Motion Industries Inc. is pleased to announce a new Motion Repair & Services location at 10710 Sharmon Road, Houston, Texas, 77038. The new shop, which is entirely dedicated to repair and services, is slated to open in September 2024. The modern, well-equipped repair facility features a full suite of CNC and manual machine tools, lifting…
Sun Hydraulics’ eSense counterbalance solution for safe load holding
At iVT Expo last week, Sun Hydraulics was highlighting some of its newer technologies, including its eSense counterbalance solution. This load-holding technology allows users to save energy without sacrificing performance. Designated as part of Sun’s ecoline program, this solution adapts to any load and provides up to 85% of energy-efficient power to applications. Combatting the […]
Polyethylene versus nylon tubing — who wins the pressure war?
By Josh Cosford, Contributing Editor In the bustling battlefield of pneumatic systems’ hose and tubing, two contenders stand ready for combat: polyethylene and nylon tubing. Armed with unique strengths and weaknesses, they prepare to face off in the high-pressure war, so let’s dive into this skirmish and see who emerges victorious. Round 1: The Durability […]
Gain an inside look into aircraft hydraulic systems
Understanding the intricacies of aircraft hydraulic systems provides insight into the engineering marvels that keep aircraft flying safely through varying conditions. By Josh Cosford, Contributing Editor Aircraft hydraulic systems are a special breed of essential components in modern aviation, providing the power and control necessary for various functions that provide the safe and efficient flights…
Motion to purchase Canadian industrial distributor LSI Supply
Motion Industries Inc. signed a definitive purchase agreement to acquire the operating assets of Canadian-based LSI Supply Inc. and its sister company 273 Ontario (which trades as LSI). The transaction is expected to close later this month, subject to customary closing conditions. Headquartered in Windsor, Ontario, LSI Supply has five area locations and distributes bearings,…
The benefits of unitized sealing products in hydraulic cylinders
Unitized sealing solutions feature over-molding and precision machining to eliminate challenges inherent in standard piston and gland designs. Contributed by Andrew Iddeson, Product Technology Director, Advanced Sealing Technologies and Chuck White, Global Product Development Manager Hydraulic cylinders are a key component in efficiently harnessing the power created by a fluid power system into usable linear […]
Which pneumatic technology is best for linear motion applications?
In linear motion applications, pneumatics, servo pneumatics, and controlled pneumatics each deliver unique motion and force capabilities. Contributed by By Frank Langro, Director of Product Market Management, Pneumatic Automation, Festo Pneumatic linear actuators are fundamental for automation because of their low cost, ease of installation and operation, high yet compliant force, speed, compactness, safety in hazardous areas, […]
How to ensure proper hydraulic fitting assembly
Contributed by Gary Molton • BSc, Owner, Engineering Adventures Poor assembly or using the wrong type of fluid power fitting has been shown to increase risk of fluid leakage and industrial injury. Fitting designs have changed considerably over the last 30 years to reduce these risks but this has resulted in a myriad of assembly […]
NITRA nickel-plated brass PTC fittings from AutomationDirect
AutomationDirect has added a variety of new NITRA push-to-connect fittings. These fittings feature durable nickel-plated brass bodies, threads, and release sleeves. They have a maximum pressure rating of 300 psi and can withstand temperatures up to 175℉. Numerous fitting styles have been added, including male straight fittings, male elbows, branch tees, union straight fittings, union […]
Comparing electric versus hydraulic motors
By Josh Cosford, Contributing Editor Comparing electrical with hydraulics is one of my favorite topics to write about. When you study both fields, you quickly realize how much the concepts, mathematics and symbology coincide. However, not all readers share my same enthusiasm for the analogy. Many years ago, one LinkedIn member commented that I was […]
When to use (or not use) BSPT fittings?
