Automation over the last several years has expanded use of electric linear actuators to leverage their technological advancements in smart homes, aerospace, defense, and industrial applications. In fact, the global linear actuator market could (in large part because of electric options) surpass U.S. $52.67B this year and grow at a compound annual growth rate through […]
New motor designs redefine capabilities
Electric motors are at the core of industrial motion control. From servo and stepper motors to various linear motor designs, demand for these motors across a wide range of applications is only expected to increase. The rise in automation and ongoing electrification calls for more efficient electric motors and more diversified and specialized designs to […]
Driving change in packaging automation
Many trends in general automation have impacted the packaging industry. Some of these include the multiple benefits of better efficiency and increased speed and accuracy of automation systems in general, leading to improved packaging machinery. At the same time, there is more concern with sustainable practices and design, which means more emphasis on biodegradable materials […]
Trends: Drives and controls incorporate more safety and feedback
The last decade has seen advancements in controls and motor drive technologies to boost efficiency, safety, and ease of use. Now commonplace are drives that: Let end users leverage autotuning functions for faster commissioning Detect and correct for vibration issues — including the shaping of power into motors to avoid resonances Spur increasingly compact motors…
Electric actuators displace other motion options — including manual designs: A Motion Trends report
Today, electric actuators are easier than ever to specify and install. Value-add services from component suppliers as well as application-specific actuator product lines (especially for battery-powered designs in mobile equipment and consumer use) eliminate many integration tasks for OEMs and end users. These are trends supported in part by a movement Design World has tracked […]
Open and shut case: Linear-rotary motors smooth out closure processes
Engineers from Tölke, a packaging machinery specialist, were looking to design closure processes with more flexibility using linear-rotary motors instead of conventional cam disc technology. This need led the Tölke design team to outfit its new filling and closing line with linear-rotary motors from LinMot. The company had already taken several measures to add flexibility…
Electric linear motors “picked” for swab application
US Cotton, a domestic manufacturer of cotton swabs, was considering the replacement of the pneumatic cylinders on one of its major production machines. The application involved picking a layer of cotton swabs out of the assembly section of the machine and placing it in a stack before going into the retail package. The company was…
The total package: How to design a film wrapping machine with direct-drive technology
Guaranteeing packaging results every time, even when product characteristics vary and product types change often, is one of the greatest challenges facing a machine builder. This was the primary consideration for Alpenland Maschinenbau (ALPMA) when designing its new MultiSAN film wrapping machine. The machine packages round and rectangular soft cheeses, as well as cheeses in…
Direct drive combines linear and rotary motions
by Ernst Blumer, LinMot & MagSpring Linear-rotary motors provide users with greater on-the-fly process flexibility. Linear-rotary motions are required in many machine applications, such as carton closing or…
Linear motors reduce the use of antibiotics in fish farms
From a global perspective, fish is one of the most important sources of protein for human consumption. Without aquaculture, this hunger for fish cannot be sated. The negative side effects of industrial aquaculture, such as high levels of pollution from medications, however, have scared off consumers in Europe in particular, causing sales to collapse a…