By Josh Cosford, Contributing Editor Desiccant, membrane, deliquescent, centrifugal and refrigerated air dryers are all technologies used to dry our compressed air systems. They are installed in various locations throughout the plant, although downstream of the compressor is the most critical location. Compressing air collects the volume of moisture found in a cubic foot of […]
Engineering Basics
Critical maintenance tips for compressed air in mining
Contributed by Dave Henning, Sales Manager, MCE Automation If you’ve ever found yourself stuck by the side of the road kicking yourself for putting off some crucial bit of auto maintenance, then you know firsthand that an unscheduled breakdown can be dramatically more inconvenient and costly than whatever you were putting off. When it comes […]
Ensuring growth through energy savings with compressed air management
Reducing energy use through compressed air monitoring and management allows you to speed up production and fine-tune efficiency. Energy is expensive, especially compressed air which can be eight times more expensive than electricity, with up to 50% of it being wasted through leaks. Pneumatic machines wear. Systems are often oversized, taking more energy than required. […]
Simple design changes can reduce packaging machine air consumption
Total savings over the lifecycle of the packaging machine can surpass 30%, outweighing the incremental cost of enabling components. By Steve Bain, Industry Segment Manager, Food and Packaging, Festo Original equipment manufacturers reduce packaging machine air consumption by more than 30% while increasing the speed of their packaging machines by designing those machines with valve terminals […]
Keeping it clean in food & beverage with pneumatics technologies
Pneumatics technologies offer the clean designs and reliable operation required in food and beverage processing. By: Josh Cosford, Contributing Editor The food & beverage industry is unique in many ways, not the least of which is the obvious observation that it’s the only industry providing us with the nourishment for life. Unless you’re living off […]
What pneumatic valves should you select for automation systems?
By Josh Cosford, Contributing Editor There are a lot of pneumatic directional valve options on the market. There are the big players in the game who take up half the market under only a couple of brand names, but the remaining half of the industry contains hundreds of players with myriad options. When selecting valves […]
Which pneumatic technology is best for linear motion applications?
In linear motion applications, pneumatics, servo pneumatics, and controlled pneumatics each deliver unique motion and force capabilities. Contributed by By Frank Langro, Director of Product Market Management, Pneumatic Automation, Festo Pneumatic linear actuators are fundamental for automation because of their low cost, ease of installation and operation, high yet compliant force, speed, compactness, safety in hazardous areas, […]
Where are air springs and actuators used in industrial systems?
When we delve into the realm of linear actuators used in industrial fluid power, our minds often gravitate towards the familiar, such as NFPA and mill-type for hydraulics, or compact round-line or extruded-aluminum body cylinders for pneumatics. These are the tried and tested construction styles. However, a lesser-known yet highly innovative player in this field […]
A primer on when to use pneumatic vacuum pumps
By Josh Cosford, Contributing Editor Vacuum technology is the quintessential method for safe and careful material handling in various industries, from packaging to glass manufacturing. Vacuum cups and pads are gentle and soft, lifting even the largest material while barely contacting the surface. By creating a vacuum inside the cup, the pressure differential draws the […]
5 reasons your pneumatic cylinder isn’t working
By Josh Cosford, Contributing Editor Pneumatic cylinders are essential in various industrial applications, providing the mechanical force needed to move loads, automate equipment, and perform countless other tasks. However, pneumatic cylinders encounter issues that impede their performance like other machine components. When your pneumatic cylinder isn’t working as expected, it can lead to downtime, reduced […]
