The safety and reliability of technical processes are of vital importance for companies in the process industries. Bulk materials and powders
in sectors such as the chemical, pharmaceutical and food industries can be very dangerous. One spark and dust can explode. Festo has a wide product range and the necessary expertise for applications in which the safety integrity level (SIL) or explosion protection is required.
The company offers comprehensive solutions for explosion protection according to the Explosion Protection Directives for Zones 1 and 21, as well as 2 and 22. Products such as linear and quarter turn actuators, cylinders, sensor boxes, pilot valves, valve terminals and remote I/O can control and regulate the entire pneumatic and electrical control chain in potentially explosive areas. They have wide application in handling powders and bulk materials. Regulations, certifications and standards for explosion protection are available both internationally and regionally so that the required safety can be guaranteed. For all the above-mentioned products, Festo has the necessary international approvals according to ATEX, IEC Ex, Inmetro, TR CU, Nepsi and Kosha.
The SIL and the EC Machinery Directive are used, for example, to minimise risks in process engineering systems. Safety functions reduce risks that could cause injury and damage to people, the environment and property. The SIL describes the extent to which risk is reduced to an acceptable level. The possible spectrum of risks to be assumed for safety related systems has four levels. Festo offers products and solutions for both low demand applications, for example in refineries, and high demand applications in the food and pharmaceutical industries. This starts with the right selection of products for process valve automation like actuators and sensor boxes, continues with the necessary control concepts and pneumatic circuits in redundant control blocks in 1oo2, 2oo2 and 2oo3 designs and ends with separate control of the electrical components through safety PLCs.
Planners, machine builders and operators of processing systems must document the required risk minimisation in potentially hazardous system sections. Certified products make it much easier to verify the risk minimisation and provide safety during machine construction. Festo products help achieve this as the certifications and manufacturer's declarations are available on the Festo Support Portal under www.festo.com/supportportal. After the product type or part number is entered, the available documents can be accessed directly.
Compressed air treatment do’s and don’ts Artic Driers International
Editor's Choice Pneumatic systems & components
As a long-established importer and manufacturer of air dryers, Artic Dryers often sees the results of poor installation and issues with aftercoolers that create serious problems in air drying systems.
Read more...Next-gen air compressors for plastics manufacturer
Pneumatic systems & components
Integrated Air Solutions has reinforced its partnership with global compressor manufacturer, ABC Compressors by facilitating the installation and commissioning of two next-generation direct-drive ABC machines for a prominent plastic manufacturer in South Africa.
Read more...Seamless compressed air supply
Pneumatic systems & components
The efficient performance of compressed air systems is the foundation for seamless production processes and sustainable business. The adoption of a comprehensive service plan delivered by an OEM like Atlas Copco is key to overall compressor performance, efficiency, reliability, and long lifecycle.
Read more...Selection of two-port valves: an open and shut case SMC Corporation South Africa
Pneumatic systems & components
Little consideration is generally given to two-port valves because they are often perceived as simple devices that only open and close to control downstream fluid supply. Although this is mechanically true, choosing the optimal two-port valve for your application can make a big difference, saving space, weight and energy consumption.
Read more...Integrated Air Solutions expands its compressor rental service
Pneumatic systems & components
The significant growth of the industrial air compressor rental division launched by Integrated Air Solutions under a year ago, has prompted the need for more resources and equipment. Headed up by Rudolf ...
Read more...Thor’s hammer of pneumatic knockers Neu Matics SA
Pneumatic systems & components
Neu Matics acts as sole distributor for a range of internationally recognised brands, and one of these is the pneumatic knocker from singold.
Read more...Compressed air drying and monitoring with low dewpoints Artic Driers International
Pneumatic systems & components
Artic Driers manufacturers the Sahara low dewpoint, heatless pressure swing air dryers with SANS 347 pressure code. These desiccant-rich pressure dryers comfortably obtain pressure dewpoints of -40°C.
Read more...Tyre-actuated globe valve Parker Hannifin - Sales Company South Africa
Pneumatic systems & components
Parker Hannifin has launched a tyre-actuated pneumatic valve in its Bestobell cryogenic globe valve range. The valve can be operated remotely with a single switch command, providing much greater speed and convenience than a manually operated type.
Read more...Streamline your valve selection Festo
Editor's Choice Electrical switching & drive systems & components
Automation specialist, Festo recognises the value of time in the dynamic world of process automation. To cater for this, we have introduced an innovative online configurator tool to transform the way in which engineers and procurement professionals select and size process valves.
Read more...Oil-free beer and wine processing
Pneumatic systems & components Hydraulic systems & components
The food and beverage industry depends on superior quality, 100% oil-free compressed air to eliminate the presence of unwanted oil vapour throughout the production line.