Koganei Corp., headquarted in Tokyo, has long been an advocate of green engineering principles, from their building grounds to their manufacturing lines to their products. When the company expanded its main manufacturing facility in Komagane,Β Japan, the so-called βE Building,β in 2011, the idea was hatched to add solar panels to the roof. Two years after […]
ΊΪΑΟ³ΤΉΟ
A look at Japanβs IFPEX show
Over my 20-plus years covering the fluid power industry, Iβve been to a lot of this industryβs trade showsβincluding EIGHT IFPEsβtalk about feeling old! I have been to shows all over the United States, as well as the U.K., Germany, Brazil, and Canada. So, I was very interested to see my first show in Japan, […]
Compressed Air Fail: A poor dryer choice
A grain sorting facility purchased a new, larger compressor to renew their compressed air systemβas well as to prepare for future load additions. The previous compressor was a 50-hp size with a 200-cfm desiccant air dryer with dew point control. To prepare for future needs, a new 75-hp compressor was purchased with a new larger […]
Compressed Air Fail: Valve issues
A milk processing and packaging facility had two independent compressed air systems that were running inefficient modulating style compressors to produce the air needed to keep the compressed air powered machines running smoothly. With the help of their power utility, they were able to consolidate their two systems into one using a new variable speed […]
Compressed Air Fail: Cooling choke
A tire manufacturer used air cooled lubricated screw compressors to feed the production machinery in their medium-sized plant. The plant is located in an extremely hot climate. Over the years, some of the air compressors at the plant reached the end of their useful life and were replaced. Because the production demand was growing, the […]
MD&M East update: Automation is on tap
This year’s MD&M Eastβand its associated shows, like ATX East, East PACK, etc.βare back in New York at the Javits Convention Center this week, and there’s a good buzz about the show. The economy is chugging along, according to exhibitors, and there is reason for optimism in the coming quarters. Here’s a sampling of what […]
Mobile hydraulics powers vacuum lifting
Vacuum-lifting attachments make construction equipment more productive. Construction equipment has long been used to move material like large pipes and concrete slabs, typically with ropes, chains or slings tied to the bucket or stick. Lately, however, operators of these machines are turning to vacuum-lifting technology as a faster and safer alternative. According to officials at […]
No turning back on IoT
After spending a week at the recent Hannover Fair, one comes to the inescapable conclusion that most everyone with a stake in the future of fluid power is either embracing the concepts of IoT, or is at least watching as the changes unfold. Weβve all heard the hype surrounding whatβs called the fourth industrial revolutionβthe […]
Servopneumatics embraces Cinema 4.0
Experiencing films with all the senses is what cinema audiences can expect in one of the worldβs 18,000 MediaMation cinema seats. With this concept, the whole body senses the movie, thanks to movements controlled by Festoβs servopneumatics and VTEM motion terminals. In essence, this provides a unique way of combining the digital world with pneumatics. […]
Predictive maintenance at the forefront at Hannover
Moving beyond simple preventive maintenance for fluid-power systems, more than a dozen companies are looking to the future in a special Predictive Maintenance 4.0 exhibit at the Hannover Fair. The goal is not only to monitor the condition of machines and note anomalies, but also to use analytics and cloud-based systems to determine the remaining […]
