At WorldSkills, in May 2005, sponsored by Festo, young people under 23 years of age from all over the world compete in the skills of their vocational fields.

Matt Goodwin and James Dellacioppa are honing their mechatronics skills at the Festo Didactic centre in Northampton, in preparation for competition against peers from around the globe at the WorldSkills event in Helsinki, May 2005. These two 20 year-olds have just completed mechatronics apprenticeships with automotive supplier Federal Mogul Friction Products, and have already won the UK leg of the mechatronics skills competition. If approved by UK Skills in January, they will represent their country at the global competition.

'High quality engineering skills really are the lifeblood of truly competitive and innovative industrial organisations', said Graham Spencer of Festo Didactic.

'We welcome this opportunity to help develop the next generation of mechatronic engineers, here in the UK.' Festo sponsors the mechatronics competition at WorldSkills and provides the training rigs for the event, which allow manufacturing automation stations of varying complexity to be built.

Festo is also a global sponsor of the WorldSkills organisation - the not-for-profit body that promotes higher standards in vocational education and training.

Over its 50-year history, WorldSkills (formerly known as the 'Skill Olympics') has come to symbolise the pinnacle of excellence in vocational training.

Every two years hundreds of young skilled people, accompanied by their teachers and trainers, gather together from around the world to compete before the public in the skills of their various trades and test themselves against demanding international standards.

They represent the best of their peers drawn from regional and national skill competitions held currently in 37 countries.

The experience and results provide valuable feedback both to the individuals and the systems and enterprises in which they are being trained.

The competitions are particularly effective in the context of providing positive career role models for school aged youngsters.

Remote charging and gauging block makes it easy to maintain the correct precharge pressure in a hydro-pneumatic accumulator where access to the accumulator's gas valve is inaccessible.

Parker Hannifin's remote charging and gauging (RCG) block makes it easy to maintain the correct precharge pressure in a hydro-pneumatic accumulator. Designed for remote mounting in situations where access to the accumulator's gas valve is inaccessible, the new RCG block is a major contribution to operator safety. Maintaining the gas precharge pressure at the correct level in an accumulator is vital, as higher or lower precharge pressures will have a damaging effect on system performance and machine productivity.

Designed for use with all Parker piston and bladder accumulators, the RCG block enables the operator to pre-charge a newly installed accumulator and to check and adjust the pre-charge of an existing unit.

Initial filling of the gas pre-charge and adjustment where necessary, is carried out using Parker's UCA Charging and Gauging Assembly The RCG block is suitable for working pressures up to 350 bar and can operate at temperatures from -20 to 80 deg C.

Weighing just 3.4kg and equipped with a G1/4 accumulator port, it can be mounted in any accessible location.

Its steel construction ensures long, reliable service life, the chromated surface guards against corrosion and a steel gas valve cap protects against external impact.

Bioquell UK has developed the Clarus range of unique and patent protected bio-decontamination technology.
Bioquell UK has developed the Clarus range of unique and patent protected bio-decontamination technology, designed to generate hydrogen peroxide vapour used for the surface bio-deactivation of micro-organisms such as bacteria (including anthrax), viruses and fungi. It is a 'residue-free' process because at the end of the bio-decontamination process the hydrogen peroxide is catalytically converted to just water and oxygen. In addition to the efficacy of the system and its residue-free nature, it also has the major benefit of being fast along with excellent material compatibility, including sensitive electrical and electronics devices.

Clarus technology is also able to operate at negative pressure when applied to sealed enclosures which ensures zero leakage through out the decontamination process, therefore protecting surrounding operatives and the immediate environment.

Helping to achieve effective circulation of the hydrogen peroxide vapour are specially sealed 'Multi-Stage' blowers from Air Control Industries (ACI) of Chard.

Features of the Multi-Stage units that make them ideal for this application include the use of contamination and maintenance-free brushless motors, essential characteristics for operating in hygiene sensitive environments.

The motors also offer high-efficiency and low-noise operation (77dB(A)), the latter being particularly important for space-limited work areas.

