Components

ControlAir LLC has released its type 625 volume booster, a compact pneumatic relay designed to improve the speed and performance of pneumatic control valve actuators. These pressure regulation devices use pilot pressure rather than a spring or adjustment thread to provide force balance when opening the supply valve. Installed between a valve positioner and pneumatic […]

By Ron Marshall, Contributing Editor Fred had been the plant engineer at the packaging facility for nearly ten years, and he thought he understood his compressed air system well. The compressors ran, the machines worked most of the time, and whenever there was a moisture problem someone usually changed a filter or drained a receiver […]

As automated machines become more capable, increasing amounts of decentralized I/O are needed. Conventional approaches often rely on multiple dedicated input and output modules, increasing hardware, commissioning, and additional components that machine builders and system integrators must engineer, stock, and support. Festo addresses this challenge with a new configurable digital I/O module for the CPX-AP-I […]

The combination of suction cups and matching adapters from Sommer-Technik creates a system which combines maximum flexibility with high performance. Whether in high-speed automation processes or when handling delicate workpieces, these components are designed to grip reliably, move safely, and position accurately. One key advantage lies in the variety of materials: from HighTemp HT to […]

When a pneumatic system suffers a catastrophic failure, such as a blown seal, a ruptured airline, or a seized cylinder, the maintenance team must respond instantly to treat it. These unexpected ailments reduce productivity, increase costs, and work your millwrights ragged. Many pneumatic systems experience chronic unwellness, much as we humans do with cardiovascular disease; […]

Contributed by Ron Marshall Richard, the maintenance manager at a plant that manufactures powdered coatings, was used to dealing with heat. The curing ovens in the facility ran hot, and summer months always made the production floor uncomfortable. But one area of the plant seemed especially unbearable — the compressor room. Every time Richard stepped […]

Piab has expanded its suction cup portfolio with the introduction of the BLFF 42 and BLFF 55 cups, the first commercially released sizes in the new BLFF (Bellow Long Flexible Fit) family. BLFF stands for “bellow, long, flexible fit” and reflects the series’ unique combination of reach, stability and adaptability to different objects. The BLFF […]

ControlAir LLC announced the availability of the Type 385 Stainless Steel Filter, designed to provide efficient filtration and high flow capacity for demanding industrial and process control applications. The Type 385 Stainless Steel Filter features corrosion-resistant 316L stainless steel construction throughout the body, housing, trim, and filter assemblies, making it ideal for offshore, chemical processing, […]

Contributed by Michael Tuohey  • Regional Marketing Manager, North America, Piab In modern manufacturing, safety is a core design requirement. As more processes become automated and rely on vacuum, the way vacuum systems are engineered has a direct impact on the safety of people, products, and assets. Piab’s approach places safety at the center, combining […]

Piab announces the launch of the piSOFTGRIP 40-3, a new three-finger soft gripper that extends the company’s popular piSOFTGRIP family with larger, stronger, and more versatile handling capabilities for delicate and irregularly shaped items. Designed for food, consumer goods, and light manufacturing applications, the piSOFTGRIP 40-3 enables automation of products that are traditionally difficult to […]

As semiconductor gas box designs incorporate more process lines and control points, the number of pilot valves required to manage critical gases increases. Typical valve terminals with limited capacity force OEMs to use multiple units, increasing panel space, wiring complexity, build time, and system cost. Festo offers the VTOC valve terminal designed for high-density semiconductor […]

With the introduction of the GHS VSD⁺ vacuum pump series, Atlas Copco has taken vacuum technology to a new level. Whereas vacuum systems used to consume energy regardless of demand, modern oil-sealed screw pumps are efficient systems that deliver vacuum according to demand. In keeping with this tradition, Atlas Copco has developed the new GHS […]

Canfield Connector announces the release of its new 8A series reed and electronic sensors, engineered to deliver reliable cylinder sensing performance while improving durability and reducing overall cost for OEMs and system designers. Built on the proven performance of Canfield Connector’s widely used 8000 series, the 8A series introduces a fully molded, encapsulated housing that […]

