Festo South Africa’s business development manager, Russell Schwulst, explains why selecting the proper fitting and tubing combination can improve production and machine longevity, as well as reduce unwanted leaks.
A factory application needs the appropriate bill of materials to operate at optimal levels. Fittings and tubing are generally viewed as consumables, but they are in fact at the very heart of the pneumatic energy supply in any factory, and therefore need to be carefully chosen. Not all fittings and tubing are of the same quality, and certain applications require specific fitting and tubing combinations.
When choosing the right fitting and tubing combination, the first thing that needs to be considered is the environment in which it will be used so that the technical characteristics can be matched to the environment. Fittings and tubing have characteristics such as temperature, media resistance, drag chain compatibility, pressure and hydrolysis – all of which need to be considered when making a selection.
For example in a welding application in the automotive industry, halogens generated during pyrolysis will bind with compounds that promote further burning. Strong respiratory poisons and other toxins are generated and these can create safety hazards and unwanted fires. A flame-retardant, halogen-free fitting and tubing combination is imperative for this environment.
Essentially, you get what you pay for. Inferior or grey market products could result in unwanted line stoppages. Additionally, the loss of integrity in the combination can lead to expensive and unnecessary energy losses due to air leaks. Festo has engineering tools available that will help match products to applications accurately, providing assurance that the right selection has been made.
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