Further, the bearings are sealed for life and the white polyester resin housing is inert and does not degrade when exposed to hydrogen peroxide.

The ACI Multi-Stage blowers are employed in Bioquell's Clarus OC and OL hydrogen peroxide vapour generators.

Clarus units are used world wide ensuring reliable and continuous bio-decontamination of such items as pharmaceutical isolators, clean rooms, pass-though devices, micro-biological safety cabinets and CO2 incubators.

Bioquell also use ACI's fans for venting its Astec Monair and Monair Plus range of filtration fume cabinets - playing a part in the proven range of Activated Carbon and HEPA filtration systems.

The forced venting ensures that all extracted fumes pass through the filter system so that the cleaned air can be re-circulated back into the laboratory.

City and Guilds, the leading provider of vocational qualifications in the United Kingdom has awarded SMC Pneumatics (UK) Limited with approved centre status, for its pneumatics training programme.

City and Guilds, the leading provider of vocational qualifications in the United Kingdom has awarded SMC Pneumatics (UK) Limited with approved centre status, for its pneumatics training programme for industry. The programmes offered by SMC cover Pneumatic Technology, Electro-Pneumatics and PLC technology, and are held at a number of centres (and at customer premises), around the UK, and will now offer, in addition to the CVA (Certificate of Verified Achievement) a contribution towards N/SVQ'S. The N/SVQ'S (National Vocational Qualifications and Scottish Vocational Qualifications) assess the skills, knowledge and ability needed by people working in industry.

They are generally undertaken at work, or between the workplace and a local accredited centre, and a suitably qualified tutor usually acts as the assessor.

The qualifications comprise a number of core and optional units so that the employee can choose the route best suited to their particular ambitions, or their company requirements.

NVQs are available at five levels and include qualifications for those who are just starting their careers, to those at supervisory and management level.

Government organisations, such as the Learning Skills Council, recognise that employers need to take a closer look at training programmes offered for their workforce, and in a recent report* states '...for the individual organisation or firm, the evidence reveals that investment in workforce development is repaid with higher levels of organizational performance.

While the relationship is undoubtedly a complex one, subject to many caveats and qualifications, the finding that investment in workforce development improves organisational performance remains a robust and valid one.' SMC has invested heavily in training, and as the world's leading manufacturer of pneumatic components and automation equipment, the company has the resources, skills and expertise in providing an exceptional standard of training.

The training courses are presented by professional, experienced, and qualified trainers, and cover both theory and practical within the range.

Format of courses includes interactive workshop, real-life problem solving, practical circuit design and construction, as well as the use of state-of-the-art modules for each delegate.

Venues currently include Milton Keynes, Cumbernauld, North Tyneside College and Egham (Brunel University), and courses vary between 3 to 5 days, depending upon level chosen.

In addition, the company offers bespoke training, for customers needing a focused approach to their pneumatics training, pertinent to their own business.

SMC will tailor and ensure an exact fit to customer needs.

Skills in England 2003 produced by the Learning Skills Council.

Report prepared for the Learning and skills council by Institute for Employment Research, University of Warwick, Coventry.

About City and Guilds: City and Guilds is a household name - in fact, according to recent consumer surveys, one in five households has a City and Guilds qualification.

Established in 1878 to encourage education and training in, and for, the workplace, they have built close links with industry, government and training organisations to identify the skills needed to support the UK economy.

City and Guilds is the leading vocational awarding body in the UK, awarding almost 50% of all National Vocational Qualifications (NVQs).

They are a global organisation, too, providing unique internationally recognised qualifications across the world through City and Guilds International.

As the only awarding body solely dedicated to vocational learning, offering companies worldwide a recognised skills benchmark.

There are more than 8,500 approved City and Guilds centres worldwide offering more than 500 qualifications in almost all sectors - from agriculture to hairdressing, and from IT to vehicle maintenance.

City and Guilds provides a range of office-based qualifications through City and Guilds Pitman Qualifications, and a comprehensive set of management qualifications through the Institute of Leadership and Management (ILM).

City and Guilds Affinity sector offers a well-respected and extensive suite of awards in health, care, early years and community services.

