Festo South Africa’s business development manager, Russell Schwulst discusses the current trends in fittings and tubing.
Connection technology plays a pivotal role in pneumatic factory automation. As with any other technology, it has evolved and adapted to become more functional and modular. Here are some of the trends (good and bad) that we have detected in recent times.
Grey market products
In South Africa we are seeing an influx of low cost fitting and tubing products. Cheaper does not often mean better, however, and these grey market products are having a detrimental impact on pneumatic systems due to leaks and shorter lifespans. Since no production line can afford to be idle, quality materials need to be selected and utilised. Fittings and tubing are major components at the heart of a system and should be treated as importantly as any other module.
Environment and application specific
Not all tubing is created equal and the suitability of tubing for use in a specific environment is largely dependent on the material. Characteristics such as flexibility, temperature and media resistance are all affected by the material used. This is why the proper tubing needs to be selected for the appropriate condition and application. An application that uses UV radiation, for example, will require a different tubing to one that operates within an environment where coolants are used. Fortunately individual solutions can be tailored to the user’s requirements.
Standards and regulations
Not only are businesses realising that fittings and tubing need to be specific to the environment and application, but industry standards, testing and regulations are also ensuring that this remains a priority. Apart from ensuring the correct material is being selected and utilised, there is a health and safety element as well. In a heat intensive environment, for example, the incorrect fitting and tubing combination or the use of inferior product could cause a pipe to burst or come loose, resulting in an injury to an operator.
Energy saving
In the midst of the current national power crisis, energy saving is vital. Load shedding is becoming inevitable and factories need to maximise the efficiency of the production line before the lights go out and the expensive generators kick in. Leakage and breaks have a negative impact on operational costs as well as energy efficiency, because they slow down the rate of production. By using quality equipment in the correct application, a business can lower operational costs and cause less strain on already constricted power grids. This will also have an overall positive impact on the factory’s maintenance budget and our environment.
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