Pneumatics
The term industrial pneumatics refers to the technological process that allows pressurized gas to be studied and used as a source of energy that allows mechanical movement.
Compressed air is used to transfer energy through hydraulics. The main advantage of using compressed air in industrial pneumatics is that it poses no risk to the health of workers and is environmentally friendly compared to toxic substances or fluids. Additionally, air is free.
What are the advantages of industrial pneumatics?
Companies leverage these advantages to increase productivity. Some of them include:
- Effectiveness: Air is an unlimited source of energy that can be stored in large quantities and volumes. It can be easily transported using pipelines or cylinders.
- Design: Its simple design allows for the use of automatic control systems to direct and choose linear or rotary movements, adjusting the process speed to the needs of industrial production.
- Adaptability: The components of these systems can withstand high temperatures and adverse environments without the need to stop production.
- Safety: Industrial pneumatic systems provide greater safety for workers as there is no risk of fires or explosions. They do not overheat or burn.
- Ecological: It enables industrial operations without the use of polluting substances, making it a green and environmentally friendly energy.
More information
Next, you can access the online store for B2B customers.
Pneumatic products
Pneumatic actuators
Pneumatic actuators are mechanisms that convert compressed air energy into mechanical work. Pneumatic cylinders are the most commonly used type of pneumatic actuator. Pneumatic cylinders, also known as compressed air cylinders, are components that generate motion using compressed air as the fluid. Pneumatic actuators are a particularly cost-effective solution for a wide range of applications, even in the most challenging environmental conditions, and are characterized by their simple operation. Pneumatic cylinders are used in numerous automation and industrial automation applications. Typical application fields for pneumatic actuators include gripping, lifting, lowering, pushing, pulling, guiding, rotating, clamping, pinching and holding, joining, stopping, sealing, marking, and many more.
Electromechanical actuators
Electric actuators are devices composed of an electric motor and a gearbox that enable the actuation of any device to perform movements or actions. They only require power as an energy source and have a simple structure compared to other actuators. Electric actuators are an important component in factory automation. They are commonly used in applications that require high flexibility and precise positioning. Therefore, electric drive technology is particularly suitable for free, flexible, and precise positioning, as well as for long travels of over 1,000 mm at high speeds and short cycle times. Additionally, electric actuators consume less energy during movement than pneumatic actuators, for example, and operate without jerks. Electric actuators store data, and this information is processed by the control part, which is responsible for connecting and disconnecting it according to the needs. This control is usually integrated into the actuator and incorporates the electrical interface into the automation system.
Servo-pneumatic positioning systems
Servo-pneumatic positioning technology offers advantages, especially in cases where compact and cost-effective solutions are needed, mobile masses exceed 5 kg, and precision in the range of tenths of a millimeter is sufficient. Among its many advantages are:
- Positioning and force regulation in a single working step
- Compact and cost-effective positioning system for robust applications
- Fast processes/high productivity thanks to FCT software that facilitates commissioning with self-identification and comprehensive diagnostics
Grippers
A gripper is a pneumatic or electric actuator used to hold, position, and move an object. A gripper represents the connection between the object and the handling system. Grippers are an excellent solution for various handling applications. They move inwards through an actuator and convert the actuator's motion into a clamping motion through a transmission. They can hold objects of different sizes depending on the stroke and clamping force. Grippers can be controlled pneumatically or electrically.
Valves
Valves are pneumatic components used in automation technology to control actuators. Valves are classified into pneumatic valves, electrically actuated valves, and manually actuated valves. In pneumatics, there are electrically and pneumatically actuated directional control valves. A directional control valve is used to modify, open, or block the flow direction of a medium in a hydraulic or pneumatic system. Compressed air or hydraulic fluid is typically used as the fluid in pneumatic actuators. Valves differ based on the design of their control element, the number of switching positions and flow paths, as well as the type of actuation: mechanical, pneumatic, or electric. The function of actuated valves is to block, open, or modify the flow direction of a medium. For the respective working outputs, valves have a compressed air connection and several exhaust air connections.
Compressed air preparation
If you want to ensure a high level of process reliability and the availability of your machines, proper compressed air preparation should be considered when planning the system. This is important because supplying clean compressed air without particles, water, or oil helps prevent malfunctions in pneumatic components, extends component life, and reduces machine failures and downtime. Among the products that make up this air preparation are: filter regulators, lubricators, pressure regulators, shut-off and soft-start valves, compressed air dryers, compressed air distributors and pressure boosters. Why is compressed air preparation important and necessary? Untreated compressed air contains contaminants in the form of particles, water and oil. Water and oil can be present in liquid or gaseous form and can transition between states within the compressed air network. These three types of contamination do not appear in isolation in a real compressed air network. Rather, they form mixtures that can vary greatly at different points in the network and at different times. For example, water can accumulate in branch lines, or particles can settle in a dead zone for an extended period and then be suddenly released due to a pressure surge. Poor compressed air preparation can lead to failures such as the following:
- Rapid seal wear
- Valves with oil in the control unit
- Dirty silencers
Handling system
A handling system is a ready-to-install function module for moving, feeding, and removing small objects in tight spaces. Movement is achieved through forced guidance on a slotted guide and allows for very short cycle times. Depending on the handling system, movement can be in a C or L shape. Movements in the Y and Z directions are variable in the range of up to 40 millimeters.
Fittings
A fitting is a metal piece with or without internal reverse threads used to connect pipes or other cylindrical profiles. In pneumatics, it is a specialized connecting piece for joining and coupling with other elements such as hoses, valves, and pneumatic cylinder actuators. Pneumatic fittings, also known as connectors or compressed air fittings, are an important component in pneumatic connection technology. There is a suitable fitting for every pneumatic flexible tube.
Sensors
A sensor is a component that converts a measured physical magnitude or a chemical effect into an analog electrical output signal. The physical magnitude is a non-electrical input signal, such as pressure, weight, temperature, radiation, magnetic flow, rotational speed, or another physical magnitude. Among the types of sensors that exist are:
- Position transmitters
- Vacuum pressure sensors
- Flow sensors
- Proximity sensors
- Inductive proximity sensors
- Optical sensors
Our providers