Air Control Industries (ACI) of Chard, Somerset has acquired approval to the very latest stringent ATEX Directive.

ACI's range of industrial fans, blowers and exhausters now complies with European Directive 94/9/EC. This means the company's products meet all appropriate 'Ex' safety standards adopted across the European Union. Approved fan and blower units are manufactured in a range of materials, including stainless steel, galvanised steel or aluminium.

For even more rigorous environments, such as marine applications, special paint finishes are available.

All ACI certified fan units are specifically for Group II, Category 2 and are designed for use in areas where explosive atmospheres are likely to occur.

The performance parameters of available units are airflows from 50 to 4500cu.m/hr, and pressures from 1 to 13in.swg.

ACI products were certified by SIRA (Certificate Number SIRA 03ATEX9174), an independent Certification Service.

ACI certification covers: Category 2 (High level of protection); Zone 1 (A place where an explosive atmosphere is likely to occur in normal operation occasionally); and Zone 2 (Areas where an explosive atmosphere is not likely to occur in normal operation but if it does, will persist for a short period only).

Festo has introduced a compressed air service unit offering exceptionally high flow rates of up to 22,000 litres/minute for high performance pneumatics.
Festo has introduced a compressed air service unit offering exceptionally high flow rates of up to 22,000 litres/minute for high performance pneumatics. The new MS12 is a modular filter-regulator-lubricator (FRL) product family with six freely combinable air preparation modules, allowing automation builders to configure application-specific solutions from off-the-shelf products. Once a configuration is selected, Festo can provide it ready-assembled - called off by a single product number - providing efficient purchasing and manufacturing support for replicating OEMs.

With flow rates of up to 22,000 litres of compressed air per minute, the new MS12 is a natural choice for applications with very high air consumption, and is suitable for both centralised and decentralised air supplies within piping networks.

Typical applications include compressor houses, and meeting the high flow demands of equipment such as automotive spraying systems, or PET bottle blowing plants.

The modularity of the MS range makes it simple to configure point-of-use systems for plant with individual air quality requirements.

MS12 has a width of 124 mm and a port size of 2 inches BSP, and complements two smaller modules in the Festo MS product family, together providing a range of port sizes spanning 1/8 to 2 inch BSP.

Air-preparation modules available include pressure regulators, on/off valves, soft-start valves, filters, sensors, lubricators and dryers.

Filters of various grades are available to provide dependable removal of particulates.

MS12 thus fulfils all user requirements with regard to air preparation.

The metal bowls of the filter and lubricator modules ensure safety and secure protection against mechanical damage.

A free-of-charge CAD service provides support for users' own system design work, while the user-friendly connector system for the individual air preparation modules ensures that components can be installed easily and exchanged quickly.

In order to minimise the risk of accidents, safety functions such as lockable pressure regulators and positive-locking filter and lubricator bowls are included as standard.

Pneutronics, a new industrial distribution company based in Tonbridge and specialising in pneumatic and electrical automation, has been appointed a Festo 'Premier Stockist'.
Pneutronics will serve the South-East London, Bromley and Tonbridge area with a trade counter and delivery service, backed by a large stockholding encompassing a couple of hundred of the most commonly needed pneumatic components. The company is also linked into the Festo online ordering system - giving it access to over œ30 million of pneumatics stock held by Festo, and available for next-day delivery anywhere in the UK. The Sales Director of the new Premier Stockist is Bob Blann, who already has over four years of experience with the Festo product line, and who has been working in the pneumatics field for almost 30 years.

'We're very pleased to be working in partnership with Festo, as I have extensive experience with the Festo product line and know that their component quality and logistics chain is second to none.

It's the best possible support for this form of distribution operation, and it will help me to grow business among the automation builders, users and maintainers in the region'.

Pneutronics is additionally able to offer automation design and system building services to its clients.

