By Ron Marshall, Contributing Editor Fred had been the plant engineer at the packaging facility for nearly ten years, and he thought he understood his compressed air system well. The compressors ran, the machines worked most of the time, and whenever there was a moisture problem someone usually changed a filter or drained a receiver […]
Engineering Basics
Is your compressor room like a sauna?
Contributed by Ron Marshall Richard, the maintenance manager at a plant that manufactures powdered coatings, was used to dealing with heat. The curing ovens in the facility ran hot, and summer months always made the production floor uncomfortable. But one area of the plant seemed especially unbearable — the compressor room. Every time Richard stepped […]
Safety is core to proper vacuum design in automation
Contributed by Michael Tuohey • Regional Marketing Manager, North America, Piab In modern manufacturing, safety is a core design requirement. As more processes become automated and rely on vacuum, the way vacuum systems are engineered has a direct impact on the safety of people, products, and assets. Piab’s approach places safety at the center, combining […]
How do you achieve safety in pneumatics?
By Josh Cosford, Contributing Editor Pneumatic systems are the backbone of modern industrial automation, providing reliable and efficient power for a wide range of applications, from packaging and assembly to heavy material handling. However, the very energy that makes these systems so effective also introduces significant workplace hazards if not managed correctly. Understanding and implementing […]
Lower compressor energy consumption with low-cost machine adjustments
These changes can unlock plant-wide air savings, avoid major capital investment, and improve carbon footprint. By Steve Bain, Industry Segment Manager, Food and Packaging, Festo Compressed air is one of manufacturing’s largest energy expenses, and most plants run it far above what their machines actually require. By tuning machines that use excess compressed air rather than […]
A designer’s guide to pneumatic valves
Directional control valves are the traffic police of pneumatic systems, charged with diverting, directing, and reversing airflow to manage the operation of actuators. A fluid power designer must first understand valve functions, flow rates (and the resulting sizes), and the construction materials best suited to their application before sending out requests for quotes. This designer’s […]
A designer’s guide to pneumatic cylinders
Pneumatic cylinders are highly varied in their construction and execution, making them difficult to select when you don’t understand your requirements. I won’t pretend that application isn’t the most important deciding factor, but the same can be said of any fluid power actuator. This guide provides all the information you need to select the pneumatic […]
How does moisture affect pneumatic systems and how do we mitigate it?
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 […]
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. […]
