A metal process plant has two breathing air purifiers installed on site for the protection of its personnel. These units are installed to ensure hazardous Carbon Monoxide is kept out of breathing air. Recently, the two systems were evaluated by a compressed air auditor. When paint fumes or metal particles are in the ambient air […]

Emerson has introduced a new Class A, IO-Link master that provides customers with a cost-effective solution for smart and analog sensor connectivity on the Aventics Series G3 Fieldbus platform. The G3 IO-Link Master is suitable for machine architectures with many sensors and pneumatic valves, and where it’s important to have reliable digital data communication between […]

During plant inspections, it is often noticed that compressed air receiver tanks are installed outdoors. This is done for a reason — and is a good idea, in many cases, because it benefits the operation of air drying and filtering equipment and produces better quality compressed air when hot summer days cause worst-case conditions. Here […]

Gefran Inc. is introducing the KM industrial pressure transducer to the North American market. The KM is smaller than Gefran’s existing KH industrial pressure transducer line but offers improved operational and safety features through environmental ratings and additional certifications. The KM series is available in pressure range options of up to 14,500 psi (1,000 bar) […]

ControlAir today announced the introduction of the new Type 1000P Electro-Pneumatic Pressure Regulator Series. The Electro-Pneumatic Series consists of the Type 1000P Precision Pressure Regulator, Type 1005P High Flow Pressure Regulator, and the Type 1010P Economic Pressure Regulator. The Type 1000P/1005P/1010P Electro-Pneumatic Pressure Regulators are complete closed-loop servo systems consisting of two solenoid valves, an […]

A wood products company called in a compressed air auditor to have a look at its compressed air system. System reliability was poor, and the staff was having issues with the main compressor, a 200-hp air cooled screw compressor that carried most of the plant load. This compressor was rated at 100 psi, but recently […]

Emerson will exhibit its Floor to Cloud packaging solutions at Pack Expo Las Vegas, September 11-13, 2023. As the future of automation, Floor to Cloud solutions empower smarter packaging lines and more efficient processes that make it possible for manufacturers to continuously improve plant productivity, sustainability, and safety. Visitors to South Lower Hall, Booth 6107, […]

A metal products manufacturer had a production problem in one of its processing areas. The maintenance staff had increased the discharge pressure on their air compressors to help with the issue, but it seemed the problem would come back occasionally with no warning. Fig. 1 shows the problematic item, a vacuum pick-up crane. When the […]

By Josh Cosford, Contributing Editor Air hoses are vital for many pneumatics-heavy industries, serving as lifelines transporting air to power machinery and tools. However, leakage is a common and frustrating issue that often arises in many pneumatic distribution systems. Leaks hinder efficiency and lead to unnecessary energy wastage and increased operational costs. Thankfully, preventing pneumatic […]

By Robert J. Sheaf, Founder CFC Industrial A new hydraulic power unit was duplicated to replace a 30-year-old conveyer system unit. It was installed, ran fine at start-up and ran for about four weeks. However, when the customer shut the unit down for more than 10 minutes or so, it would make loud noises when…

Follow these five steps to prevent tampering and ensure effective and correct process adjustments for pneumatic components. Steve Bain, Industry Segment Manager – Food and Beverage, Festo North America In modern automation systems, the need for frequent process adjustments poses the risk of unwanted device tampering, often referred to in exasperation by plant managers as Unnecessary […]

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 […]

Tailor-made solutions for field of vision enhancement are an important component of modern machines. Strict standards apply to the robustness and image quality as well as integration and handling. In light of this, HYDAC is expanding its existing product portfolio to include digital Ethernet cameras from the HVT 1000 product range for the off-highway market. Due to the way that they are structured, vehicles and mobile […]

piCompact 10X Smart is a compact, efficient, and intelligent ejector that enables you to take the next step in production control and ease of use. Based on COAX technology and integrated IO-Link technology, piCompact 10X Smart offers enhanced flexibility, quicker installation, and improved customization to fit your needs. Building on the air-driven, multistage ejector piCompact […]

By Ron Marshall A metal parts company had dozens of media blasters installed in its production areas to clean its products for final processing. These blast cabinets were in constant use throughout their 16-hour production day and consumed a significant part of the peak compressed air demands. The staff found that they were running out […]

Mobile machinery OEMs seek smart components that increase equipment efficiency, productivity and safety. Manufacturers are responding by developing more compact, integrated parts that fulfill multiple requirements. ATAM is using new technology to solve age-old problems and help OEMs build better machines. At Hannover Messe 2023, the Milan-based company presented an innovative system of microsensors — […]

With the recent introduction of its distributed I/O solution CPX-AP-A, along with its established CPX-AP-I decentralized I/O, Festo now offers a range of electric and pneumatic automation solutions that is unmatched in North America in terms of performance, flexibility, cost savings, and engineering productivity. AP stands for Automation Platform, and this backplane-based remote I/O system […]

Alfiniti Inc., a producer of drawn aluminum tube and pipe, has registered the 6061-T8 temper with The Aluminum Association and secured its inclusion in the American Society for Testing Materials (ASTM) standards. This provides a standardized definition of the temper’s manufacturing methods and mechanical properties that was unavailable until now. The lightweight and durable 6061-T8 temper…

Nearly every manufacturing facility uses compressed air. And all share the challenge of keeping compressed air systems running efficiently and reliably. Depending on the industry (e.g., automotive, consumer goods, mining, etc.), the compressed air system accounts for 10-50% of a plant’s energy usage and is as essential to uptime as electricity. But compressors are inherently […]

Are you spending your summer struggling with the quality of your compressed air, with stinky, rusty water pouring out of your pipes? When it comes to air quality, the hot summer months are the most challenging time for most compressed air systems, and to avoid problems, you need to plan for the worst-case scenario. Typically, […]

Water and particulate matter receive much attention for their impacts on hydraulic fluid quality. But there’s another less-famous troublemaker causing problems right under OEMs’ noses. Just like any contaminant, air can be introduced into hydraulic fluid through various means. Common sources include leaks, loose connections, worn seals, and agitation or turbulence within the reservoir. Even […]

Norrhydro, based in Tampere, Finland, and Volvo Construction Equipment are moving ahead with field trials of a new excavator concept that engineers say could revolutionize machine hydraulic performance. If proven successful and widely adopted, the system could improve overall productivity of various types of off-road equipment and help meet the mobile industry’s sustainability targets and […]

A meat processing company air upgraded its compressed air system to increase capacity and reduce energy consumption. They installed large, premium efficiency VSD compressors, a smart compressor controller, efficient filters, large storage, and heated blower desiccant dryers connected with oversized compressor room piping — all in an effort to reduce pressure loss. The maintenance workers […]

DGD Fluid Power has announced an upgraded electronics package for the popular CFT20 Series flow meters. The 20 Series has always incorporated the industry’s desired 4-20 mA outputs and will continue to maintain that output profile (loop-powered / 2-wire). However, DGD is now using a microprocessor-based platform to improve overall repeatability, increase the operating temperature…