Technologies

Versa Products Co. Inc. is pleased to announce strategic changes to its leadership team. These changes underscore Versa’s  commitment to driving growth, fostering innovation, and maintaining its reputation for delivering high-quality products and exceptional customer satisfaction. Rob Healey has been promoted to Chief Operating Officer (COO) and will play a pivotal role in advancing Versa’s…

By Josh Cosford, Contributing Editor Sometimes, the selection or use of hydraulic pumps is not as linear and straightforward as selecting them from a catalog. You may already have an old or spare pump kicking around that was surplus from a long-dead machine, or perhaps you’re in need of something quickly, and your local farm […]

By Josh Cosford, Contributing Editor If you didn’t already know, I work for a company that manufactures hydraulic cylinders. A common question from customers is, “What is the life expectancy of your hydraulic cylinders?” My response is often to take a deep breath and then sigh because the correct answer is never straightforward. The salesman…

Last week, Festo introduced its Controlled Pneumatics, a digital closed-loop control strategy for delivering energy efficiency, high dynamic response, and precision movement. Controlled Pneumatics is a suitable solution for web tensioning; welding; surface processing; flexible gripping, including vacuum gripping; dispensing and pumping; PET bottle blowing; and diaphragm pump control. See a technical overview on how […]

Piab has launched its new piGRIP FLC interface that expands the usability of all existing Piab suction cups. “Regardless of application, this product helps handling height differences and off-angle-picking in a simplified yet sophisticated waym,” said Lennart Ryberg, Product Manager of Piab Vacuum Automation Division. FLC stands for ‘Flexible Level Compensator’ and is designed to […]

Festo introduces an innovative suite of safety products, including its new CIP safety module, that ensures the safe operation of pneumatic systems and lowers the risk of injury and system and product damage.  Festo pneumatic safety solutions are compatible with the top industrial Ethernet protocols – EtherNET/IP, PROFITNET, and EtherCAT – which gives them near […]

By Josh Cosford, Contributing Editor Although a hydraulic machine could run off highly crude forms of hydrocarbons, without a complement of additives, the performance and longevity of your hydraulic machine would suffer. Welcome to Part Seven of the Hydraulic Oil Analysis series, where we dig deep into the various additives that are always or usually […]

Danfoss Power Solutions today announced the launch of its PLUS+1 Autonomous Control Library (ACL) 3.2 software for off-highway machinery. PLUS+1 ACL 3.2 consists of new and updated blocks that enhance machine self-guidance capabilities through improved obstacle and hazard detection and environmental landmark identification. Danfoss PLUS+1 ACL software comprises preprogrammed and pretested software blocks covering areas […]

The typical piping installed in industrial plants and shops is made of steel, and as a result may be subject to rusting and contamination. Fig. 1 and 2 show what was found at a heavy industrial plant with the air compressors taking in polluted air. Rusting and contamination in compressed air system piping can lead […]

Danfoss Power Solutions launched its Editron EM-PMI540B electric motor. Based on synchronous reluctance assisted permanent magnet technology, the EM-PMI540B functions as both a motor and a generator. Designed for electric or hybrid drivetrains in demanding applications, such as off-highway machinery and marine vessels, it offers high efficiency, non-stop continuous power, and a high operational altitude. […]

Festo has expanded its vacuum generation solutions to include for the first time a multistage generator and a multistage cartridge. These new vacuum components offer exceptional performance on porous materials, such as paper and corrugated board. The OVPN multistage vacuum generator and the OASP vacuum generator cartridge are ideal for such applications as overhead palletizing, […]

Norway has a long tradition of catching and processing fish. The country ranks second in the world for exports behind China. To ensure the high quality of their freshly caught products, Norwegians pay particular attention to an unbroken cold chain. One company that contributes to a high level of food safety is Atlantic Styro. Based […]