By Josh Cosford, Contributing Editor If you’re not terribly familiar with hydraulic fittings, you may think BSPT is a typo. Is it supposed to be BSPP (British Standard Pipe Parallel) or perhaps NPT (National Pipe Thread)? No, it’s not a typo – we’re actually talking about British Standard Pipe Taper, which is the version of […]
Singer Industrial teams up with hose company MEP Brothers
Singer Industrial has teamed up with MEP Brothers Inc., a provider of industrial and hydraulic hose, gaskets, and environmental spill response products. MEP Brothers is headquartered in Winnipeg, Manitoba, and will operate within the Industrial Rubber Division of Singer Industrial. The capabilities of MEP Brothers will create a greater breadth and depth of support for […]
Four tips and strategies to ensure hydraulic health and safety
Hydraulic machinery has a crucial role to play in many facets of modern society. From transport to construction, marine and shipping or food processing, machinery powered by hydraulics acts as the backbone to getting jobs done efficiently and repeatedly. The HSE reported that 561,000 people in 2022/23 sustained an injury in the workplace, and given […]
AutomationDirect adds Bucher Hydraulics HPUs, heat exchangers and solenoid valves
AutomationDirect has added hydraulic power units (HPUs), heat exchangers for HPUs, and hydraulic solenoid valves from Bucher Hydraulics. Hydraulic power units contain a reservoir, pump/motor, filter, and all necessary controls to power a hydraulic system. They are offered in the single-phase powered M-series and three-phase powered T-series models. A T-series dual-flow, dual-pressure model is also…
There’s nothing artificial about the benefits of AI for manufacturers and distributors
Contributed by Mike Marks, Founding Partner of the Indian River Consulting Group In recent years, the supply chain has become unpredictable, and manufacturers and distributors alike must make bold moves to continue growing. One such move is to invest in and implement new technological solutions — especially those powered by artificial intelligence. AI isn’t just…
Direct-acting, poppet-type hydraulic cartridge valve for pressure-limiting needs
The new DRV screw-in, poppet type, direct-acting cartridge-style hydraulic relief valve from Doering is designed for use as a pressure limiting device for common hydraulic circuit protection. The DRV blocks flow from port 1 to port 2 until sufficient pressure is available at port 1 to force the poppet from its seat. The cartridge offers…
Simulations serve as valuable tools for sealing fluid power components
Contributed by Alan Astbury, Simulation Methods Developer, Trelleborg Sealing Solutions To achieve optimal efficiency, fluid power applications and their sealing components need good friction characteristics and long life to reduce maintenance. Engineering simulations and the experts to interpret them can result in better sealing and material recommendations, leading to faster prototyping, predictive maintenance and a […]
Pre-configured and assembled air preparation units for safe food use
Festo introduces a line of pre-configured, assembled, and tested compressed air preparation units that not only makes specification and ordering faster and easier, but also ensures clean air in food and beverage production. Right out of the box, the new units meet the Safe Quality Food (SQF) guidelines of final filtration stage 0.01 micron (µm) […]
Extreme-duty hose reels for up to 5,000 psi hose
For years Coxreels has supplied heavy duty reels with triple axle supports and solid ¼-in. plate bases for demanding applications and environments. The company engineered strength with features, balancing performance with cost, bringing suitable solutions for many market sectors. Some industries still demanded more. Some industries, similar to mining, heavy equipment, lubrication, or other off-road […]
NITRA CPS9E series dovetail cylinder position switches from AutomationDirect
AutomationDirect has added NITRA CPS9E series cylinder position switches which are compact general-purpose switches designed to detect the position of a pneumatic cylinder’s magnetic piston. This feedback can be used by a control system to determine cylinder position, cycle count, and to confirm operation. These switches are manufactured specifically to fit into extruded or […]
Holmbury grows with expanded lab and office space
Holmbury Inc. recently hosted an open house, to highlight the growth the company has made in the past several years at its U.S. headquarters in Eastlake, Ohio. The manufacturer of flat face couplings has nearly doubled its space, expanding with two extra suites to the south and north of its original space. In the southern […]
Proportion-Air holds grand opening for new building
Electro-pneumatic pressure regulation and flow control manufacturer Proportion-Air recently celebrated the completion of its new facility in Gulf Breeze, Florida, with a grand opening event last month. The event brought visitors from the community to see the company’s new 12,000 square foot building, which houses research and development, marketing and sales, and administration functions. Attendees […]
Pneumatic valves provide greater automation flexibility, optimized flow
Emerson has launched its Aventics series XV pneumatic valves. Series XV valves are designed with interoperability in mind to provide machine builders across multiple industries and factory automation applications with a flexible and cost-effective valve platform. The new valves are ideal for machine builders and end users that operate across the globe, with universal threads […]
Compressed air fail: Bad KPIs
Compressed air systems classed as “best practices” have permanent monitoring systems installed that can automatically track the performance of the system. In this way, problems can be easily detected and dealt with quickly. Important variables like pressure, power, flow, temperature, and dew point are measured and sent to a central database, to be stored for […]
Dry vacuum pumps for lower pumping speed classes
Added to the nEDC 300 pumps from Edwards Vacuum are the nEDC 65-150 models that completes its range of robust dry claw vacuum pumps for the lower pumping speed classes. With features such as robustness, efficiency and easy handling of contaminants, the smaller pumps are also ideal for applications in the areas of water and […]