By Ron Marshall for the Compressed Air Challenge An automotive parts manufacturer had an audit done on their compressed air system. The auditor placed data loggers on their system and did careful site observations of conditions in the compressor room and the plant. The processing equipment in the plant created a very dusty environment, so […]
Compressed air fail: Compressor not contributing due to piping challenge
By Ron Marshall for the Compressed Air Challenge A spring water bottling plant had a compressor room filled with a complicated piping to connect their four compressors to the two main areas of their plant. The plant personnel had learned a long time ago that supplying the main plant with excessive pressure increased the power […]
Lehigh purchasing assets of Ortman Fluid Power from Quincy Compressor
UPDATED: Quincy Compressor LLC of Quincy, Ill. has announced a definitive agreement to divest its assets in Ortman Fluid Power to Lambertville, N.J.-based Lehigh Fluid Power Inc. The sale is expected to close during the first quarter of 2015. OfficialsΒ said thisΒ offers opportunities for customers of Lehigh and Ortman who will now have access to a […]
Check out the new Technology Tuesdays podcast, featuring pneumatic cylinders!
Design World has launched Technology Tuesdays Podcasts in 2015, and this first episode focuses on pneumatic cylinder technologyβwhat’s new and what design engineers need to know about how the components are changing. Click below to listen to Design World Editorial Director Paul Heney discuss pneumatic cylinder technology with Aventics’ Phil O’Neil.
Compressed air fail: Unexpected operation of VSD compressor
By Ron Marshall for the Compressed Air Challenge A metal foundry had a compressed air audit done thatΒ showed their three load/unload compressors were running inefficiently. Even though the units were controlled by a sequencerβwhich was supposed to coordinate the compressors according to the plant flowβthe compressors were running inefficiently. Data logging showed significant pressure differential […]
When extremely clean production is critical
Strict hygiene standards apply to production systems in the food and pharmaceutical industries β after all, machine parts and components can come into contact with the products. No one wants to take lubricating oil with their aspirins or spread bacteria on their toast along with strawberry jam. Functional (as well as intuitive to handle) are […]
ΊΪΑΟ³ΤΉΟs is playing a Mythbuster role
ΊΪΑΟ³ΤΉΟs has its share of fun applicationsβwith Halloween coming up this week, I’m reminded of the many uses of the technology in haunted houses that I’ve seen over the years. The simple, robust, easy-to-incorporate systems scare a lot of adventure seekers each Fall. And what can be a more fun application than helping out on […]
Guest blog: Saving energy with compressed air systems
Compressed air is often assumed to be a cheap or even free source of power. Yet, a typical 1,000-cfm installation consumes about $65,000 of electricity each year. In fact, energy represents about 75% of the total cost of buying and operating a compressor over its lifetime. To make matters worse, numerous independent studies confirm that […]
Piezo valves improve breathing apparatus
For people with chronic respiratory ailments, ventilators and oxygen apparatus are an essential everyday companion. Inside the machines, which are often portable, pneumatic automation components ensure a smooth ventilation processβthey generate the required pressure and correct mix of oxygen. Piezo valves from Festo are used in modern ventilators to supply the oxygen, and they provide […]
Compressed air fail: Negative artificial demand
By Ron Marshall for the Compressed Air Challenge A rice, grain and oil seed processor was having pressure problems in the various facilities at their manufacturing complex. The site had a central compressed air system that fed air through a network of pipes supplying six separate buildings. As the complex expanded, the compressed air load […]