Reckoned to be the smallest and lightest 8mm section units on the market, compact valve islands use less than one third the space of competitive units for an eight station island.
Asco Joucomatic's new Compact 8 valve islands are the smallest and lightest 8mm section units on the market, consuming less than one third the space of competitive units for an eight station island, and weighing in some cases, just half as much. These benefits make the Compact 8 the ideal system for OEM's looking to downsize their machines while, at the same time, enjoying the advantages of high flow performance (280 litre/min), plus the flexibility of simplified assembly and connection and Fieldbus communications. Small enough to fit into the palm of the hand, an 8 station Compact 8 island consumes just 490cm3 of machine or panel space and weighs in at only 600 grams, yet the unit offers enough flow to operate 50mm bore cylinders, directly, and the ability to pilot piston and butterfly process valves.

The key to this performance is the use of computer simulation in the design of the Compact 8 Series of valves.

This optimises the position and orientation of the holes in the valve sections to ensure that optimum flow paths are achieved.

The design keeps the change of flow direction down to an absolute minimum, thus maximising the volume of air through the valves.

The same modular design also enables the Compact 8 islands to offer the OEM total flexibility in construction, mounting and in the type of control which they perform.

Supplied with IP65 ingress protection as standard, the islands can be mounted directly onto machines, in panels or near pneumatic actuators, thus fulfilling industry specific requirements in environments such as assembly, food processing, packaging, process control, textiles, paper, printing and pharmaceuticals.

In addition, with just one key required to assemble up to sixteen 8mm wide valves, the majority of industry requirements can be satisfied quickly, usually from a single manifold platform, which is compatible with standard fieldbuses such as Profibus and DeviceNet.

Key to the ability to assemble Compact 8 units quickly is a design that optimises OEM stock profiles by including the smallest number of parts.

In addition, the Compact 8 offers the benefit of singular expansion, in contrast to many competitive islands, which expand in steps of two valves.

This enhances competitiveness, as OEMs do not have to pay for redundant functionality that they will not use.

The cost benefits to OEMs of singular expansion are complemented by the choice of spool valves that make up the Compact 8 valve islands.

These can be monostable or bistable, 3/2, 5/2, or 5/3 units, single or double pilot operated with low power (0.15W) coils.

As an added means of enhancing flexibility, the Compact 8's monostable and bistable spool valves are of the same size.

This allows the islands to be equipped with intermediary modules for additional pressure supplies or blanking plates, enabling them to be supplied with two or three different pressure levels.

Importantly, the user saves much installation time and effort as the Compact 8 valve sections clip together simply in a matter of seconds to form finished islands.

Moreover, once complete, further installation time is saved by the Compact 8's optimised, addressable pinning system, which automatically assigns connector pins to each spool valve in accordance with its function.

In programmable mode, this feature offers the advantage of the pin assignment being easily adaptable to existing installations, which for OEMs producing serial machines, is a real production bonus.

A wide range of connection options - the flexible design philosophy employed to create the Compact 8 range offers the OEM and user the best possible range of connection options to meet almost all requirements.

These include: * Multipol: with 25 SUB-D connector (IP40 or IP65) for use with up to 16 valves as standard.

* ASi interface network: electrical connection with M8 and M12 connectors.

Extension up to 2 bistable or 4 monostable valves.

Precision guide cylinders offer a number of advantages over standard cylinders, notably precision movement, anti-rotation capabilities and the capacity to withstand high side loads.
Rexroth's pneumatic GPC (Guide Precision Cylinder) series offers a number of advantages over standard cylinders, notably precision movement, anti-rotation capabilities and the capacity to withstand high side loads. Newly-introduced is the GPC-E (Extreme) version, with still higher load capacities and integral stroke adjustment. Suitable for a 1.3 to 8 bar working pressure range, it is available in 12mm, 16mm and 20mm bores and standard stroke lengths to 150mm, in slide or ball bearing versions.

Consisting of a central piston and 2 rigid guide rods supported by slide bearings or ball bearings, GPCs are typically used as carriers for grippers, suction cups, tools and workpieces in material handling and automation applications.

They can also be used as stoppers in conveyor systems and defining object positions in machining and spot welding.

A GPC can also carry a second axis, with a smaller GPC fitted directly onto the front plate or a RexMover rodless cylinder or MSC mini slide connected via a special adapter.

