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 […]
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 […]
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 […]
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 […]
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 […]
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 […]
