A second generation of AC adsorption compressed air dryers feature pulse jet filters as standard, which are optimised with regard to flow and pressure drop.

Beko Technologies has launched the second generation of its Drypoint AC adsorption compressed air dryers. Beko state that the main improvements in the new range are in terms of running costs and operational reliability. Inside the Drypoint AC moist compressed air flows through the inlet filters into the adsorption dryer and then through a valve into one of the chambers.

Here a diffusion bottom ensures even distribution of the air and homogeneous loading of the adsorbent bed, which collects moisture from the air on its surface.

The dried air then flows into the second valve unit that feeds it into the dust filter and also supplies the necessary regeneration air.

The regeneration air - which is very dry - takes up the moisture from the surface of the adsorbent and is finally discharged into the environment through the silencer.

The dried compressed air still contains minute amounts of adsorbent dust, which is retained in the Clearpoint dust filter installed downstream of the dryer.

In the new Drypoint the valve technology is advanced with a larger aperture cross section and custom made Beko diaphragms, designed using Beko's experience with its Bekomat condensate drains, in which more than 600,000 diaphragm valves have been installed.

Valves are mounted directly on the pressure tanks, a simpler and cleaner configuration, which is more economical and reduces leaks.

Ducting in the new Drypoint is in a straight line, avoiding unnecessary deflections that reduce air pressure.

The second generation Drypoint AC's are controlled with improved artificial intelligence including a defined programme run, which is maintained even after interruption or power failure.

The new Drypoint AC comes with Beko's Clearpoint pulse jet filters as standard, which are optimised with regard to flow and pressure drop.

These filters include the condensate drain Bekomat 20 FM with filter management, which indicates when the filter elements need to be replaced.

Electro-pneumatic regulators feature a dual pilot valve design that reduces both cost and air consumption when compared with the typical flapper nozzle design of other makes, says the supplier.

SMC Corporation, the world's largest manufacturer of pneumatic automation products has announced the release of the ITV1000 Electro-Pneumatic Regulator. The ITV1000 fills the gap between SMC's super compact ITV0000 and the larger ITV2000 and 3000 -all of which have been a big hit with customers due to their precision operation. The ITV1000's max flow rate is 250litre/min (ANR) when a set pressure of 0.5MPa is applied, making it ideal for applications that require a flow rate between the ITV0000's 7litre/min and the ITV2000's 1500litre/min.

'One of the many advantages of using ITV regulators is SMC's decision to go with a dual pilot valve design, reduces both cost and air consumption.

The more typical flapper nozzle design prevalent in many competitors require a constant air bleed-off to operate properly.' stated C.

Brion Kidder, Senior Product Manager for SMC Corporation of America.

The ITV regulators offer step free control of air pressure proportional to an electrical signal.

Internal circuitry pulses supply and release valves to maintain the desired output air pressure.

Compatible inputs are: 4-20mA DC, 0-20mA DC, 0-5V DC, and 0-10V DC analog inputs; 4-wire digital input.

ITV2000 and 3000 are available in 10-point or 16-point digital input devicenet network-compatible types and are available with 5 monitor output options.

They have a sensitivity of 0.2kPa, linearity within 1%, and hysteresis within 0.5%.

All but the ultra compact ITV0000 have an easy-to-read digital LED display.

All SMC ITV regulators have earned the CE and IP65 rating.

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

Heavy duty pneumatic solenoid valves are compact and rugged, incorporate innovative spool technology and have been developed for use in extreme temperatures, as low as -40 deg C.

Parker, the world's largest manufacturer of motion and control technology, has launched a range of revolutionary heavy duty pneumatic solenoid valves, designed for use in extreme conditions. Called Viking Xtreme, the new valves are compact and rugged, incorporate innovative spool technology and have been developed for use in applications where pneumatics systems have to operate at extreme temperatures, as low as -40 deg C, and at pressures of up to 16 bar. Unlike traditional solenoid valves, which typically use O-ring or lip seals between the valve spool and body, the new Viking Xtreme valves feature a single piece aluminium spool, over-moulded with a specially formulated rubber compound.

This eliminates the problems of seals deforming or extruding especially under conditions of high pressure or flow, reduces the number of component parts and provides an extended operating life.

As a result, the new Viking Xtreme valves can be used in higher pressure, high flow applications and offer excellent response times, with extremely low levels of spool break-away force or sticktion, allowing fast change-over even at low operating pressures.

