated a balloon, holding the end of balloon tight admiring the efforts of your huffing and puffing. You now […]

Some electropneumatic pressure regulators work by combining three important elements: the mechanical valve, the solenoid, and the controller.  The mechanical valve is comprised of the valve body, spring, and spool. The valve body is typically machined from aluminum or brass. It includes a port for the unregulated air to enter the valve. Internally machined is […]

Learn some tips to ensure reliable, high-quality compressed air output at an affordable cost. By Ron Marshall, Contributing Editor It is crunch time. That important order needs to be processed by the end of the day. You are up against a deadline, and you only need a few more hours of production, and then the […]

A simple example of explaining a self-relieving pressure regulator is to imagine having a balloon with two normally closed ends. Call the ends supply and exhaust. Assume the balloon is empty and you ask for more pressure in the balloon. The supply end opens until the balloon pressure equals the requested pressure, then the supply […]

Pressure regulators, as the name indicates, control the pressure in a pneumatic circuit.  Setting and maintaining pressure in a system is important for safety and energy efficiency of individual actuators, tools and instruments as well as for the complete circuit. A typical manufacturing facility has plant air pressure from the compressor set to around 110 […]

Exhibiting in booth #SL 6307, Emerson will present the new integration of AVENTICS series 652/653 air preparation units with AF2 flow sensors. The combined solution enables more efficient air consumption and versatility for packaging lines. The expanded capabilities of the newly combined solution provide a clearer picture of air consumption in pneumatic systems and deliver valuable […]

The new ACD FRL unit from SMC USA features a modular design with uniform body style, better visibility and environmental resistance. Featuring a 2-layer construction, the bowl is covered with a transparent bowl guard. The bowl guard with windows has been replaced with a polycarbonate transparent bowl guard. Now, even if the environment changes and […]

FRLs are combination devices used to treat compressed air by filtering it, regulating its pressure levels and lubricating any pneumatic tools or equipment that use it. These devices require careful selection and care to ensure long-lasting, efficient operation. Here are some keys to maximizing the efficiency of your FRLs. Understand proper sizing and selection. Sizing […]

As the United States continues to focus on social distancing to combat COVID-19, more companies are revealing how the move home for their workers is impacting their business. Despite this, companies like Emerson’s ASCO and AVENTICS divisions continue to step up production on key technologies used in life sciences and laboratories, including ventilators, respirators, hospital…

The latest IMI Norgren air preparation equipment for industrial applications, the Excelon Plus modular filter/regulator/lubricator (FRL), delivers great performance and enhanced safety in a unit that is 20% smaller and 35% lighter. Safety elements of the new Excelon Plus include padlock features on both the shut-off valve and regulator to prevent tampering, and a double […]