Improved solenoid valves offer lower power consumption and noise, longer life expectancy, improved corrosion resistance, easier maintenance and additional mounting options.

To celebrate the eighteenth birthday of the VX solenoid valve range, SMC's research and development engineers did not just bake a cake and add a few candles, but used all their experience to bring these popular valves to the very forefront of product innovation. Since the launch of their first two port solenoid valve range, Series VX, in 1987, SMC's range of process valves has expanded fivefold and is now recognised as the most comprehensive available in today's market place. Designed to be used in like for like applications and offering total interchangeability with the previous VX products, these new improved valves offer lower power consumption and noise, longer life expectancy, improved corrosion resistance, easier maintenance and additional mounting options, in essence, the performance required of today's most advance solenoid valves.

Available in three model sizes with both open and closed operational options, these new VX valves also offer numerous thread and orifice selections including manifold arrangements from between two to ten stations.

Contactless displacement measuring system for use with Hoerbiger-Origa electric and pneumatic linear actuators monitors the position of the piston within the barrel of the actuator.

Hoerbiger-Origa has developed SFI-plus, a new contactless displacement measuring system for use with their electric and pneumatic linear actuators. Based on an incremental encoder, the pulse train from which monitors the position of the piston within the barrel of the actuator, SFI-plus can be used as a standalone monitor or, for more demanding applications, integrated with a PLC (programmable logic controller). For instance in a cut-to-length application where the required length changes frequently - say for bespoke window frame manufacture - various set points can be held in the PLC's memory as part of the specification for each unit and accessed as part of a real-time automation control system.

Another potential use would be in a two or three dimensional scanning operation, such as monitoring a web of material for blemishes; the co-ordinates of any imperfection can be automatically logged for later correction.

The SFI-plus is available in two positional resolutions, 1mm and 0.1mm and has a travel velocity of up to m10m/s.

It is fully encapsulated to IP76, has an operating temperature range of -25 deg C to +80 deg C and is insensitive to shocks and vibrations, yet is compact in size so can easily be retrofitted to existing motion systems.

The mounting kit supplied with the SFI-plus is so simple that it can be fitted in minutes using nothing more than a screwdriver.

Model selection software allows users to input their pneumatic system requirements and see an output of the system characteristics, along with recommended product series.

SMC Corporation of America, the world's largest manufacturer of pneumatic automation products has released version 3.0 of their convenient Model Selection Software. The application can be run right from the company Web site, and allows users to input their pneumatic system requirements and see an output of the system characteristics, along with recommended product series right down to the basic part number. By considering initial cost as well as operating costs, the software also selects equipment that minimizes the total cost of the pneumatic system.

For more complex models, version 3.0 of the Model Selection Software allows users to simulate circuits with multiple cylinders and multiple valves.

The software also provides dynamic system characteristics such as displacement, velocity, acceleration and system pressure.

'This software allows engineers to model and simulate a pneumatic circuit before they buy the parts'.

'Knowing how the system will respond before you physically build it is a tremendous advantage,' stated John Halvorsen, Product Manager for SMC Corporation of America.

* About SMC Corporation - SMC manufactures high quality actuators and valves, airline and air preparation equipment, high-purity products, vacuum components, instrumentation, and a host of fittings and accessories applicable to the pneumatic automation industry.

SMC has a total of 14 production facilities, three of which are in North America: Indiana, California, and Ontario, Canada.

SMC's global presence enables it to provide quality customer service in any part of the world.

Rodless cylinders employ high performance sealing systems to achieve low leak rates, smooth running performance and a wide variety of port connection alternatives as standard.

Ultraline has established itself as a major supplier to a number of key industries for rodless cylinders with its considerable experience in the field of pneumatics. Ultraline manufacture an extensive range of rodless cylinders to meet the demands of a wide variety of applications. Commonly used in door actuation, screen printing, special purpose machinery and packaging machinery just to mention a few, the Ultraline range of cylinders employ high performance sealing systems to achieve a number of key attributes.

These include low leak rates; smooth running performance, low breakout pressures, a wide variety of port connection alternatives as standard, and precise cushion control.

Available in a wide variety of formats, from Ultraline's standard range, to the compact range (probably the worlds shortest rodless cylinder for comparable stroke) and on to its range of optional side bearing carriages for heavier load movement.

Ultraline are able to satisfy the needs of most applications as well as being able to supply specials to customer specifications.

Ultraline cylinders come in diameters 18mm, 25mm, 32mm, 40mm, 50mm and 63mm and can be produced in stroke lengths as long as 6000mm long, often in as little as 24h from order.

Ultraline prides itself on being a 100% UK manufacturer employing state of the art technology and employing a strategy of providing its customers worldwide with high quality, robust products at competitive prices.

European manufacturers looking for some higher power from single rod cylinders could consider accredited, low weight, large bore cylinders made from aluminium alloy.

European manufacturers looking for some real muscle power from their single rod cylinders need look no further than the latest range of 'big bore' actuators - Series C95 from SMC Pneumatics, the worlds leading automation control experts. Designed according to both ISO 6431 and VDMA 24562 standards these accredited large bore cylinders benefit from lightweight construction using aluminum alloy for both the cover and tubing. By adopting this unique build specification, dramatic weight reductions of up to 45% are achieved compared to similar existing products.

