Vacuum handling systems in industry must respond to very diverse requirements, gripping parts of different weight or material, integration on machines and robots, and high speed operation. Coval’s GVMAX HD series of heavy-duty vacuum pumps combine robustness, power, modularity and communication, allowing them to adapt to multiple applications. And thanks to IO-Link technology, they are […]
Why can compressed air hose reels be a leakage source?
It is very common to find retracting style hose reels installed in locations that use hand tools. These items are installed for convenience and make it easy to put the air hoses away, reducing trip hazards — but they have some commonly found problems that can increase compressed air costs and lead to performance problems: […]
Festo sees tremendous future for pneumatics
The 2020 financial year proved to be a challenging one for Festo, but it also offered a year full of opportunities. According to Dr. Oliver Jung, chairman of the management board, the company proved to be economically stable and has weathered the pandemic well. The Festo Group had to cope with a 7.5% decline in […]
Smart leak-detection system
FDX Fluid Dynamix, located in Berlin, Germany, has developed the OsciLeak compressed air leak-detection system. It’s based on the company’s proprietary next-generation nozzle technology. Compressed air is commonly used as an energy source, especially in industrial plants. According to FDX officials, it is estimated that 30% of the electricity generated in the U.S. is used […]
Atlas Copco develops solid desiccant block
Atlas Copco has developed what they call the world’s first completely solid desiccant for air dryers. The material, termed Cerades, will be initially used in its CD 20⁺-335⁺ series of dryers. Company officials said the new product will revolutionize compressed air drying. Adsorption dryers have previously used containers filled with thousands of tiny desiccant beads […]
Compressed air optimization — 5 basic demand side measures
A compressed air system can have superior efficiency on the supply side, but yet waste a large portion of what its compressors produce. Here are five common items of demand side improvement for any system: Fix leakage — Typical compressed air leakage levels are between 15% and 30% of average flow. Some outlier plants leak […]
Piab announces launch of the piSAFE program
While maintaining market leading vacuum performance thorough Piab’s patented COAX technology the flexible design and ease of maintenance makes it a perfect choice for challenging robotic applications and ergonomic handling devices where safety is a key concern. Whether you want a centralized or decentralized vacuum gripping system, interfaces towards common (industrial standard) EOAT systems or […]
FM-approved hazardous location regulators
Four new products are joining the Proportion-Air hazardous location series of regulators. These new Factory Mutual-approved devices meet the precision pneumatic pressure control needs of professionals working in environments where flammable gases, combustible dust or fibers/flyings and filings may be present. Two new intrinsically safe products offer higher accuracy and flow rates for hazardous locations. […]
VMAC sponsors four scholarships for engineering students
VMAC is pleased to provide four $1,000 scholarships for Vancouver Island University (VIU) students entering the second year of either the Engineering Transfer or Engineering Technologist program. VMAC has committed to the scholarships as part of a pledge to invest in the local community. VIU is a public university located in the city of Nanaimo, […]
How do you select compressed air hose sizes?