The latest GPC-E version offers the same precise movement and functionality, but with higher load capacities and built-in stroke adjustment.

It is equipped with longer guide rods, which are connected to the rear plate by hydraulic shock absorbers, providing the means of finally adjusting the stroke length.

This facility is useful for end-position adjustment when picking or placing a workpiece and means that off-the-shelf stroke lengths can be selected for non-standard piston strokes.

Optional adjustment of the return stroke is also possible with separate accessories, adding to the cylinder's versatility.

Despite weighing between 0.4kg and 1.2kg only, depending on stroke length, the GPC-E 12mm bore is able to withstand static forces up to 110N and a dynamic load of almost 1kg, which is well ahead of the competition.

At the upper end of the scale, a 20mm bore unit, between 0.7kg and 1.9kg in weight, will accept a static force of 275N and a dynamic load of 7.5kg.

Moreover, the GPC-E is highly price competitive at some 15 per cent cheaper than comparable models.

With a magnetic piston for positional feedback, stainless steel piston rod, corrosion-resistant guide rods, anodised aluminium body and rear plate, and galvanised steel front plate, the GPC-E is designed and built for rugged working conditions.

Single- and double-acting cylinders that conform with ISO 21287 standard for compact-design pneumatics require half the installation room of a standard profile ISO 6431 alternative.
Festo has launched its AEN and ADN ranges of single- and double-acting cylinders conforming to the new ISO 21287 standard for compact-design pneumatics. The introduction provides the automation industry with the first complete range of ISO 21287 cylinder body diameters - spanning 12 to 100mm. It gives machine builders a platform to transform equipment designs, and meet the demands of lead users such as automotive manufacturers.

'Compact cylinders have consistently been one of the most dynamic sectors of the pneumatic market since the concept was first introduced by Festo in the early 80s.They now account for around a third of cylinder sales,' says Steve Sands, marketing manager for Festo GB.

'The new standard will fuel further growth, opening up space-saving design options for the many automation builders who prefer to use industry-standard cylinders'.

ISO 21287 provides a standard for the key interface dimensions of the 'compact' cylinder portion of the pneumatics market - components that typically require half the installation room of a standard profile ISO 6431 alternative.

The specification provides machine builders and end users with an assurance of multiple sourcing and interchangeability.

With this launch, Festo becomes the first pneumatics vendor to offer the full range of cylinder body diameters - with 10 choices spanning 12 to 100mm.

Its AEN and ADN ranges conform to the dimensional standards of ISO 21287, but the commonality stops there.

Festo has developed novel new technology for its launch that overcomes limitations normally associated with smaller-dimensioned cylinders.

It boosts the performance of the bearings, combating the transverse forces that can accelerate seal wear on compact cylinders, providing a further stimulus for market growth on top of that provided by the standard's introduction.

Inside each compact cylinder is a patented new piston design dubbed '3K'.

It provides improved cushioning at the end of strokes to support higher cycle times, copes with the wear that can be caused by high side forces on the actuating rod - a common scenario in pneumatics automation systems - and provides a highly stable and low friction bearing to enhance both actuation accuracy and the life expectancy of the cylinder.

Based on the use of three polymers, Festo 3K technology is a major step forward in endowing compact cylinders with an overall performance approaching that of their ISO 6431 counterparts.

As with standard profile cylinders from Festo, users of short-stroke AEN and ADN components can expect extended lifetimes of more than 6,000km of movement, or over 20 million operating cycles.

Machine builders can select stroke lengths from 1 to 25mm for the single-acting AEN range.

For double-acting ADN cylinders, the standard range offers 10 choices of stroke length from 5 to 80mm, or strokes of up to 500mm for cylinders made to order - long travels made possible by the new Festo piston and bearing technology.

In addition to covering the cylinder sizes defined by the ISO 21287 standard, Festo offers a number of larger diameter options with the same family design characteristics.

Automation builders will also benefit from the industrial design of the new Festo components.

The stylish and clean-line exterior surface incorporates features that greatly extend the mounting and accessory options open to OEMs, supporting an enormous spread of applications.