The high pressure capabilities of the new valves, together with their robust construction, enable them to be used in applications that include logging and construction equipment, quarrying and in sawmills or paper and pulp mills.

In addition, Viking Xtreme valves meet the requirements of the various salt spray and vibration tests required by the transport sector and can therefore be used on commercial vehicles, buses and railway carriages.

The New Viking Xtreme is available in four versions, with 1/8, 1/4, 3/8 and 1/2in ports, are fitted 22mm wide solenoids as standard and can be supplied with a choice of coil voltage options, making them suitable for use in European and North American markets.

Output control of input and output is fundamental in respect of data transmission for which a new serial transmission system is can control a maximum of 128 points (64 input and 64 outputs).

Output Control of input and output is fundamental in respect of data transmission. SMC's answer to this challenge is a new serial transmission system, the EX500 Gateway unit, which is capable of controlling a maximum of 128 points (64 input and 64 outputs). Controlling up to 4 sets of 16 output points and 16 input points, allows easy and flexible installation of multiples of valve islands, when used in conjunction with SMC's newly launched SV valve system.

As well as providing decentralised control of the system.

The use of connector type cables for all wiring prevents miswiring the power supply lines are included in all cables, separate power supplies for SI units and input devices are not required.

Communication speed varies with protocol chosen, from 9.6Kbit/sec to 12Mbit/sec, with current consumption at 200mA or less.

In a world where machine performance and delivering results are of paramount importance, a leading pneumatics expert, is looking to a future where performance is bought and sold.

Selling 'value' - all change for pneumatics? In a world where machine performance and delivering results are of paramount importance, Norgren, the leading pneumatics expert, is looking to a future where performance is bought and sold while the products themselves become the conduit. Sean Toomes, Norgren's international marketing director paints a picture of a pneumatics industry very different from the one we recognise today.

Norgren's most recent innovations, including the industry's first fully-comprehensive and automated online ordering system - Norgren's 'Webstore'.

Last year the company also launched online technical support, giving customers 24 hour access through the Internet to Norgren specialists and engineers, and a free three-dimensional computer-aided design (CAD) facility for pneumatics engineers via its website.

So it's no surprise that the Internet figures large in his vision of the future, a vision which has more in common with the aerospace and digital television industries than with the pneumatics industry of today.

The concept is radical - yet so simple as to make immediate sense.

Toomes can see a day when Norgren will not necessarily charge customers on a per-unit basis for individual valves, actuators and FRLs.

Instead, the company will be able to sell whatever is of most value to the customer - be it cycles in the case of a valve, strokes in the case of an actuator, or throughput in the case of air-line equipment.

Option In his words, 'customers should have the option of paying for usage, not units'.

'What's most important to an engineer - the price of a unit or the fact that it is guaranteed to deliver a certain amount of service before it has to be replaced?

Engineers like to deal with certainties and I believe there is scope for us to meet this need.' Toomes points to the aerospace industry as an example.

Here jet engine manufacturers are starting to charge aircraft manufacturers not for the engines themselves, but for units of thrust delivered by each engine during the lifetime of the aircraft.

His point is that it is not the engine which is of value to the aircraft manufacturer, but what it actually delivers in terms of thrust.

'You are buying what you value, not what you need in order to deliver that value.' Performance So what he is selling, in fact, would be 'up-time' - a guaranteed rate of performance for a given price?

'Yes and no.

'If a piece of equipment - be it a valve, a filter or an actuator - stops working, then why should the customer have to pay for it?

It's not the product itself which a customer wants - it's what it can deliver.

Under the Norgren model you would be buying what you value, not simply 'up-time'.

You could specify to us what it is that you value and we could tailor our arrangement accordingly.

If what you want from your automation system is measurable we could sell it to you, be it cycles, strokes, volume, speed, accuracy - anything.' Toomes calls the concept a service innovation, where the focus is on delivering exactly the service of greatest value to the customer.

Nothing more, nothing less.

The benefits to the customer of this approach are legion, he says.

Total cost of ownership is driven down as the risk of ownership is transferred from the customer back to Norgren.

This includes costs associated with administration, maintenance and in-house design.

And cash-flow is streamlined through the elimination of initial cash outlays and a planned, pay-as-you-use approach.

Norgren would benefit from such an approach in that it would move up the value chain.

Where its competitors remain suppliers of components, Norgren would reinforce its position as a service and systems provider and a partner in the day-to-day operation of its customers' businesses.

The next question is obvious.

How would Norgren be able to tell how many strokes any given actuator had delivered, or how many litres of air had been pushed through an FRL?