True story: a fiberglass parts plant was having air pressure problems in their plant, so much so that they had turned their air compressor up to 140 psi. This was the highest it could go, which made it consume 15% more power. But still, their most critical air tool was having performance problems. An air […]
Why measuring in compressed air systems is a must
A common complaint from those who troubleshoot compressed air problems is the lack of information. A machine will be going down, caused by low compressed air pressure, but nobody knows what went wrong, why or even when. The first thing a compressed air assessor will do in solving the problems is go look at measurement […]
Cutting compressed-air costs at the point of use
Energy efficiency has become a hot topic. There are worldwide initiatives to rein in CO2 emissions and limit climate change. Consumers are becoming critical and demand products that are produced in a sustainable way. Furthermore, many production plants are more aware of the huge cost reductions involved with energy savings. As a result, firms are […]
Compressed air fail: Clog prevention blow
Rather than skill and experience, sometimes serendipity comes into play when optimizing a compressed air system. An auditor was just finishing up a system assessment and was ready to leave the site when he spotted a previously installed flow meter. He had located it on a previous audit a few years before. The device […]
Unique SmartValve is fast and precise
The SmartValve from KTW Technology, Wehr, Germany, is a new type of flow-control valve that relies on a magnetized ball as the fluid-control element. This ultrafast switching valve is designed for high-speed pulsing of airflow, making it well suited for compressed-air blow-off, cooling, cleaning and drying applications where it reportedly brings higher efficiency and performance. […]
Functional safety with pneumatic rod locks
Functional safety features in pneumatic machines and systems are critical in reducing the risk of injury without impacting operational efficiency and productivity. Designers of functionally safe pneumatic systems have put in fail-safe mechanisms to detect potentially dangerous conditions and to activate a protective or corrective device, such as a pneumatic rod lock, that will prevent […]
Emerson opens its 2021 ASCO Engineering Scholarship Program
Emerson has opened its 2021 ASCO Engineering Scholarship Program, with applications now being accepted from U.S. college students. The merit-based scholarships reward excellence in education and service, and the potential for leadership and contributions to the engineering, instrumentation, systems and automation professions. “The ASCO Engineering Scholarship program, now in its 14th year, is a key […]
Ultrapac Smart dryer for compressed air process filtration applications
Donaldson Company Inc. introduced the Ultrapac Smart dryer, a solution that removes condensate and dries compressed air streams in manufacturing facilities using three stages of separation: filtering, drying and purifying. Highly purified compressed air is critical for food and beverage process applications, like beer, bottled water, milk, wine and yogurt. “In recent years, Donaldson has […]
Vacuum-based soft gripper handles delicate objects
Piab has introduced the new soft gripping tool piSOFTGRIP, developed especially with food industry automation in mind. The vacuum-based soft gripper will grip sensitive and lightweight objects of odd geometries and/or an unusual surface. Bin-picking of small irregularly shaped objects, such as toys, is another potential application. piSOFTGRIP has three gripping fingers and a vacuum […]
NITRA Pneumatic Automation Link field I/O system and valves
The NITRA Pneumatic Automation Link (PAL) series of components from AutomationDirect is a versatile field I/O system that can include electrical I/O or pneumatic valves, or a combination of both. The system can be controlled either by an Ethernet/IP master or direct wiring (for exclusively pneumatic valves). All components are rated IP65, intended to be […]
Compressed air fail: Dust collectors
It is common to see reverse pulse filters applied to any process that creates dust in an industrial plant. Collecting the dust is sometimes part of the industrial process, or it could be applied for pollution control, preventing the dust from contaminating the neighborhood. Within these dust collectors are an array of filter elements, sometimes […]
Austrian company HENN Group acquires Eisele
Austrian company HENN Group has acquired the business operations of Eisele Pneumatics in Waiblingen, Germany and Eisele Connectors Inc. in Michigan, on January 8. The transaction has now been successfully completed as planned on March 1. Eisele is now a subsidiary of HENN and thus also a part of the HENN Group. As part of the […]
What are some clues to compressed air leaks?
Sometimes you don’t need an expensive leak detector to find leaks. There are often clues scattered around the facilities that show you where costly compressed air is escaping from your system. Consider an automotive manufacturer where a variety of common leaks were found during a recent compressed air audit: Various leaking regulators were found […]
Five supply side improvements for compressed air systems
By Ron Marshall Here are five common ways to improve your compressed air system efficiency and save electrical costs: Choose an efficient compressor — Air compressors have come a long way over the years, with many design improvements implemented. Chances are that a new compressor will be more efficient than your old unit, and if […]
Solenoid valves offer reduce power consumption in smaller footprint
Emerson has launched a range of two-way and three-way solenoid valves that support original equipment manufacturers’ need to develop more compact machines and equipment without compromising on fluid control performance. The optimized body design and internal flow path of the new ASCO series 256/356 not only provides a smaller footprint, but also reduced power consumption […]
Compressed air fail: Poor maintenance disaster
A food products company used lubricated screw compressors to produce its compressed air for the plant. Due to tight budgets, the plant maintenance manager decided to stretch the maintenance intervals on the compressors as long as he could, but this led to unexpected disaster. Within each lubricated screw compressor is an oil separator filter. This […]