Quality and attractively priced solutions from a reliable partner are the keys to success during difficult times, leading many companies to expand their use of automation. In response, Festo has added more products to their Core Product Range which, according to the Festo South Africa Head of National Sales, Adrian Bromfield, are a step towards becoming the partner of choice for automation companies.
Click to download and read pdf
This year, the South African government has had to impose strict restrictions to suppress the spread of COVID-19. As a result, there has been a ripple effect on the economy and industry, including the automotive, food and beverage, textile and medical industries. The Festo Core Product Range, also known as Stars in Automation, offers solutions to support automation in these industries during these times.
The Core Product Range consists of the latest technologically advanced solutions to assist customers to become more competitive, without compromising high-quality and attractive prices. Through these selected products, Festo is helping companies to cut costs and effortlessly realise up to 80% of the automation applications needed by their industry.
“As a preferred partner in the Automation Industry, we look at our customer’s challenges and design high-performing solutions to overcome them. This is why we recommend the latest Core Product Range to our customers that require products with optimal price-performance ratios,” says Adrian Bromfield, Head of National Sales at Festo South Africa. The hallmark of the latest Core Product Range is the collaboration between design engineers and production planners from Festo, who have worked closely together during the development of the range to ensure that the products meet customer needs.
According to research institution Meticulous Research, the overall estimated impact of COVID-19 in the Automation Industry is 7-8%. As leaders in this industry, Festo recognises the vital role of supporting industry through this pandemic. These products are one of the initiatives that the company is using to support its customers.
Some of the core range products, highlights and features that customers can expect from Festo are listed below.
Smallest slide drive in the market
The Festo Mini Slide DGST is strong when it comes to precision, force, motion control, durability and reliability. The yoke and slide are manufactured fully automatically as a single part.
In addition, the developers successfully reduced the number of components by 60% compared with the previous model. This enables the DGST to be produced in large quantities with maximum efficiency and cost-saving.
Available in a twin-piston design with diameters from 6.0 to 25 mm and stroke lengths of 10 to 200 mm, the slide houses, the integrated guide and the endplate are all manufactured from a single part, eliminating torsion and misalignment to provide precise movement.
Impact shocks at the end of the stroke are reduced by integrated cushioning elements seated within the body length. With built-in stroke adjustment, the DGST eliminates the need for additional parts, saves space and ensures top application performance.
DFM guided cylinders: flexibly adapt to applications
Reliability is standard with the Festo DFM guided cylinder. This impressive guided actuator has the best price/performance ratio in the market and offers optimum guide characteristics for sturdiness and flexibility. It is reliable, adaptable and resilient – even with high torques.
With two different guide variants, the DFM can, on average, move loads that require over 100% higher forces than its competitors. It adapts flexibly to every application, thanks to a choice of assembly and air port options. The combination of its linear drive and powerful guide unit means that the DFM can reliably move high loads, even in tight spaces.
For example, the recent pandemic has resulted in a strong demand for mouth and nose protection masks worldwide. With Festo technology and pneumatic components from the Core Product Range, such as the attractively priced DFM, the mechanical engineering company Mikron has developed a system that allows practically anyone to produce masks themselves. The electrical and pneumatic components from the Core Product Range installed in the Mikron plant can be delivered quickly worldwide so the plant can be constructed at locations anywhere in the world.
Highly functional MS air service units
With its large product range, highly functional components and wide choice of services, the MS series fits perfectly in the Festo Core Product Range, offering a complete concept for compressed air preparation for simple standard applications as well as application-specific solutions with the highest quality requirements. Whether individual components, pre-assembled combinations, application-specific combinations or ready-to-install solutions are required, the Festo configurator ensures optimum dimensioning of every variant.
Thanks to the integrated pressure and flow sensors embedded into the MS series service units, automation system operators can count on exceptionally reliable compressed air preparation and supply for their installations.
The VUVG solenoid valve: a compact powerhouse
Compact, high flow rate and low cost, the VUVG solenoid valve is ideal for small parts assembly and electronics and for use in the food and packaging industry. Electrically and pneumatically actuated, the VUVG valve can be used both as an individual valve and in a valve terminal.
One of the unique characteristics of this valve is its optimised footprint with an excellent size/performance ratio. Compact and made from lightweight aluminium, the VUVG saves space in the system and reduces weight. Its 10 bar technology ensures accelerated cycle times, smaller cylinder sizes and a higher energy density, while the patented cartridge principle makes the VUVG solenoid valve extremely durable and very reliable.
Festo PUN-HT transparent tubing
Suitable for compressed air and vacuum media, the Festo PUN-HT is of the most sought after tubing in the industry. It is water-resistant, making it ideal for applications in wet areas and in environments with high moisture levels. Not only is the tubing kink-resistant and easy to install, it is also resistant to hydrolysis and microbes.
PUN-HT tubing’s transparent colour makes it easy to detect solid particles, moisture and oil. This feature ensures simple monitoring of compressed air quality, allowing for preventative maintenance measures.
2 200 Festo products
The Core Product Range includes over 2 200 components from every phase of the pneumatic and electrical control chain – from compressed air preparation, valves and cylinders to accessories, such as matching tubing and fittings. Several components marked with a star on the Festo website are typically in stock locally and ready to be ordered.
Products in the Core Product Range are of proven Festo quality with high logistics performance thanks to automated production at various decentralised locations. “We pride ourselves on offering products that give customers peace of mind in tough times, which allows them to concentrate on their core competencies,” concludes Bromfield.