How would it be practically possible to charge a customer for the exact number of cycles delivered by a valve?

Internet This, according to Toomes, is where the Internet comes in.

'We already have our V20/V22 valves which can communicate through a fieldbus to an operator, warning of impending failure or advising which particular valve in an island needs replacing.

It's only a short step to build in a monitoring capability which would let the equipment communicate with us at Norgren, advising us how hard it has been working today, this week or this month.

Norgren is already practically investigating a scenario in which pneumatic components would have their own IP (Internet Protocol) addresses.

Blue Tooth and broad-band technology would allow these components to access the Internet, and Norgren, from anywhere on the customer's factory floor.

'No mess, no fuss, no additional wiring', Toomes explains.

'The technology to let us work this way exists today - and we are in the process of applying it to what we do'.

He draws an analogy with a family.

'Your kids grow up and spread their wings.

But you keep in touch, you communicate with them - you know how well they are feeling, what they are doing, their highs and their lows.

The fact that we could now choose to have a similar relationship with our products opens up a new range of potential business models, and this is what we are exploring at the moment'.

But what of the time-scales involved?

Toomes is cautiously optimistic, saying that it would not take a huge leap to develop the scenario from where the industry is today.

Months, not years, is his verdict.

Norgren's 'Smart' suite of pneumatic products - launched at the Hanover Fair this year - has the monitoring and diagnostic capability required.

Linking these to the Internet would be the next stage in the process.

Norgren expects the potential 'selling value' business model to be of particular interest to high-volume, high-unit value industries such as semi-conductor wafer fabrication.

Other areas where it sees the model working well are with larger machine-builders and process-oriented industries like assembly and printing.

Toomes is excited about the concept and the potential it represents.

A dump truck manufacturer identified the need to integrate pneumatic manifolds to achieve dramatic reductions in components and assembly times for its new D-Series articulated dump trucks.

Dump truck manufacturer Bell Equipment identified the need to integrate pneumatic manifolds to achieve dramatic reductions in components and assembly times for its new D-Series ADTs (Articulated Dump Trucks). Global pneumatics expert Norgren worked in close cooperation with Bell Equipment to deliver the desired results. Located in Richards Bay in South Africa, Bell Equipment is a manufacturer of specialised loading and haulage plant for use around the world in the construction and many other industries.

Its latest product, the new state of the art D-Series ADT was launched worldwide at the end of 2001, reinforcing Bell Equipment's solid reputation for rugged, reliable products with outstanding customer satisfaction.

No leaks or failures during stringent tests From the early concepts of the D-Series ADT, the pneumatic system design and selection of components has been of prime importance.

Supplier and customer alike worked in close co-operation to establish a radical new installation layout for the D-Series.

The requirement therefore was for a totally new approach to the compressed air system.

Says Andrew Staniland, leader of the D-series ADT design team responsible for the pneumatics at Bell Equipment: 'We deemed it imperative to reduce the number of components in order to speed up assembly, reduce maintenance and eliminate possible air leaks in the system.

Norgren identified opportunities to consolidate the component requirements and by the introduction of their IPM (Integrated Pneumatic Manifold) vastly reduced the quantity of fittings and tubing previously required.

'We reduced the number of components by 75 per cent, reduced assembly times to a fraction of that previously spent on this task, and no leaks or component failures have been recorded during stringent tests in the past 16 months.' Supplied by Norgren's distributor NorGrip in South Africa, pneumatic components include Norgren's V44 and V05 solenoid valves, D18 pressure switches, sensors, Fleetfit fittings and a variety of connectors and hoses.

Pneumatics are used to control exhaust brake actuators, parking and ancillary brake systems, transmission shifting, remote hydraulic valves and supplementary equipment such as air horns and driver's seat adjustment.

Previously, control components have been distributed around a vehicle with each one requiring a separate mounting with associated hoses and electrical wiring.

The IPM is a single manifold block, which is used to physically mount all pneumatic components and serves as the transfer port between engine and driver controls.

By locating all of the critical components inside the driver's air-conditioned cab, only a single electrical connection harness is required, resulting in a notable increase in expected service life.

The interfaces for valves and pressure switches are machined directly onto a single manifold block, eliminating normal sub-bases, fittings and hoses.

In addition, the elements of several Norgren components such as non-return valves, throttle assemblies, shuttle valves and an overflow valve are incorporated into the manifold block.

Fitness for purpose Each IPM is pre-assembled with all of the pneumatic components and then tested, certified and engraved with port identification and a unique serial number.

