The solutions exhibiting in the Machine Components/Cleaning/Environmental Pavilion at IMTS-The International Manufacturing Technology Show are designed to help shops optimize uptime, efficiency and compliance. Visitors to IMTS 2022 can discover solutions from more than 200 booths in the pavilion, which is located in the East Building. Exhibitors such as Hennig, Ewellix, Balluff, Master Fluid Solutions, KYZEN Corporation and Ecoclean will highlight the latest components to run, service and monitor machines, as well as solutions necessary for safe and environmentally responsible operations.
Many exhibitors will be focusing on plug & play modularity, integrated automation, the application of real-time data management to reduce consumable waste, and cleaning methods that reduce user exposure and provide increased recycling and reclamation.
Machine Components
Hennig (IMTS booth 338592) will feature the Portable Sludge Sucker, a mobile cyclonic coolant filtration system that can move easily around the shop to remove, filter and replace coolant in machines for minimal downtime.
"Since machine coolant typically needs to be changed every six to eight weeks, and it takes your machine down for the day, our new system allows you to wait three to six months before having to clean out the coolant, keeping the machine online longer and extending the life of your coolant for three to six months," said Nick Goellner, Vice President of Sales and Marketing at Hennig.
Another product to add to the growing list of eco-friendly products at IMTS 2022 is the actuator, which moves and positions equipment in robotic and automatic processes such as robotic arms.
Until recently, actuators were either air-powered (pneumatic) or oil-powered (hydraulic), but now electric actuators are growing in the industry. Ewellix (IMTS booth 135242) will be featuring its high-performance CASM electric actuator line, which has enhanced energy efficiency, eco-friendliness and power.
"An electric actuator is similar to an electric vehicle in several ways," said Sean Feyrer, Director of Sales, North America, Ewellix. "They only consume power when they need it, and the motor turns off when you stop. They are also regenerative like an EV; for example, when the actuator is retracting under load, power is generated for the battery. Also, electric actuators have no valves, pumps, hoses or clamps and do not require oil."
Sensors are getting smarter. They can generate data about themselves and self-diagnose problems. Balluff (IMTS booth 134637) will highlight its family of smart automation and monitoring (SAM) sensors.
"I would estimate that about 15% to 25% of sensors have some kind of smart functionality right now, and that is growing by the month," said Tom Knauer, Global Industry Manager at Balluf. "One of the things that has enabled these smarter sensors is networking them all together in gateways, which has increased the amount of data they can process in real time or near real time."
Clean and Green
When it comes to cleaning parts, foam can often be a challenge that hinders performance. It interferes with the cleaning process and is a common byproduct of high-pressure washing and interaction with some soils. At IMTS 2022, Master Fluid Solutions (IMTS booth 431956) will feature a line of aqueous low-foam cleaners.
"The trend in parts cleaning is lower temperatures and a more powerful, targeted spray, which produces more foam," said Justin Geach, Global OEM/Business Development Manager at Master Fluid Solutions. "Our cleaners minimize foam, even at ambient temperatures in next generation, extremely high-pressure parts cleaning and deburring machines."
KYZEN Corporation (IMTS booth 121121) will be featuring new solvents designed for vacuum degreasing machines that incorporate spray, ultrasonics and rotation.
"A new cleaning process has emerged that takes advantage of the best aspects of solvent cleaning and minimizes the trade-offs," said Tom Forsythe, Executive Vice President at Kyzen. "Vacuum vapor degreasing takes place in a sealed vessel and uses a series of solvent immersion, spray and rinses followed by a vacuum dry, and virtually nothing leaks out to the environment. By nature of the sealed system, nearby operators are not exposed to any emissions."
Another new cleaning concept featured at IMTS 2022 is Ecoclean's (IMTS booth 236756) new UCM SmartLine, a modular cleaning system that provides multiple options for high-precision cleaning.
"Because our system is modular, it is highly flexible and can be configured for a wide range of applications and adapted to changing market conditions at any time," said Sandro Siminovich, U.S. Director of Sales, Ecoclean. "Due to increasingly complex part geometries, changes in manufacturing processes and changing environmental regulations, the demands on cleaning equipment have to be able to adapt easily."
To register for IMTS, go to www.IMTS.com.