Select pages from a 175-page market research study Mountain Stream Group conducted to determine a.) the size of the proportional pneumatic control valve segment of the fluid power industry, b.) who the players are, and c.) what the opportunities and challenges a new company might find.

3. TABLE OF CONTENTS
Subject Page
Purpose......................................4
Methodology ..............................4
Executive Summary.....................5
Industry......................................9
Competition .............................31
Marketplace .............................41
Challenges & Opportunities
for Success ...............................45
Appendices
Fluid Power Statistics ..................A
Pneumatic Product Groups..........B
Pneumatic Applications ..............C
Electric Actuator Applications......D
Application Stories......................E
© 2008. All right reserved. Mountain Stream Group, Inc.

4. PURPOSE This will be the launching point for an
expanded business, sales and market-
K & B Investment Company LLC ing plan development project if K & B
commissioned this preliminary Investment Company LLC so chooses to
situational analysis of the electro- invest in SunStream Scientific.
pneumatic (servopneumatic) fluid
power valve and integrated valve/
actuator market to assist them in deter-
mining the viability and feasibility of METHODOLOGY
investing in SunStream Scientific—
a Chicago-based manufacturer of To obtain the necessary information to
electropneumatic valves and integrated achieve the goal of this study, Mountain
valve/actuators. Stream Group, Inc. employed a multi-
stage approach, which included:
This study will attempt to:
• contacting various trade groups and
• Ascertain the necessary industry, organizations,
competition, and marketplace
information, which will help K & B • searching the Internet to find
Investments understand the size and pertinent data and information
makeup of the global fluid power related to the study’s goals,
and electric actuator industries with • attending a key industry segment
specific emphasis on the electro- (PackExpo) tradeshow, and
pneumatic valve segment.
• having discussions with key industry
• Unearth industry trends that could contacts.
affect SunStream Scientific’s viability.
• Identify applications for use of The following are the results of our
electropneumatic components and findings.
systems.
• Determine key factors that
contribute to the choice of a supplier
by a designer/end user.
• Spot opportunities for and threats to
SunStream Scientific’s success.
© 2008. All right reserved. Mountain Stream Group, Inc.

5. EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
Demand keeps growing, but electropneumatic market is
unknown and industry is in a state of flux.
The motion control market is experienc- Kingdom. The German pneumatic
ing double digit growth according to market is €1.6 billion with 51%
the new Motion Control Association being exported.
(MCA). They state 2007 shipments were
approximately $2.1 billion for presum- China has been rapidly growing and
ably the United States. Several research today represents 7.8% of the market.
firms estimate the market to exceed $8 India is the next region for hyper
billion in 2011 or 2012. However, growth which is expected to be 20%
determining the size of the electric CAGR over the next 10 years.
linear actuator sub-segment is quite
difficult because the industry is highly Globally pneumatic actuators are the
secretive of their information. Some second largest product group at 28%
manufacturers believe it is similar in next to solenoid valves’ 32%. In the
size, or could be, to the pneumatic United States, 20.1 million valves and
actuator market. 5.5 actuators were shipped in 2007.
Parker Hannifin estimates the world-
According the Intercontinental Statistics wide solenoid-actuated valve market—
Committee the global pneumatic fluid 2, 3 & 4-way—to be $5 billion.
power market was $9.6 billion in
2006—up $1 billion over 2005. Europe Currently, only questimates exist for the
and the United States accounted for proportional pneumatic market ranging
40% and 26.7% of the global market, from $50 to $150+ million worldwide
respectively, followed by Japan, China with approximately $40 being elec-
and Taiwan. tronic pressure regulators. Festo states
that 70% to 80% of intelligent motion
The shift from the US to Europe—as the control application could be served by
leading fluid power economy— is due proportional directional control valves.
to the geographic market expansion of
CETOP—the international umbrella Much of the reason for the product
organization, for national fluid power market ambiguity is due to the lack of
associations in Europe. Germany is the product definition. CETOP and its mem-
driving force of the European market bers have come to a consensus and will
followed by Italy, France and the United begin tracking product sales and
© 2008. All right reserved. Mountain Stream Group, Inc. 05