During the three year development phase Norgren was able to specify the client's precise requirements and the final result is evidence of the support and options offered from the vast Norgren product range, supported by Norgren's global truck group.

Peter Bell, Group Technical Director of Bell Equipment, reiterates Norgren's excellence: 'The pre-assembled and tested IPM fits in with the Bell philosophy of increased participation by specialist suppliers.

Every major machine component is selected on fitness for purpose, not from a limited house brand source, but from the best the world has to offer.' Reflecting the innovative design of the IPM, it received a prestigious award in the prototype category from the South African Bureau of Standards Design Institute 2001.

Modular pneumatic micro valves, designed to address the exacting needs of electronics and small machinery manufacturers, feature extremely compact dimensions.

Automation specialist Festo has introduced a new range of modular pneumatic micro valves designed to address the exacting needs of electronics and small machinery manufacturers. The new range features extremely compact dimensions and accommodates the small size requirements of many industries including manufacturers for the electronics industry. Easy installation with a wide variety of connection options make this a highly attractive range to panel builders and OEMs.

The micro valve products have been developed in collaboration with US West Coast electronics users.

The special requirements resulting from the joint development initiative include surface mount electrical connectors for direct PCB mounting with single multicore cable connection as well as a pneumatic multiconnector for easy swap-out and assembly, and a broad array of configuration options.

Festo states that the new valves are just the start of a whole new range, describing the miniature units as ' basic building blocks from Festo'.

Micro valves are available in three voltage options of 24V, 12V and 5V, mount on 10mm pitch centres, and offer a flow rate of 20 litres per minute.

Unit dimensions are a highly compact 10mm x 30mm x 30mm maximum.

For maximum mounting versatility electrical connections can be selected from above, to the rear or, by plugging into the manifold, via a D sub connector.

In addition to the various voltage, connector, access and mounting options as individual devices, Festo will offer the new micro valves to customers as part of a full solution kit, for instance with an interface to the company's acclaimed IPC@chip industrial PC controller.

Pneumatic cylinders with rugged external design in anodised aluminium have internal parts of high grade engineering plastics to give low weight, soft end stops and silent operation.

Parker Pneumatic has introduced an entirely new and innovative family of ISO/VDMA pneumatic cylinders - the P1D Series - to meet the future demands of customers, worldwide, involved in a wide variety of industrial applications such as packaging machines, the food processing industry, woodworking industry, automotive plants, the dairy industry and OEM automation. Development work on the P1D Series involved close collaboration with machine manufacturers and users. The result is a complete family of cylinders designed to cover almost every conceivable application.

Every variant in the new ISO/VDMA-compliant Parker P1D family is available in bore sizes from 32 to 125 mm and has a rugged external design in anodised aluminium with internal parts of high-grade engineering plastics such as acetal and polyurethane, giving optimal geometry, low weight, soft end stops and silent operation.

The sealing material is polyurethane throughout for long service life.

New sensor technology (patent applied for) gives an extremely clean external design.

Drop-in sensors are installed in separate grooves integral to the barrel.

This provides good mechanical protection and makes them easy to install and adjust.

Up to four sensors can be used at the same time Three main versions, some with unique properties, are available - the P1D Standard; P1D Clean; P1D Flexible Porting; and P1D Complete Units.

P1D Standard - a universal high performance 'install and forget' general purpose cylinder.

Features include new sensor technology.

Drop-in sensors are easily installed in any of the four grooves on the body extrusion and can be positioned anywhere along the stroke of the cylinder.

P1D Clean - these cylinders have been developed to meet the strict hygienic requirements of the food industry, with several innovative solutions and at a significantly lower price than stainless steel cylinders.

Convex body extrusion and surfaces avoid pockets and recesses where dirt might accumulate.

This also applies to details such as the cushioning screws and the protection plugs for the end cover screws.

Up to four integral sensors, inserted into their grooves through a transparent, sealed cover, are easily adjusted and maintained.

The P1D Clean is also available with ports in the same end cover for confined spaces and with a special scraper ring and piston rod seal system designed for operation with a dry piston rod.

P1D Flexible Porting - cylinders with both ports in the same end cover for installation in confined spaces.

The Flexible Porting option is made possible by air ducts in the convex barrel enabling connections to be made at either end with straight or elbow push-in connectors.

P1D Flexible Porting cylinders can be supplied to accommodate the standard 'drop-in' sensors, or the integral sensors offered with the P1D Clean cylinders.

