Now in its 7th year, the annual LEAP Awards (Leadership in Engineering Achievement Program) acknowledges innovation and engineering achievements from around the globe. This year, our expert independent judging panel reviewed dozens of submissions to award gold, silver, and bronze winners and honorable mentions across 10 categories.
Three companies were honored for their innovations in hydraulics and pneumatics. The winners were:
Gold
DGD Fluid Power — CFT-MAX
The CFT-Max from DGD Fluid Power was awarded gold in the 2024 LEAP Awards.
DGD Fluid Power’s J1939 version of their Cartridge Flow Transducer (CFT) gives system designers and mobile equipment manufacturers the ability to add flow measurement to the integrated valve manifolds that before now was not available. All CFT models provide real-time data for predictive maintenance and remote troubleshooting and offer turbine flow accuracy. The advantages of cartridge valving is widely recognized for much of the evolution and advances made in equipment due to reduction in plumbing and space requirements.
When reviewing the CFT-Max, the judges commented: “Cartridge Flow Sensor is a new innovation — and what an advantage to measure high flow with good response and accuracy with small physical size.”
“We recognized some years ago that machine intelligence and data collection was going to play a major role in making equipment more efficient, reduce downtime and warranty costs and provide real time performance status to the machine operators. The challenge we overcame was creating a device that was in the versatile format of a cartridge valve,” said Dale Dietel, President and CEO of DGD.
“Our original 4-20 mA and VDC output versions have been well received by the industry, but the communication requirements for mobile equipment made the development of the J1939 CAN-bus platform the next logical step for our product line. Our latest US Patent Application is specific to our efforts on this product, but the details have not been published to date. We have 2 issued US Patents that have issued so far, # 11,614,351 & # 11,892,331 and a total of 2 more pending.”
Silver — Festo VTEP
Festo’s VTEP
proportional valve terminal took was awarded silver in the 2024 LEAP Awards.
This past year, Festo introduced the world’s first proportional valve terminal, a controlled pneumatics solution which features integrated digitally controlled piezoelectric cartridges for air flow, sensors for feedback, and control algorithms. Controlled pneumatics delivers improved solutions to complex applications by reducing the number of components for simpler implementation, boosting productivity, ensuring quality, reducing waste, and conserving energy.
Semiconductor, battery, textile, and food manufacturers gain design, productivity quality, and energy benefits.
The VTEP proportional valve terminal provides closed-loop control of moderate air flow – vacuum up to 35 lpm. A reduced footprint breakthrough, the terminal is less than 5 in. wide. It comes in 2-, 3-, and 5-valve variants, which can control up to 10 channels. Users set performance parameters per channel and VTEP controls to those presets. VTEP delivers highly dynamic response and precise pressure control to achieve “target reached” status for the channel. The control algorithm automatically maintains the target based on integrated-sensor feedback. Applications include force-controlled polishing, web tensioning, precision piloting, dispensing, dosing, flexible gripping, and diaphragm pump control.
Bronze — STAUFF’S Noise and Vibration Reducing NRC Clamps
STAUFF’S Noise and Vibration Reducing NRC Clamps were awarded bronze in the 2024 LEAP Awards.
STAUFF NRC type clamps were designed for the noise and vibration reducing installation of pipes, tubes and hoses with outside diameters between 6 and 42 mm (for tubes) and between 38 and 55,7 mm (for hoses). The working principle is based on clamp bodies made from Polypropylene following the Standard and Heavy Series according to DIN 3015 with a specially shaped, two-part elastomer insert, which mechanically absorbs vibrations in the pipe, tube or hose and as a result reduces noises arising to a minimum. The insert is in particular distinguished by how little of its surface is in contact with the pipe, tube or hose and clamp body, and as a result is far more effective than the previously known solutions.
Visit designworldonline.com to learn about the other winners.
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