SMW Autoblok just launched a new line of quick-change, pneumatic robotic tool changers that can be combined with various pneumatic grippers and C40 inductive couplers for contactless, wear-free energy and signal transmission. With these new products, grippers, tools, and other end effectors can be changed quickly to increase cycle time and productivity and are effectively […]
Industry News
Proportion-Air holds grand opening for new building
Electro-pneumatic pressure regulation and flow control manufacturer Proportion-Air recently celebrated the completion of its new facility in Gulf Breeze, Florida, with a grand opening event last month. The event brought visitors from the community to see the company’s new 12,000 square foot building, which houses research and development, marketing and sales, and administration functions. Attendees […]
Switching to auto-teach sensing saves time
Sometimes, the smallest change makes the biggest impact. Here’s why one machine builder no longer adjusts proximity switches on pneumatic actuators. Proximity switches are used to monitor and control the position of pneumatic actuators. They include sensors that detect the presence or absence of an object within a specified range without making physical contact with […]
Cloud-based data prevents compressed air system downtime
Industry 4.0 aims to increase efficiency, productivity, quality, and sustainability while optimizing supply chains and workforces. It sounds like a tall order, but as more manufacturers adopt the Industrial Internet of Things (IIoT), edge devices, and cloud-based technologies, the more such efforts are realized. Of course, one of the fundamental challenges is extracting and leveraging […]
Emerson releases new pressure valves for high-precision manufacturing
Emerson recently announced its new Aventics Series 625 Sentronic Proportional Pressure Control Valves. With a control deviation of less than 0.5%, the new valves are designed to deliver highly accurate, electronic proportional pressure control and provide the flexibility needed to support sophisticated pneumatic control engineering applications. Data acquisition software (DaS) software included with Series 625 […]
Clippard releases new NPV-7 long stroke pinch valves
Clippard’s high flow pinch valve provides the same functionality as the standard series but with the added benefits of a longer stroke. This makes it suitable for applications that require greater flow or those that use viscous or particulate-laden media. As with all Clippard pinch valves, each valve comes pre-installed with 12 in. (30 cm) […]
Automation24 expands portfolio with Norgren pneumatic components
Automation24 proudly announces the addition of Norgren pneumatic components to its portfolio. With this strategic move, Automation24 broadens its scope and capabilities to better serve its customers. Norgren air preparation products currently offered by Automation24 include regulators, filters, combination units (filter/regulator/lubricator), valves, and accessories. These proven air preparation products are built to overcome the common […]
Free pneumatic positioning optimizes gripping
Pneumatic grippers are revered for being an economical, easy-to-maintain solution with high force density. However, force control and precision can prove challenging, especially when handling delicate parts and parts of different sizes. Sensory feedback is essential in such applications to measure parameters such as the force applied, object position, and speed. Position sensing is especially […]
One Cajun beef, please, but hold the air compressor oil
No one wants air compressor oil contaminating production. And in food processing applications, quality and safety are essential. E2M Kitchen, a fresh and ready-to-eat meal provider, knows this all too well. The Charlotte-based company significantly evolved its food preparation and packaging process for creating gluten-free, dairy-free, and preservative-free meals. Every tool used in its production […]
Distributed electro-pneumatics streamline equipment designs
Machinery builders and OEMs save space and improve functionality by applying electro-pneumatic I/O and solenoid systems throughout their equipment. By: Chip McDaniel, AutomationDirect For machine builders and original equipment manufacturers (OEMs) alike, there is an increasing push to deliver smarter, more modular, and physically compact systems. Among the many design choices required to make this […]