By Jermaine Perry  • Sales Manager, Daughtridge Sales, an MCE Automation company Walk through almost any manufacturing plant — food and beverage, pharmaceutical, biotech — and you’ll see pressure gauges everywhere. They’re mounted on tanks, filtration systems, and process lines. Their familiarity makes them dangerous. Pressure gauges are sometimes treated as commodity items, something to…

A hydraulic accumulator originally developed for the automotive industry is opening up new possibilities for agricultural machinery operating under extreme conditions. Freudenberg Sealing Technologies has successfully transferred proven passenger car technology to a demanding new application. What began as a solution for passenger car transmissions is now demonstrating its strengths in agricultural equipment. Freudenberg Sealing […]

Festo’s AI-enabled monitoring and predictive maintenance system AX Motion Insights Pneumatic is a cost-effective, easy-to-use solution for preventing unscheduled machine downtime by monitoring pneumatic cylinders for wear and anomalies. This AI-based industrial app ensures operations are more reliable, efficient, and ultimately more profitable. The system uses AI to detect anomalies in the behavior of pneumatic […]

Valves are the fluid power designer’s calling card. Every hydraulic system has a pump supplying hydraulic energy to any combination of cylinders and motors, but the myriad possible combinations of valve technology offer a number so large only to be eclipsed by chessboard possibilities. This article provides a guide to the valve technologies available, allowing…

Pneumatic cylinders are highly varied in their construction and execution, making them difficult to select when you don’t understand your requirements. I won’t pretend that application isn’t the most important deciding factor, but the same can be said of any fluid power actuator. This guide provides all the information you need to select the pneumatic […]

By Josh Cosford, Contributing Editor If you work with a hydraulic technician who services and repairs hydraulics, especially including work on power units, leave this article for a moment and go ask them, “What’s the craziest thing you’ve seen inside an old reservoir?” My own answer isn’t so memorable; it’s just a half-collapsed suction filter […]

The Festo HPSX universal adaptive gripper is a groundbreaking hygienic soft gripper engineered to handle delicate, irregularly shaped, and hygienically sensitive products. Gripper fingers are produced from soft silicone-based material, making them ideal for moving items that are easily damaged. HPSX can perform multiple picks per second. The design of this pneumatic gripper is a […]

By Josh Cosford, Contributing Editor Desiccant, membrane, deliquescent, centrifugal and refrigerated air dryers are all technologies used to dry our compressed air systems. They are installed in various locations throughout the plant, although downstream of the compressor is the most critical location. Compressing air collects the volume of moisture found in a cubic foot of […]

With new components, systems, and architectures, hydraulic system efficiency can be increased by 50%, with a one-third reduction in emissions as well. By Alessandro Carmona, President, Industrial division, Danfoss Power Solutions The much-scolded aviation sector produced nearly 950 Mt of carbon dioxide emissions in 2023, according to the International Energy Agency. Meanwhile, a paper to be presented…

Contributed by Dave Henning, Sales Manager, MCE Automation If you’ve ever found yourself stuck by the side of the road kicking yourself for putting off some crucial bit of auto maintenance, then you know firsthand that an unscheduled breakdown can be dramatically more inconvenient and costly than whatever you were putting off. When it comes […]

PneuTech released its new PF series piston air compressors. Competitively priced and assembled in the USA, PF Series compressors are stocked for quick shipment to distributors and end-users nationwide. The line includes eight models ranging from 5 to 10 hp, with integrated ASME-certified vertical or horizontal air tanks (80 or 120 gallons) to suit a variety […]

Canfield Connector has announced the launch of the GatorMate GTMC Deutsch Style Duo Connector, a high-performance connectivity solution designed to simplify wiring for double solenoid hydraulic valves while enhancing durability and performance in extreme environments. Engineered for versatility and built to withstand the toughest industrial and mobile conditions, the GTMC system brings a new level…