Walk through almost any manufacturing plant and you’ll hear it, the steady hum of compressors, the hiss of air tools, the pulse of production. To many, it sounds like business as usual. But to someone who understands compressed air systems, that same sound can also mean one thing: Money leaking away! Compressed air is often […]
Components
Are you paying something for nothing? Check your compressor control!
By Ron Marshall In many industrial plants, the real cost of compressed air isn’t just the air being used on the production floor, it’s the energy consumed when the compressor is running — but not producing useful air. Choosing the wrong operating mode for your compressor can be surprisingly expensive. It’s a bit like sitting […]
Festo VTOC valve terminal enhances valve control in semiconductor fabrication
As semiconductor gas box designs incorporate more process lines and control points, the number of pilot valves required to manage critical gases increases. Typical valve terminals with limited capacity force OEMs to use multiple units, increasing panel space, wiring complexity, build time, and system cost. Festo offers the VTOC valve terminal designed for high-density semiconductor […]
GHS 402 – 902 VSD⁺ screw pump provides high pumping speeds
With the introduction of the GHS VSD⁺ vacuum pump series, Atlas Copco has taken vacuum technology to a new level. Whereas vacuum systems used to consume energy regardless of demand, modern oil-sealed screw pumps are efficient systems that deliver vacuum according to demand. In keeping with this tradition, Atlas Copco has developed the new GHS […]
The mystery of the vanishing pressure: A survival guide
Joe stood in the middle of his plant, watching a critical machine sputter to a halt. His operator pointed at the gauge, which read 25 psi lower than the compressor’s display in the back room. To fix it, Joe did what most managers do: he bumped up the discharge pressure at the source. This boosted […]
Festo introduces two-finger pneumatic gripper for cobot applications
Collaborative robots operate within strict payload and mounting constraints. Pneumatic gripper installations that rely on external valves, sensors, and wiring add weight, increase footprint, and complicate routing along compact cobot arms. To address these constraints, Festo introduces the HPPH two-finger pneumatic parallel gripper, a compact, lightweight design that integrates control, sensing, and collaborative safety functions […]
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 […]
Directional control solenoid valves and manifolds for automated systems
AutomationDirect has added Mindman MVSC and MVSC1 directional control solenoid valves and manifolds which provide reliable, high performance air control for a wide range of automated systems. The MVDC stackable solenoid valve series builds on that capability with a modular design that keeps installations clean and scalable, making it easy to create efficient multi station […]
Festo introduces intelligent end plates for remote I/O system expansion
OEM machine platforms evolve as additional zones, modules, or downstream cells are integrated into the original control design. When remote I/O extends beyond its initial boundary, added gateways, new Ethernet addresses, and separate power distribution increase wiring complexity and commissioning effort. To simplify scalable machine architecture, Festo introduces intelligent end plates for the CPX-AP-A remote […]
Compressed air fail: Flow meter surprise
Greg had been the maintenance engineer at the manufacturing plant for nearly 10 years. He knew every pump, conveyor, and compressor in the facility. When something went wrong, people called him. But compressed air had always been a bit of a mystery. The system seemed to run fine. The compressors started, pressure stayed stable, and […]