P1D Complete Units - cylinders can also be supplied as complete units with factory-installed fittings and accessories.

The comprehensive P1D family also includes special versions, for example with through piston rod, extended piston rod and three- and four-position cylinders.

Although the choice is wide, Parker has succeeded in making matters simpler for customers by offering complete units on which all fittings and accessories have been pre-installed by Parker.

Using a newly-developed ordering key, customers can order a ready-to-install cylinder with only one article number, instead of having to order as many as ten separate articles simplifying logistics and reducing costs.

Significant savings have been made through improvements in the use and management of compressed air and through the installation of dedicated low-pressure blower-based Aiknives.

Superglass Insulation manufactures mineral wool insulation products for domestic, commercial and industrial use from its facility in Stirling, Scotland. In return for receiving a rebate of GBP 80,000 of its climate change levy payments, the company is required to meet challenging specific energy targets. Working with the assistance of Action Energy and Energy Consultants the company identified and implemented various measures to reduce compressed air consumption.

One of the main issues to investigate was the use of compressed air for removing surface water and as a result of changes made the company now benefits from annual savings that will last for years to come.

Airknives - 'We previously used an air bar, working off dirty wet factory compressed air to remove surface water from the metal collection belt system,' explained Steven Whyte, Project Electrical Engineer.

'On hearing about the benefits of Air Control Industries' (ACI) Airknife system and free demonstration option, we decided to assess the Airknife's capabilities on the actual application.

Working off a radial-bladed blower at much lower pressure and drawing air through a filter, the Airknife immediately provided an improved performance over our original system.' 'We have since replaced a total of five compressed air systems throughout the plant with ACI's Airknives, resulting in significant energy and maintenance cost savings by eliminating such tasks as replacement of the air bar plastic wind jet nozzles which frequently broke off.

Most importantly', states Whyte, 'significant savings have been made through improvements in the use and management of compressed air and through the installation of dedicated low-pressure blower-based Aiknives supplied by ACI.

Overall, we have saved GBP 128,000 per annum for an outlay of GBP 32,000.

Compact pneumatic cylinders of small-bore sizes, whose introduction pre-empt the new standard ISO 21287 that comes into effect later this year, are 45% shorter than standard cylinders.

The NZ range of compact pneumatic cylinders has been extended by Hoerbiger-Origa to embrace more small-bore sizes, pre-empting the new standard ISO 21287 that comes into effect later this year. The extended range now encompasses new standard bores of 12mm, 16mm, 20mm and 25mm, as well as the previous 32-100mm bores. Due to an innovative end-cap design the NZK compact cylinders are typically 45 per cent shorter than standard cylinders, yet deliver the outstanding output force, rigid guidance and positional accuracy associated with Hoerbiger-Origa actuators.

Highly efficient end buffers are built into the end caps to provide for quiet, shock-free operation.

The larger diameter piston rod and bearings together ensure smooth travel and optimum side load capabilities.

The design of the actuator body is such that the overall dimensions are little more that the stroke, but without compromising rigidity in any direction nor the smoothness of the stroke motion.

To provide smooth running, even at slow speeds, and eliminate stick/slip at start up, the internal air seals are designed with small lip profiles.

These are also moulded in a highly wear resistant polymer to ensure long life expectancy.

Both single acting and double acting drive power options are available, as are a number of mounting options and accessories.

Electric guided slide table actuator combines the smooth operation, flexibility, and high positioning accuracy with quick set-up, simple actuation and low cost of pneumatic equivalent.

SMC Corporation, the world's largest manufacturer of pneumatic automation products has announced the release of the EMY2 electric guided slide table actuator. The EMY2 combines the smooth operation, flexibility, and high positioning accuracy of a stepper motor actuator with the quick set-up, simple actuation, and low cost of its pneumatic equivalent. The EMY2 features a user-friendly control box for manual operation, and can be actuated using just two PLC outputs like a solenoid valve--one for move left, another for move right, and both for move to center.

It also provides four status outputs and five LEDs for at-a-glance visual indication.

Magnetically triggered hall effect sensors can also be mounted along the length of the actuator for additional position verification.

Available in two base sizes, the EMY2 can handle payloads up to 70 lb, with stroke lengths from 50 to 1000mm.

Stroke stop blocks let you tailor the stroke length to suit the application.

For added value, the slider and guide rail portion of the actuator can be separated from the motor and control box for maintenance or easier installation.

The motor and control box can be positioned on the left or right side of the actuator, facing up or downward.

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