Portable electronic measuring instruments have been indispensable in capturing compressed air system baselines over the past number of years. Rarely are there enough permanent instruments installed at a typical industrial plant to use to get a clear picture of how well the compressors and dryers are operating. Very often, all a compressed air auditor finds […]
Norgren Excelon Plus air prep components available from AutomationDirect
AutomationDirect has added Norgren Excelon Plus air prep components to its existing lineup of pneumatic air prep products. Norgren, a well-known name for pneumatic components, manufactures products that provide exceptional performance, and its Excelon Plus air prep components are compact, lightweight, and suitable for most industrial applications. Norgren Excelon Plus 82 series air prep products […]
Tandem PGS3 pneumatic clamping vise
Collaborative robots and an abundance of integrators have made it easier than ever to implement automated machine tending. Many small to medium size manufacturers are making the investment into automation and seeing returns in less than six months. The Schunk Tandem PGS3 vise further supports this trend. Featuring reliable, quality construction, the Tandem PGS3 reflects Schunk’s […]
A compressed air rust problem?
Q: We have a problem with rust in a plant. Our downstream filters keep filling up with rust particles. Please see the attached picture. What do you think has gone wrong? A: I suspect that part of the steel piping in the plant is getting wet, likely from compressor overheating during hot days, or dryer […]
What is an air compressor’s pressure rating?
Air compressors come in many makes, styles and ratings. One of the most important ratings is the compressor rated pressure. This is the maximum pressure a compressor should operate, but as many people have found, the compressors will run above their maximum pressure, but should they? The primary issue is safety — compressors often have […]
What is compressed air’s water carrying capacity?
If experiencing troublesome “water in the compressed air” problems, it often helps to understand the moisture carrying capabilities of compressed air. A rule of thumb is often used to help understand the effect of temperature on the water content of saturated compressed air. The rule states: “At 100 psi, every 20° F increase in air […]
Registration now open for PACK EXPO East 2022
Attendee registration for PACK EXPO East 2022 (March 21-23; Pennsylvania Convention Center, Philadelphia) is officially open, according to the show producer, PMMI, The Association for Packaging and Processing Technologies Now in its fifth edition, the three-day event comes on the heels of a successful PACK EXPO Las Vegas and Healthcare Packaging EXPO, the largest packaging […]
New research reveals air compressors are most important equipment on service vehicles
A recent survey by VMAC has revealed that nearly two-thirds of owner-operators consider their air compressor to be the most important piece of equipment on their service trucks. This was followed by cranes, generators, welders, and a variety of job-specific pieces of equipment. Respondents also shared their preferences for air compressor types, with 80% stating […]
Pneumatics winner in 2021 LEAP Awards winners are announced
Winning entries in the 2021 LEAP (Leadership in Engineering Achievement Program) Awards were announced by WTWH Media today in 12 categories, including Pneumatics. This year’s winners were chosen by an independent judging panel of 12 engineering and academic professionals. For each category, judges could award Gold, Silver, Bronze, and Honorable Mentions. The 2021 Pneumatics category winners […]
Compressed air fail: The last 30 feet
An automotive plant was having trouble with a finishing tool. The device was sluggish and would easily stall. It had no power. It even sounded weak. It didn’t have that nice “Vrrip, vrrip!” sound like a normal air tool. A compressed air auditor was called in the investigate. The auditor took one look and frowned. […]
