At the PPMA show at the NEC, the latest innovation in pneumatic valve terminals is based on a flexible electrical I/O concept with advanced user-friendly diagnostics.

Europe's leading pneumatics and automation company Festo, is actively participating in this year's PPMA show at the NEC. They have selected the event to introduce the latest innovation in the expanding world of pneumatic Valve Terminals. The new system (CPX) is based on a flexible electrical I/O concept with advanced user- friendly diagnostics.

Top of the bill on Festo Stand No.

6631 will be the new CPX offering a very cost-effective solution for distributed electrical input and outputs.

Being shown for the first time in the UK, the award winning system significantly extends the flexibility of valve terminals.

Claiming approximately 60% market share in this sector across Europe, Festo are keen to further extend their lead as rival manufacturers seek to introduce their 'me too' copies.

Jacqui Reid, Product Manager for valve terminals at Festo says 'Whilst Festo have led the way on Valve Terminal hardware developments we are focusing this year on showing our latest developments in monitoring and diagnostic systems utilising the capabilities of a wide range of fieldbus systems'.

She continues, 'We are now seeing positive signs that Open fieldbus' are becoming the norm for packaging and processing machinery.

The user benefits in terms of reduced wiring and flexibility are acknowledged and are tangible cost savings.

Where a lot more progress can now be made is in using the functionality provided within the CPX system and within the bus systems.

Most importantly this provides transparency for more advanced monitoring of the status of remote I/O and the diagnostics to anticipate or quickly react to a failure and put it right with the absolute minimum disruption to throughput'.

Festo will be demonstrating dynamic display models showing their full 'Wet End' product range, from stainless steel actuators to clean design valve islands and a complimentary range of accessories such as air preparation equipment, specialist tubings and fittings.

Food and packaging industry Manager for Festo, Steve Land, explains that the market in the UK for food and packaging machinery market is subtly different to the continent.

'With our higher penetration of supermarkets there is a greater use of pre-prepared and packaged goods, therefore the PPMA Show is an important international contact point for Festo to gauge opinions and market feedback to generate new ideas, helping to direct new research and developments'.

The PPMA show is the ideal opportunity for Festo to show GB OEMs and End Users the latest in its specialist, dedicated range of products and services for the Food and Packaging industry.

Land continues, 'It is equally important to demonstrate that we can support these products with technical advice, training and implementation packages such as full 3D drawing support.

The key issues for the End User are related to life-time costs, operating efficiency and compliance with HACCP guidelines.

Therefore we hope to exchange interesting ideas and solutions both with fellow exhibitors and end user visitors to the show'.