A dual check valve is specially designed for the automotive industry where trapped air must be automatically released when the production line is shut down.
NGT Specialty Valves introduces a new dual check valve, this valve was specially designed for the Automotive Industry where trapped air must be automatically released when the production line is shut down. In the event of a pressure drop or total loss of pressure, this unique valve maintains cylinder position by locking air on both sides of the cylinder. A single air pilot signal can exhaust trapped air to atmosphere.

Options include dual flow control valves for speed adjustment and manual release buttons to release trapped air.

3/8in and 1/2in NPTF is in stock and ready to be shipped the same day.

Available models: D6C00EA-FL, D8C00EA-FL, D6C0MEA-FL, D8C0MEA-FL, DC6FMEA-FL, D8CFMEA-FL.

Call NGT for BSPP ports.

* About NGT Specialty Valves - NGT Specialty Valves designs, manufactures, and stocks a line of load locking valves and specialty valves for maintaining position in the event of a pressure drop or to prevent drifting due to leaky spool valves.

Their focus on locking valves makes them a reliable manufacturer for any valving application that requires positive locking in applications where stopping of motion is required.

An Ethernet-equipped PLC that is believed to be the first truly integrated solution for pneumatic valve terminals can be mounted directly in harsh environments.
Festo GB has launched an Ethernet-equipped PLC that is believed to be the first truly integrated solution for pneumatic valve terminals. Protected to IP67, the robust controller can be mounted directly in harsh environments - such as on washdown machinery for food and pharmaceutical manufacturing lines - yet offers connectivity that aids the transition to more efficient control system architectures. The application potential supported by the novel PLC ranges from traditional standalone control - but with functions such as a web server for remote monitoring - to rugged I/O with an Ethernet gateway that allows control by a state-of-the-art PC (without the usual worries concerning ruggedised system building).

'A majority of our automation builder clients already employ fieldbus in their automation designs', says Jacqui Reid, Product Manager at Festo GB.

'The launch of Ethernet connectivity integrated onto a valve terminal extends the networking possibilities in major ways.

This introduction optimises that potential for the huge pneumatics user community.

It offers environmentally-protected control in a valve terminal form-factor, together with the logistics benefits that Festo users have become familiar with - such as a control node custom-assembled for a user's application and available with a single part number.' Designated the CPX-FEC, the new front-end controller or PLC is a plug-in module compatible with the complete range of modular CPX pneumatic valve and I/O functions.

Control nodes with up to 300 remote I/O channels, plus pneumatics, can be assembled on compact panel-mounting IP67 or IP65 modules less than 11cm high and 7cm deep.

A wide range of fieldbus interfaces is also available including Profibus-DP, CANopen, DeviceNet, Interbus and CC-Link.

With IP67 protection for the PLC functions, these control nodes can be mounted exactly where required on the machine or automation _ even next to a food-processing or -packaging zone that is subject to splashing with sticky ingredients or caustic washdown agents for instance.

CPX-FEC comes with a quarter megabyte of memory for control programs, and half a megabyte for web applications.

The controller will execute control programs at a speed of approximately 1 to 2 milliseconds per 1k statement.

Control software can be developed using IEC 61131-standard languages, or a proprietary Festo tool called FST4 which offers a very simple-to-learn ladder logic system, or a statement-based programming approach with high level commands such as IF, THEN and ELSE.

Festo additionally offers a small handheld terminal called CPX-MMI that allows users to perform configuration, commissioning and diagnostics tasks locally.

The wide software compatibility of the new 10/100 Base-T Ethernet PLC - which includes TCP/IP, SMTP, TFTP, DDE and HTTP as well as most major fieldbus protocols - opens up many new architectural possibilities for control systems.

Among these are distributed control system applications that can integrate easily with an enterprise's higher level IT networks, an Ethernet gateway to remote I/O that allows users to devise more sophisticated control and instrumentation strategies using desktop PCs, and remote monitoring and diagnostics of plant automation over the internet.

CPX-FEC's Ethernet capability also offers an easy means of adding wireless connectivity to industrial equipment.