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Venturi vacuum generators use integrated electronics to maximise efficiency

* Optional integrated digital vacuum sensor & solenoid valve for on/off control

* Ideal for decentralised & fast cycle time applications

Northampton, May 8, 2008 — Festo has launched a series of modular venturi vacuum generators that use integrated electronics to help maximise operational efficiency. Offering an exceptionally wide choice of configuration options, the company’s latest-generation VN series vacuum generators provide machine builders with a very flexible and cost-effective means of facilitating the movement of workpieces in pick-and-place systems.

VN series vacuum generators are suitable for a broad range of light industrial applications, including packaging, pharmaceutical and electronics manufacturing, and general precision engineering. They are small, lightweight units that can easily be installed in the gripping zone, making them ideal for automation systems employing decentralised control architectures. The vacuum generators are also particularly suitable for applications involving fast cycle times – their efficiency and placement flexibility help minimise air path evacuation times.

All VN series vacuum generators are designed to operate from standard 1 to 8 bar compressed air supplies, and offer a choice of -0.85 bar high vacuum or -0.5 bar high suction models – the latter provide extremely fast evacuation times. They are all available in standard ‘T’ and ‘inline’ mounting configurations, with a choice of Quick Star push-in or threaded connections. The vacuum generators use de Laval nozzles to accelerate airflow across the top of their venturi vacuum tubes. For maximum efficiency the nozzle needs to be optimised to suit the vacuum flow rate and the porosity of the material that is being handled, so Festo offers a choice of six nozzles, ranging in size from 0.45 to 3.0 mm.

Festo’s VN series vacuum generators are optionally available with integral 15-30 Vdc solenoid valves for fast vacuum on/off control, and with a mechanical ejector pulse function, which quickly dissipates the vacuum when the generator is turned off, to ensure reliable release of the workpiece from the suction cup and thereby help speed cycle times. The ejector pulse enables the workpiece to be released using a quick ‘blip’, instead of having to let the suction cup and associated air pathway come slowly back up to full atmospheric pressure.

The VN-P models also optionally feature a fully integrated piezoresistive pressure sensor, which provides a very useful process monitoring function; the sensor’s threshold comparator can be set to have either fixed or variable hysteresis, based on two pressure values that are acquired using a ‘teach-in’ pushbutton on the body of the unit. When the applied vacuum reaches the preset pressure, the workpiece is regarded as gripped; if it is more than the preset, the workpiece is regarded as not fully gripped and is therefore flagged as unacceptable. Using the window comparator mode, the lower pressure value can be employed to indicate safe workpiece handling, while the higher pressure value can control vacuum switch-off thereby turning off the airflow until the vacuum level rises. This saves a significant amount of compressed air – up to 50% in many applications.

All VN series venturi vacuum generators are designed to operate from dried, filtered and unlubricated compressed air. As standard, the vacuum generators are supplied with high efficiency, maintenance-free open silencers. These use a combination of sound absorption and reflection principles to achieve low flow resistance and high noise attenuation characteristics.

About Festo

Festo manufactures pneumatic and electrical components and systems to support customers with factory and process automation. The company has an annual turnover in excess of 1.5 billion Euro, and has facilities in 176 countries around the world. Festo operates an aggressive R&D programme, holds over 2,800 worldwide patents, and introduces about 100 innovative new products to the market every year. For more information about the company’s products and services, please visit: www.festo.com/gb.

About Festo Didactic

Festo Didactic, the training and consultancy division of Festo, supports organisations seeking to develop competencies in sales & service, leadership, employee engagement, change management, team-working, coaching, business planning, production processes and automation technology. The division has particular expertise in working with manufacturing and engineering businesses. It has a full time workforce of over 200 and operates in 70 countries worldwide. Each year, it manages more than 230 consultancy projects and runs more than 2,900 open courses in 31 languages, involving some 42,000 participants. For more information about Festo Didactic, please visit www.festo-didactic.co.uk

For further information please contact:

Nicola Meadway, Festo Ltd, Technology House, 1 Fleetwood Park, Barley Way, Fleet, Hampshire GU51 2QX, UK. Tel: +44 (0)1252 775000; Fax: +44 (0)1252 775015; www.festo.com/gb; email:

Press release issued by: Nick Leatherdale of Wordsun Ltd. Tel: +44 (0)1202 856000; email: