Mike Santora

Do you need a quick way to switch fluid power lines while maintaining a leak free environment either in your product design or testing facility?  Does your design warrant a precision machined assembly that is easy to use, reduces down time and eliminates leaks?  Is space limited?  If so, Beswick Engineering’s new dry break quick…

Fluid Power Industry Growth Trend The latest data published by the National Fluid Power Association shows industry shipments of fluid power products for August 2015 decreased 14.4% compared to August 2014, and decreased 5.6% when compared to last month. Mobile hydraulic, industrial hydraulic, and pneumatic shipments decreased in August 2015 when compared to August 2014.…

Just about everyone is aware of the dominance of video content on the Internet. Just to be on the net at all demands that you be aware of it. The trend doesn’t show signs of slowing down either. Cisco, for example, predicts that 69% of all consumer Internet traffic will be video by 2017. If…

If you are of a certain age, you might remember when nearly every electronic device had a cord. You also might remember having been tripped, or tangled in those wires as well. In your home, the stakes were fairly low. That’s not usually the case in the field, where they can also pose real safety…

Industrial equipment wholesaler Applied Industrial Technologies, Inc. (AIT – Snapshot Report) recently announced the acquisition of S. G. Morris Co. Financial terms of the transaction were kept under wraps. S. G. Morris Co. is a recognized distributor of fluid power components in Cleveland, Toledo and Pittsburgh. In addition, the firm provides engineered fluid power systems…

Winters Multiport (NVA Series) and Block & Bleed (BBV Series) Needle Valves feature a one-piece corrosion resistant 316 stainless steel or Carbon Steel body, rated up to either 6,000 or 10,000 psi. NACE is also available for sour gas service and they will be CRN registered for Canada. The Multiport Valves have three output ports…

Freudenberg Sealing Technologies (FST) has announced key changes in its leadership – including an appointment to its board of management and the naming a new President of Freudenberg-NOK Sealing Technologies (Freudenberg-NOK). Dr. Theodore G. Duclos will become a member of FST’s Board of Management on January 1, 2016, and is relocating from the United States…

The Industrial Group of Moog Inc. has launched a contest today to find the oldest operating Moog servo valve. The company will also be sponsoring monthly drawings to give people with newer valves a chance to participate. This contest is part of a celebration of the 50th anniversary of Moog’s operations in Europe. In 1951…

Allen J. Carlson, President and Chief Executive Officer of Sun Hydraulics Corporation has announced that he will transition from his role as the Company’s President and Chief Executive Officer effective March 31, 2016. In connection with Mr. Carlson’s announcement, the Company’s Board of Directors named Company Vice Chairman Wolfgang H. Dangel as President and Chief…

A new test service introduced by Bal Seal Engineering, Inc. offers verified performance results for Bal Seal low-friction spring-energized seals used in rotary/face applications. According to the company, the service will help OEMs and tier suppliers eliminate unnecessary costs, delays and complications associated with in-house or outsourced seal testing. Rotary/face seals are frequently used in…

The Beswick MBVMD-1010-303 ball valve is a suitable solution for many miniature high tech applications. You can think of it as the “baby bear” of ball valves. There are times, however, when you need a precision ball valve that is more compact than traditional NPT threaded ball valves but can also provide more flow than…

Sun Hydraulics Corporation introduces its next-generation cartridge family that offers an average energy savings of 30% over standard counterbalance valves and offers stability across many applications. These new patent-pending LoadAdaptive counterbalance valves – an evolution of and direct replacement for Sun’s CB series of valves – are multi pilot-ratio valves that provide improved stability and…

By Eric Bucci- Oil & Gas Segment Manager, Trelleborg Sealing Solutions Hydraulic systems in marine environments require a complex combination of specialized seals. Understanding the different materials and styles is critical to a safe, successful design. Hydraulic applications are challenging to seal. Not only must the hydraulic seals prevent leakage of fluid from the cylinder, but they…

Angelina College in Lufkin, Texas, received a fluid power lab grant from the NFPA Education and Technology Foundation in July 2014. They used the funds to purchase three trainers—one hydraulic based and two pneumatic based. Each new learning system has a set of Learning Activity Packets (LAPs) that include objectives, activities, skills and reviews designed…

The NFPA is cleaning out the garage they call NFPA.com. It’s a big process, but they think you will appreciate the result when they’re done. NFPA.com has long been the site for information they make available to members, prospective members, people who want to know about fluid power, purchasers of standards and others. The NFPA…

When Piab set out to create its new piFLOWp line of conveyors, it wanted to improve capacity and energy efficiency by moving vacuum pump technology away from the multi-ejector. The goal was to reduce lead time and cost through modularization of both the conveyor and pump. This meant a side mounted pump versus the old…

Click below to listen to Design World Associate Editor Mike Santora chat with Festo Actuator Product Manager Mike Guelker. In this podcast they discuss pneumatic cylinders and the advances necessary for them to stand up to today’s harsh environment applications. You can also read the full roundup on pneumatic cylinders here. Festo www.festo.com

The biggest change pneumatic cylinders have seen in the past couple of years has been environment-driven. Engineers are requiring better performance from their cylinders and they’re requiring it in much more demanding applications. These environments include, but are not limited to, medical, hydroforming, foundries, food processing and packaging and others. These demanding environments are pushing…

Ace Controls has introduced a new line of industrial gas springs whose internal components have been optimized for low friction, consistent operating forces and a long life. These NEWTON Line gas springs feature several technical improvements that contribute to their smooth manual operation and durability, including: • New slide bushings and seals that together reduce…

Hydrotech, Inc., a fluid power and motion automation solutions provider, is about to undergo a 23,000-sq. ft expansion to its Cincinnati headquarters. The expansion is necessary as the company has grown 14 % per year since 2010, including hiring 35 people in the past five years with 10 more to be added before the end…

The Hägglunds TADS is a completely self-contained system and comes with either internal splines or a hollow output shaft with a compression coupling that easily mounts directly to a machine’s drive shaft. Flexible shaft couplings and associated alignment problems, extra long hoses or lines, and control lines between conventional power unit and motor are eliminated.…

Editor’s note: This article was updated with expanded information on digital and dry pressure gauges, as well as gauge calibration. A pressure gauge is a fluid intensity measurement device. Pressure gauges are required for the set-up and tuning of fluid power machines, and are indispensable in troubleshooting them. Without pressure gauges, fluid power systems would…

Deschner Corporation has announced the new IMPACTA line of hydraulic shock absorbers. They are self-adjusting, feature the M25 threaded body and offer a longer cycle life. Deschner engineered the Impacta series with the same standard of performance of their original premium adjustable Cushioneer model shock absorber, but in a competitively priced unit. Impacta self-adjusting shock…

STAUFF offers a complete range of ball valves and flow control valves in a variety of configurations with carbon steel or stainless steel construction. Working pressures range from 3,000 psi to 12,000 psi. STAUFF’s “Floating Ball” design ensures a positive, leak-free seal and automatically compensates for any seat wear or misalignment. The hard-chrome plated micro-smooth…

Schroeder Industries introduces its new In-Line Filter, the LC50. The LC50 is a high pressure filter capable of handling 9 gpm at 150 SUS. The compact design allows for in-line installation on hose reels and is also suitable for a wide variety of other applications with operation pressures of up to 5,000 psi. Our high…