Festo introduced the new VTUX flagship valve terminal, which can serve as I/O, remote I/O, and decentralized I/O. These compact and rugged IP65/67-rated terminals can be located anywhere on a machine that boosts operational performance and original equipment manufacturer (OEM) installation productivity. VTUX modularity results in less inventory and lower overhead costs. VTUX is both […]

Normally when measuring the pressure gradient of a compressed air system in an industrial site, the pressure at the compressor discharge is the highest of all locations. Once the compressed air travels through piping, filters, air dryers, and other components — each causing restriction to flow — the pressure at the far end of the […]

As at most mobile machinery shows this September, Parker Hannifin showcased a variety of technologies to ensure efficient, powerful mining machines. Newest on display, though, was its Force Command electrohydraulic linear actuator. This new EHA features a brushless dc motor with integrated controller and absolute position sensing, giving users full control over the toughest and […]

By Josh Cosford, Contributing Editor When I sat in my first fluid power class 18 years ago, I remember learning about built-in contamination and how the reservoir was the biggest offender. The welds and their slag were the biggest problems, the teacher stated, but a close second was the debris from pipe threading machines. Looking […]

In this month’s Troubleshooting Challenge, we go into the extreme environment of a steel producer, which had modified an electric arc furnace to include a retracting hood that covered the conveyor. This conveyor feeds scrap metal into the melt pot. The conveyor would occasionally jam and/or require service. A pair of hydraulic cylinders were installed…

Danfoss Power Solutions today announced the expansion of its D1P portfolio of open-circuit, high-power axial piston pumps with the addition of a 160-cc displacement size. Like its counterparts, the D1P 160-cc pump offers robust design and performance to meet the needs of a variety of heavy-duty mobile and industrial machinery applications. The D1P 160-cc pump […]

By Donald Krause, Industry Consultant, Ohio Fabricators Company Exploring the basics of spin-on filters: design and functionality Spin-on filters have cemented their position as a cornerstone of liquid filtration and tank breather applications, thanks to their unique design and operational efficiencies. These filters consist of a self-contained housing and filter element assembly, which facilitates straightforward […]

A closer look at Chevron’s Bio EliteSyn AW biodegradable hydraulic fluid. Concern continues rising over stern tube leakages and operational discharges that were once considered part of normal operation in marine vessels. A popular 2010 study estimated that marine shipping vessels leak 4.6 to 28.6 million liters of lubricating oil from stern tubes annually and […]

By Josh Cosford, Contributing Editor The automotive industry is leaving no stone unturned as it explores every possible technology and advancement that can improve performance while reducing CO2 emissions. Hybrid and electric vehicles have been employing regenerative braking systems that recapture kinetic energy through a motor generator rather than convert the vehicle’s inertia into heat, […]

Hydraulics expert Carl Dyke shares insight on forest harvesting machines and what it takes to cut-to-length. “I grew up in logging. As a little kid, my father and grandfather would take me out to the woods to go timber cruising, which meant walking around and looking at the stands of trees,” said Carl Dyke, hydraulics […]

ELGi North America has upgraded its EG series portfolio with the introduction of the EG Super Premium (EG SP) 90-110 range of oil-lubricated screw air compressors and the EG PM 11-45kW Permanent Magnet Synchronous Motor (PMSM) compressor. Engineered to meet the evolving demands of industries worldwide, the new units maximize energy savings and reduce environmental […]

I found a leak, it’s hissing loud, Compressed air whistling, oh so proud. I grabbed some duct tape, rolled it tight, Thinking I’d fix this leak tonight. But oh, that tape — it flaps and flails, Like it’s on a ship with stormy sails. The air just laughed, a mocking squeak, “You can’t fix me, […]

In this blog post, we will discuss the fifth of five industrial compressor capacity control modes. A very efficient method of controlling a compressor at part load using variable speed mode. With this type of compressor, an electronic drive is fitted to a specially designed compressor with air end components matched to the intended speed […]