Festo Ltd

Festo has launched a range of electric piston-rod cylinders featuring enhanced ingress protection, including models with a high IP65 rating, for applications involving exposure to aggressive media. The new enhanced IP versions of DNCE cylinders offer machine builders and OEMs a wide choice of configuration options, enabling the performance and level of protection to be optimally matched to the application.

Today, Festo launches a guided pneumatic swivel module for manufacturing automation that provides a versatile rotating drive solution for larger and difficult loads. The new DSM-HD swivel module combines a high performance semi-rotary vane drive with a precision heavy duty bearing to rotate larger loads through adjustable angles up to 270 degrees - accurately and without any need for additional bearings or guidance systems.

Festo has launched a range of bellows grippers that provide an ideal pneumatic automation solution to the problem of transporting or holding fragile workpieces.

Festo, a world leading supplier of pneumatic and electrical automation technology, has been awarded a 1* Accreditation in the Sunday Times 2011 Best Companies Accreditation scheme

Festo is supporting the PPMA show by demonstrating how automation technology of the future can employ principles adapted from nature. As the innovation leader in pneumatic and electric drive technology, Festo sponsors a Bionic Learning Network of leading academics, research institutes and partner companies to explore, understand and find applications for lessons from nature. Applications developed from this knowledge network include new adaptive grippers, energy saving handling systems and new concepts for sensing and communications.

- Strengthening EU locations with innovation, technology, education and knowledge

Fluid power specialist Kiowa has won the prestigious Festo ‘Premier Stockist of the Year’ award for outstanding performance in 2010. The award is presented to the company within the Festo Premier Stockist network that shows the best sales growth of Festo products for the year, combined with demonstrable gains in operational efficiency – evidenced by over 90% usage of the Festo on-line shop – and the highest level of commitment to strategic campaigns.

Festo has launched two new series of mechanically compatible precision mini-slides – one pneumatic, the other electric – enabling OEMs and machine builders to mix and match different drive technologies with impunity. Both series of slides feature hardened steel guide rails, which are precision-ground together with the body after assembly, and use caged re-circulating ball bearings between the rails and the hardened steel slide. The overall effect is that the body and the slide jointly form the guidance system, conveying an exceptional level of rigidity to the design

Brammer UK Ltd, Europe’s leading supplier of maintenance, repair and overhaul (MRO) products and services, has presented Festo GB with its prestigious 2010 Award for excellence in Supplier Relationship Management. The awards ceremony formed part of Brammer’s annual Manufacturing Forum, held this year at the Ironbridge Gorge Museum near Telford, and was hosted by Alastair Campbell, the former Labour spokesman and communications strategist.

* Innovative dynamic seat modules add further realism to 3D film experience

Festo has launched a highly innovative short-stroke electric cylinder which uses a patented tubular linear motor and end-position controller to provide exceptional dynamic performance. Initially available in two sizes with peak thrust force ratings of 35 N and 52 N, the new ADNE-LAS cylinder offers a choice of four stroke lengths from 15 to 45 mm. The cylinders are ideal alternatives to solenoid actuators – they are especially suitable for process-type applications demanding fast and controllable movement, such as selectively ejecting faulty parts in a high throughput testing station.

Festo has launched a new generation of pneumatic actuators designed to provide a cost-effective alternative to specialist high-end components for the food and beverage industries. The actuators employ ‘Clean Design’ principles to help minimise contamination risk, and are ideal for use in aggressive environments where frequent wash-down procedures are implemented. The first products in this new range include corrosion-resistant round and guided cylinders that use FDA (U.S. Food and Drug Administration) approved seals and USDA (U.S. Department of Agriculture) approved H1 food-grade lubricants.

Festo has further extended the capabilities of its popular VTSA pneumatic valve terminal, which can now accommodate 55 mm ISO size 2 valves, as well as 18 mm, 26 mm and 42 mm valves. This additional capability enables the terminal to handle flow rates as high as 3,000 l/min – 30% more than the previous model – and opens up entirely new application areas in medium to large machine control.

Festo has launched an extensive new range of ultra-compact precision electric actuators that can be ordered via the web from its on-line shop. This means that machine designers and builders can now take delivery of positioning actuators offering ±10 micron repeatability within 24 hours of placing their order. Downloadable PC-based software for dimensioning electromechanical linear axes and electric motors, backed by native CAD models of the actuators, further helps users accelerate design-in and machine build.

Festo has introduced a one-day orientation course for machine builders struggling to interpret the latest requirements of the new Machinery Directive 2006/42/EC.

Festo has launched a powerful CoDeSys embedded controller for use with its renowned CPX series of multifunctional control terminals. The new CPX-CEC module provides machine builders with a technically elegant means of overseeing all the units in a CPX terminal – regardless of whether they are for pneumatic or electric drives, or I/O functions – using a fast, easy-to-program controller. Suitable for single and multi-axis applications, the CPX-CEC can operate autonomously or in conjunction with a host controller such as a master PLC, and can also be used as an intelligent slave in fieldbus-based systems, to provide localised signal pre-processing.

Festo has entered the low-cost electric actuator market with the launch of a unique toothed belt drive axis which marries cost-optimised design rules with precision engineering. Costing 65 percent less than Festo’s popular EGC series high performance electromechanical axes, the new ELGR toothed belt axis sets a new price-performance standard for the motion control industry. Designed primarily for applications involving relatively short stroke lengths and low moments on the guide, such as pick & place tasks and transporting small masses, the ELGR axis is also ideal for positioning, centring and pushing functions on conveyor belts, and for activating safety doors on processing machines.

Festo has launched two series of high performance electric cylinders employing the company’s unique new tubular linear motor technology. Both series feature similar dimensions and mechanical interfaces as their pneumatic counterparts, making them true ‘drop-in’ electrically-driven alternatives. The cylinders offer fully programmable, closed-loop position, acceleration and speed control, and are ideal for applications that demand extremely fast and accurate positioning capabilities.

Festo has developed a unique self-adjusting pneumatic cushioning system, which is now available as a build to order option for the company’s popular DSNU series round cylinder pneumatic actuators. The new system employs innovative, patented air channel geometry to provide phased venting of the cushioning air. The system automatically adapts its characteristics to suit the cylinder’s prevailing load and speed conditions, to provide optimum end-position cushioning.

Festo has unveiled an entirely new class of electric actuators, based on very high performance linear motors. The first product in this class is an ultra precise linear motor axis with an air bearing, which is available for immediate delivery. Subsequent products, due to be launched progressively throughout this year, include three types of electric cylinder, all featuring unique – and heavily patented – tubular motor technology.