The latest developments in pneumatics at MachineBuilding.South

Pneumatics continue to play a vital role in automation, but how it is implemented now defines their true value. The EB 80 electropneumatic system from Metal Work Pneumatic (Stand 42) rethinks how pneumatic control is designed, installed and operated.

Time saved during design, installation and commissioning has a direct impact on project profitability. EB 80 has been engineered to accelerate each stage of the process: A single valve size covers a wide range of applications, reducing component variation and stock requirements. Support for both multipin and fieldbus connections simplifies design decisions.

Valve bases, signal, and fieldbus modules can be added or replaced by removing only a few screws, with configurations updated at the press of a button. This modular approach allows machines to be assembled, tested and commissioned faster, while remaining easy to adapt if requirements change.

With unplanned downtime costly, the EB 80 has been developed with reliability at its core, supported by extensive FMEA analysis, simulation and longterm testing. Continuous selfdiagnostics include detection of missing or faulty valves, monitoring of short circuits, overvoltage and undervoltage, individual valve status LEDs, and direct transmission of fault information to the control system via fieldbus.

New from SMC (Stand 71) is the PFES Series electric speed controller, offering remote control of pneumatic actuator speed with a simple and compact design. Ideal for installations where access is restricted or puts operators at risk, the PFES Series enables safe, efficient adjustment of actuator speed without the need for manual intervention.

Replacing traditional manual flow controllers, PFES uses an electrically operated needle valve to regulate compressed air flow. Operators can send open or close signals from a remote location, making it possible to adjust actuator speed in clean rooms, guarded machinery, or elevated installations - without entering the machine area.

PFES helps reduce commissioning and maintenance time by allowing multiple speed controllers to be adjusted simultaneously using a single remote signal. This eliminates the need for manual setting on each unit and avoids inconsistencies between machines.

During machine commissioning, PFES allows manual adjustment even if electrical controls are not yet in place. This flexibility speeds up build and setup processes and ensures that local adjustments can still be made if needed.

With a foot firmly in the camps of both pneumatic and electric automation, Festo (Stand 17) is emphasising how seamless integration of these systems gives users significant competitive advantages. Seamless connectivity ensures seamless connectivity in the systems. This is made possible by Festo's open system architecture - it connects individual components from different technologies. This creates uninterrupted data flows - from the individual component to the higher-level control system, including in solutions from Festo and third-party providers. The Seamless Digital Experience provides end-to-end support from design and operation to maintenance throughout the entire project. Data is transferred seamlessly.

With Seamless Automation, Festo says it is paving the way for every industrial motion requirement of customers. Everything fits together: mechanically and digitally, from the hardware to the software and the appropriate learning programme - supplemented by the broad technological and application expertise of Festo engineers and technicians.

Consistent data flows from individual components to the control system and high compatibility thanks to open standards ensure that devices, data and hardware recognise each other and automatically work together seamlessly. Festo makes this possible through standardised protocols across all technologies, a universal modular system, consistent system principles, and the same architecture across all modules.