Iβm here for the annual Hannover Messe trade fair in Hannover, Germanyβbilled as the worldβs largest industrial trade show. Weβve historically covered the show in odd-numbered years, as there is a larger focus on fluid power and motion control components then. But this year is special, as itβs the first time in the venerable exhibitionβs […]
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Cleanliness, cushioning, and kits lead pneumatic-actuator trends
ΊΪΑΟ³ΤΉΟ actuators, often called air cylinders, are an inexpensive and easy-to-use design choice for many industrial applications that require linear motion. While the technology has been around in nearly its current form for more than half a century, there are some interesting trends and design advances that engineers should be aware of. There have been […]
Why you need to understand proper air preparation
ΊΪΑΟ³ΤΉΟ products, systems, and machines require clean compressed air to operate efficiently and reliably. By Michael Guelker, Festo Product Manager, ΊΪΑΟ³ΤΉΟ Actuators and Air Supply products Particles, water and oils in compressed air reduce the service life and functionality of components and systems. They also impair productivity and energy efficiency. Being aware of how to […]
Why does my compressor run constantly?
If your air compressor is constantly running without shutting off, this could be a sign of a problemβand it is probably costing you a bundle. It is very rare to see system compressors exactly match the facility demand, requiring the need for constant full-load operation. The most obvious thing you should check for is leaks […]
Compressed air fail: High compressed air costs at high-end car dealer
By Ron Marshall for the Compressed Air Challenge A high-end car dealership purchased a premium brand air compressor for their upscale dealership to service both service and body repair bays and the numerous air tools used in the facility. As part of some extra customer service, an air auditor visited the site to assess the […]
ΊΪΑΟ³ΤΉΟ technologies ensure safe packaging applications
By Erl Campbell,Β Food and Beverage Key Account Manager,Β Aventics The widespread use of pneumatics technology for packaging machinesβto drive motion and actuate machine sequencesβhas garnered more interest by machine designers and end users as to how pneumatics can improve safety and safe operating functionality in their equipment. This increased interest is due, in part, to the […]
National Fluid Power Association elects Tricia Fulton to Chair its Board of Directors
The National Fluid Power Association (NFPA) has elected Tricia Fulton, the CFO at Sun Hydraulics, to be the Chair of the Board of Directors for the 2016-17 fiscal year. Fulton is the first woman to hold the position in the Association. The election took place during NFPAβs 2016 Annual Conference in San Antonio in early […]
Top ranked U.S. universities showing off Industry 4.0 at Hannover Messe
In April 2016, for the first time in the history of Hannover Messe, the worldβs largest industrial technology event, many of Americaβs top ranked universities and industrial technology institutes will take center stage in the United States Pavilion in the Research and Technology trade fair in Hall 2. All exhibiting institutions will showcase groundbreaking research, […]
Compressed air fail: Questionable weekend requirement
By Ron Marshall for the Compressed Air Challenge An equipment parts fabricator was concerned with their high utility costs, so they decided to bring in a compressed air auditor to study their compressed air system. An industry downturn had reduced their production demand considerably, so plant management was looking to significantly reduce operating costs. The […]
Recycle that air to stop compressed air leaks!
I recently had the opportunity to sit down with Vicki Gonzalez, CEO of Nexmatix, here in our Cleveland offices, to talk about her company’s newest product. TheirΒ innovative line of directional control valves minimize exhausting of airβthereby increasing efficiency of compressed air systems. Watch our video below, where Vicki talks about how the technology works and […]
