If your air compressor is constantly running without shutting off, this could be a sign of a problem—and 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 […]
Where are rodless cylinders used?
Rodless cylinders are used in pneumatic applications requiring a compact installation with a wide range of stroke possibilities. They most often used for automation applications requiring positioning, and can run full stroke to index tooling, or position objects in material handing. A rodless cylinder has a piston activated from either side with compressed air. The […]
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 […]
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 NFPA’s 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 world’s largest industrial technology event, many of America’s 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. Their innovative line of directional control valves minimize exhausting of air—thereby increasing efficiency of compressed air systems. Watch our video below, where Vicki talks about how the technology works and […]
Clippard releases 7mm 2-way normally-closed valves
Clippard is excited to announce the release of a new series of direct actuating valves that offer an extremely fast response time for accurate dosing of minute volumes with the same long life as the original Clippard EV line of valves—but now in a 7mm cartridge package. Due to very low moving weights, they are extremely quiet and emit very […]
Compressed air fail: Sheet metal firm learns that size matters
By Ron Marshall for the Compressed Air Challenge A sheet metal processor went through a plant expansion that more than doubled the size of its facility. To be safe the plant engineer doubled the size of their air compressor to 50 hp from the original 25 hp. The original unit was installed with a 120-gal […]
Catching up with Rob Clippard on new products, outlook for 2016
Recently, I spoke with Rob Clippard, VP Sales and Marketing for Clippard Instrument Laboratory Inc. about the company’s newest products—as well as his outlook for the next year Rob explained that the company’s new pinch valve is an exciting product for them, as this type of component is used in many machines where other Clippard […]