With further benefits such as increased kinetic energy and lateral load resistance and with reed and solid sate auto switch options, the C95 is the perfect answer when powerful performance is required.

Series C95 is currently available in bore sizes of 125, 160, 200 and 250mm with standard stroke lengths of 1200mm, mounting options include standard foot, flange, single/double clevis and centre trunnion.

Following medical industry demands for a small three-port solenoid valve, these models are claimed to be some of the most compact and are very light in weight.

Following medical industry demands for a small three-port solenoid valve, world leading automation experts SMC Pneumatics have met the challenge with the launch of their latest Series S070 valves. With a valve body of only 7mm wide, 11mm high and 28mm long, these new S070 valves are some of the most compact products in the pneumatic marketplace and are ideal for applications where space availability is a problem. They are extremely light, weighing only 5g, and they also benefit from one of the lowest power consumptions around, with the smallest using only 0,1W of power.

These features alone make the S070 valve the perfect answer for applications where weight and energy cost are an issue.

However even with these 'baby' features, the valves achieve high flow rate performance, operating at flow rates between 15 and 3.8 litre/m.

Finally, as an additional bonus, these new valves are also very quiet and operate, barely above a baby waking whisper, at noise levels below 40dB.

Available in 3,5, 6,12 and 24V DC power supply options and with various mounting possibilities, including base mounted modular, bar type and body ported stacking, these low leakage baby valves offer really powerful big brother performance.

To answer constantly increasing industry requests for fittings that offer better heat and chemical resistance, one touch, stainless steel fittings have been introduced.

With constantly increasing industry requests for fittings that offer better heat and chemical resistance, engineers from world leader SMC Pneumatics have met the challenge with the launch of their latest Series KQG, one touch, stainless steel fittings. With there all metal construction - body, guide and chuck - made of SUS 316 stainless steel, this comprehensive range of grease free fittings can work with ambient and fluid temperatures from -5 deg C up to a 150 deg C. What is more, due to their special FKM sealing material, they can even handle harsher environments such as hot steam.

Available in male connector, straight union, male elbow, union elbow, male branch thread, union T, union Y and bulk head union, these fittings are compatible with 4, 6, 8, 10 and 12mm OD tubings made from FEP, PFA, nylon, soft nylon, polyurethane or polyolefin materials.

With sealant coated threads as standard, including five thread size options Series KQG one touch fittings really are the hottest connectors around.

Rodless cylinders use low profile designs to save space compared to typical rodless cylinders and offer height, length and weight savings of 30% or more.

SMC Corporation of America, the world's largest manufacturer of pneumatic automation products, has announced the release of Series MY2 and MY3 Rodless Cylinders. The MY2 and MY3 Rodless Cylinders use low profile designs to save space compared to typical rodless cylinders. Height, length and weight savings of 30% or more are achievable compared to conventional rodless cylinder designs with similar load and thrust ratings.

For high precision linear transfer applications in narrow spaces, series MY2 is the rodless cylinder of choice.

For low cost, basic linear motion in a compact design, the MY3 cylinder is an excellent option.

The MY2 Rodless Cylinder is supplied complete with air cushions and centralised piping - all versions have a stroke adjusting unit, are double acting, and do not require lubrication.

For ease of maintenance, the drive cylinder may be replaced without removing the work piece.

The slide is designed to allow for easy mounting and adjustment of SMC's extensive selection of position sensing switches.

Centralised air piping and a choice of T-slot or through-hole mounting allows for flexibility in mounting orientation.

The MY2 rodless cylinder is available in several sizes with a range of thrust forces and stroke lengths.

Thrust forces from 40N to 1005N are available.

Cylinder strokes extend from 100mm to 5000mm.

Slide table load capability goes up to 80kg.

The operating ambient/fluid temperature range is 5 to 60 deg C.

Unit weights vary from about 1.5kg for the smallest size, up to 75kg for the largest size.

Maximum operation speed is 1500mm/second.

The MY3 Rodless Cylinder is an unguided rodless cylinder with very compact height and length.

The MY3 was designed to offer the same functionality of SMC's MY1B rodless cylinder in a more compact and lightweight package.

The small size was achieved by a utilizing a unique, low profile piston design.

The MY3 cylinder is available in four bore sizes: 16, 25, 40, and 63mm.

Options include floating joints, stroke adjusters, side supports, and auto switches.

The stroke adjuster and shock absorber are integrated into a low profile design.

Auto switches can be mounted on both sides from the front direction.

Using side supports, the cylinder tube can be fixed from the upper or lower side.

Long stroke of up to 3000mm are available.

MY Rodless Slides are designed to meet or exceed a life of 3,000km when properly used within specifications.

Maintenance parts are available to further extend the life of the cylinder.

* About SMC - SMC Corporation manufactures high quality actuators and cylinders, airline and air preparation equipment, high-purity products, instrumentation, and a host of fittings and accessories applicable to the industrial automation industry.