Electricity + Control July 2017

VALVES + ACTUATORS

Refreshed Soft Start Valves and the Background Research Brian Abbott, SMC Pneumatics

Working closely with customers ensures that cutting edge products will be devel- oped; products that deliver outstanding performance, offer real benefits and im- proved life cycle.

P riding itself on advanced technologies and with around 1 500 R&D engineers based at Technology Centres in select locations such as Europe, Japan and the USA, SMC Pneumatics develops up to 50 new or improved products each year. The company recently launched its refreshed AV soft-start valve, the AV2000-A～5000-A series. The series was developed based on international customer feedback requesting improved energy saving (lower power consumption of 0,35 Watts and no air leakage when then main valve is switched), with additional options like a bracket, built-in silencer and gauge. Initially developed for a major machine tool manufacturer who required the AV to be installed in the main line for soft start/pressure control, the

new construction shuts off the supply side when it switches off, preventing air from coming out from the supply side to the exhaust port. Any application requiring a safe, smooth and more controlled start would benefit from using the AV series. These valves offer low-speed air supply to gradually raise the pressure in an air system and at the same time allowing for quick exhaust by cut- ting off air supply when it is no longer required. When considering requests for new product development such as this start-up valve refresher, SMC’s head office in Japan requires a lot of de- tail in the form of a NPDP (New Product Develop- ment Project) request.The R&D team then spends many months heavily invested in finding and test- ing a new or improved solution. This company

Take Note!

A great deal of research has gone into developing the newAV-A series soft start valve. From its size reduction to power savings, all clients will benefit. The new product meets and exceeds require- ments and expectations.

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No leakage – energy saving

Figure 1: No air leakage to the R port when the main valve is switched.

36 Electricity + Control

JULY 2017