BCF ORG Tech Talk

Episode 10 is the last in the Electric Actuator vs. Pneumatic Cylinder Series. We summarize the previous nine (9) Episodes where we covered: Introduction to Electric Actuators vs. Pneumatic Cylinders, Industry Direction, Cost of Ownership, Unexpected Downtime, The Many Advantages of Electrical Actuators, Linear Motors Made Simple, Frequent Maintenance, Pneumatics and The Environment, and heard from actual users with their experiences of using Pneumatic Cylinders and Electric Tubular Actuators. This Podcast series, focuses on the various subjects and topics, to help you, choose the right Industrial Automation Solution for your application. Each episode is approximately 10 - 15 minutes long so you can listen while commuting. It’s targeted to Engineers and Project Managers.

In Episode 9 we hear from actual users of the two different technologies, Pneumatic Cylinders and Electric Actuators, to get their perspective. This Podcast series, focuses on the various subjects and topics, to help you, choose the right Industrial Automation Solution for your application. Each episode is approximately 10 - 15 minutes long so you can listen while commuting. It’s targeted to Engineers and Project Managers. In previous episodes we have covered: Introduction to Electric Actuators vs. Pneumatic Cylinders, Industry Direction, Cost of Ownership, Unexpected Downtime, The Many Advantages of Electrical Actuators, Linear Motors Made Simple, Frequent Maintenance, and Pneumatic Cylinders and the Environment.

If you are concerned about the Environment, like many, you might want to factor this into your choice of technologies. Pneumatic Cylinders have been around for a long time and will continue to be used in various applications and there are applications better suited to a Pneumatic Cylinder; however, more and more applications are being solved with Electric Actuators especially Electric Tubular Actuators. Environmental concerns are just another reason to seriously consider Electric Tubular Actuators.

Because maintenance can be a significant portion in the cost of ownership, it’s important to consider the cost of maintenance in any purchase. This episode looks at Frequent Maintenance between different technologies. Our guest is John Davis, President of Paul Davis Automation. John’s varied professional experience gives him unique insight into not only the sales and marketing aspects of technical products, but into the engineering and manufacturing processes as well. John has been a Brand Planner, an electrical engineer specializing in PCB design, a software engineer specializing in Linux systems, and is now in a technical sales role as the President of Paul Davis Automation. On the personal front, John is a husband and father for the best family in the world, a part time farmer, and a “not current but will be again someday” instrument rated private pilot. This Podcast series, focuses on the various subjects and topics, to help you choose the right Industrial Automation Solution for your application. It’s targeted to Engineers and Project Managers.

When we think of motors it is usually a traditional rotary motor with a rotor and stator that have been around for about 200 years. But there are also Linear Motors and Linear Tubular Motors. Linear Motors have been coming into their own over the past 30 years. This episode looks at Linear Motors Made Simple. Our Guest is Mike Korkowski, Applications Engineer at LinMot. Mike is an IEEE member, ASQ member and Motion Control Application Engineer/Training Manager. He has done full turnkey electrical control design packages and capital project management with various O.E.M.'s. for over 30 years. His Specialties include: Product and Sales Rep. training. Metalworking and Packaging/Material Handling Equipment Control systems. Equipment manuals and other documentation including technical writing. He is also a former ISO 9001:2008 Management Representative. This Podcast series, focuses on the various subjects and topics, to help you choose the right Industrial Automation Solution for your application. Each episode is approximately 10 - 15 minutes long so you can listen while commuting. It’s targeted to Engineers and Project Managers.

Electric Actuators are being used in more and more Industrial Automation Applications for a variety of reasons. In previous episodes we have covered Introduction to Electric Actuators vs. Pneumatic Cylinders, Industry Direction, Cost of Ownership, and Unexpected Downtime. This episode explores the many advantages of using Electric Actuators. Dave Brownson, Engineering Manager for Forpak, a division of MultiSource Manufacturing is our guest. Dave has been in the food industry, specializing in pre-packaging for more than thirty years. His experience is primarily between the cooling process and packaging equipment in organizing, sorting, inspecting, stacking, and singulating product. In addition, he has worked with many large food producers across the country and world, providing solutions to automate these processes in the protein, baking, and pizza markets. This Podcast series, focuses on the various subjects and topics, to help you choose the right Industrial Automation Solution for your application. Each episode is approximately 10 - 15 minutes long so you can listen while commuting. It’s targeted to Engineers and Project Managers.

Unexpected machine downtime is a production manager's nightmare, particularly in facilities that operate 24-7. Unexpected Downtime is not a matter of IF but WHEN. Industrial plant downtime happens for a variety of reasons and always at the worst time. Unexpected Downtime wreaks havoc on production. Few things cause bigger headaches than the dreaded alert that a production unit or line has suddenly and unexpectedly shut down due to equipment failure. Unexpected downtime is almost inevitably associated with extremely high costs. Where you will almost always spend whatever it takes to get the machine or process up and running again. Our guest is George Rovolis, Senior Customer Segment Manager - OEM at Van Meter Inc. out of Minneapolis - St. Paul/Twin Cities Area. George Rovolis is a highly accomplished Senior Leader with extensive experience in Industrial Automation Solutions. He has 28 years of broad factory Automation experience in delivering solutions to customers in areas of Motion Control, PACs, Mechatronics, Linear Motion, Robotics, Pneumatics and Machine Vision. George is Passionate about focusing on customer’s needs, helping them overcome their challenges and achieve their objectives. Focused on developing long term partnerships by delivering expert insights and solutions that help Machine Builders & OEMs arrive to their desired business outcomes. He is Currently responsible for developing and driving key initiatives and strategies across customer and business segments. Helping grow Van Meter’s OEM business while helping their OEM customers achieve better business outcomes via Smart Machines Solutions & Digital Transformation.

If you compare the initial cost of a pneumatic cylinder versus an electromechanical equivalent, the electromechanical solution is much higher. However, if you look at the lifelong operating cost of the actuators, you will almost always save money by using Electric Actuators. It is not uncommon for an Electric Actuator to have a ROI of a year or less. The BCF ORG Tech Talk Podcast Series focuses on the various subjects and topics, to help you choose the right Industrial Automation Solution for your application. It is what I learned over 40 years in the Industrial Automation Industry. Through education, associations, groups, but primarily, through the school of hard knocks, and would like to share this experience with you.

For many years pneumatics and hydraulics have been successfully used in Industrial Automation Applications. However, Electric Actuators have come into their own over the past few years. The industry is beginning to shift away from traditional pneumatics and hydraulics towards electro-mechanical products for many reasons. The BCF ORG Tech Talk Podcast Series focuses on the various subjects and topics, to help you choose the right Industrial Automation Solution for your application. It is what I learned over 40 years in the Industrial Automation Industry.

Episode 1 is an introduction to Electric Actuators and then the Electric Actuator vs Pneumatic Cylinder Decision. It covers Electric Actuators and Pneumatic Cylinder advantages and disadvantages. Guest is Paul Riportella of Hamilton Automation LLC. The BCF ORG Tech Talk Podcast Series focuses on the various subjects and topics, to help you choose the right Industrial Automation Solution for your application.

Episode #0 is an Overview, Objective, and Trailer of the 11 Episode Series reviewing and comparing Electric Actuators and Pneumatic Cylinders. This Episode covers the upcoming 10 Episodes and what to expect from this series.