6. shipments in 2009. Handful of direct competitors,
but more will come.
Electropneumatic, also known as
servopneumatic, valves have reached At the moment there are 9 manufactur-
critical mass and becoming more ers of 5/3 proportional pneumatic
acceptable to designers. Leading to the directional control valves using various
development of four ISO standards that technologies. Two companies apply
cover the information to be in a their servo motor electrohydraulic
brochure and the testing procedures to valves to pneumatic applications.
obtain this information. However, for it
to grow further product technology has The electropneumatic leader by far is
to become ‘simple and easy’ to use, Festo. They have the most product,
and more education and outreach must promote applications the most and will
be done to change designer’s percep- be introducing a new product line in
tion of pneumatics as old and dated. early 2009. Enfield Technologies has
done a lot to promote their voice coil
Machine ‘real estate’ has become quite technology. The balance has been
valuable—some say $100 or more per relatively unassuming in their approach
square inch—with the number of to the market.
automation products on a machine
exploding. This has led fluid power However, there are well over 20 indirect
companies to miniaturize their product competitors who manufacture I/P-E/P
offering and optimize flow paths transducers, electronic pressure regula-
through valves. Manufacturers have tors, or 3/2 proportional valves—some
begun to use thermoplastics, aluminum of which promote the use of two of
diecastings and extrude aluminum these devices to control actuator
tubing as labor, raw material and ship- positioning. Almost every pneumatic
ping costs have risen. To help end users fluid power component manufacturer
reduce labor costs manufacturers have with headquarters in Europe and the
developed valve islands and ship United States has at least one of the 3
machinery components in kits. Labor is types listed above.
also the reason why machine builders
have asked for assistance in designing Electropneumatic 5/3 valves are avail-
machinery and causing some manufac- able in sizes from M5 to 3/8” NPT with
turers to develop electric versions of pricing ranging from approximately
their pneumatic actuators. $300 to nearly $4000.
As the market grows more manufactur-
ers will feel the need to develop
electropneumatic 5/3 valves—just like
what happened with electronic pressure
© 2008. All right reserved. Mountain Stream Group, Inc.

7. regulators. In fact, Mac Valves is devel- Lack of knowledge is a huge issue.
oping a product that will be on the Manufacturers, distributors, and end
market in about a year and Bimba is users are finding the number of engi-
investigating developing one as well. neering students diminishing and with
the baby boomers retiring there is a
vacuum of knowledge, especially in
fluid power because it’s not seen or
Daunting challenges, but deemed ‘sexy’ any more.
opportunities exist.
The lack of a knowledgeable workforce
SunStream Scientific faces some signif- has led end users to look for products
icant challenges. The 3 most notable they deem to be ‘simple and easy’
are energy costs/environmental, to apply and to have automation
consolidation, and lack of knowledge. suppliers do more of their machine
design. It along with energy efficiency
Energy costs have risen 10% to 30% and the environment has led to the
over the past five years, and will invasion of electric linear actuators in
continue to go up as governments machine design.
around the world levy taxes as incentive
to become more energy efficient. This Increased competition and the inability
month European nations signed an to grow organically have led to the con-
agreement to increase energy efficiency solidation of fluid power manufacturers
by another 20% by 2020. and industrial distributors alike. Some
manufacturers are buying technology
As energy becomes an operational while others are buying to eliminate
challenge and strategic business differ- competition. One reason distributors
entiator, one area where efficiency are merging in other to gain balance in
gains can be made is in compressed air the manufacturer/distributor relation-
since it represents 10% of energy ship and better pricing. With consolida-
usage, but only is 10% efficient. This tion come limited opportunities to find
causing machine builders and end appropriate distribution channels for
users alike to either eliminate or wisely upcoming manufacturers.
use compressed air.
End users are consolidating suppliers
From EPA lawsuits to ROHS and WEEE, because they are finding their cost to
the environment is another factor in purchase to be less when they have
changing the way people are thinking fewer suppliers to deal with. However,
about compressed air. Thinking that they are open to smaller vendors like
includes energy consumption labels SunStream if they can provide a
on machinery. product or system no one else can
provide or is perceived as unique or
© 2008. All right reserved. Mountain Stream Group, Inc. 07

8. highly innovative. driven by the need to close the produc-
tion loop. They are looking to develop
Safety is another challenge facing smart valves that can report flow, leaks,
SunStream Scientific. Whether electri- and other production and diagnostic
cal, redundancy or reliability, safety information back to the plant’s
standards like UL, CSA, CE, ISO 84, headquarters. While digital valve
and IEC 61508/61511 will effect actuators might be a solution, a better
SunStream Scientific. Their ability to solution maybe an electropneumatic
meet these standards among others valve/cylinder combination which can
will be a key to their success. hold position better than the valve
actuators can, and have the built in
While some standards might be a feedback capability.
hindrance, others like ISO 15407 and
NAMUR/CEN will open doors.
Today, machines maybe specified in
Michigan, built in Germany or the
United States and end up in the end
user’s plants around the globe. There-
fore, end users want to be able to make
sure they can get product locally and
that it is directly interchangeable. This
need is driving industries, such as fluid
power, to develop standards for product
shape, form and function—making it
easier for end users to minimize inven-
tory and reduce purchasing costs as
well. Additionally, industries, like fluid
power, are looking to harmonize their
standards. Harmonizing the standards
makes it easier and less costly for
manufacturers to comply, and making
easier for companies like, SunStream
Scientific, to enter the market.
Another door of opportunity is the $77
billion control valve market where 46%
of the valves are automated and of the
automated valves 41% are control
pneumatically. Like the fluid power
industry, this industry is in a state of flux
© 2008. All right reserved. Mountain Stream Group, Inc.

9. INDUSTRY
Starting in the late 1700s, the
COMPRESSED AIR Industrial Revolution dramatically
transitioned the world from a manual-
Dramatically Changes Mankind labor-based economy into one that’s a
machine-based. The transition began
with the mechanization of the
textile industry.
Over time engineers have designed
complex automated machinery that
plays an increasingly important role
in the global economy, and man’s
daily experiences and activities to the
point where automation touches
almost every aspect of daily life in
every industry.
While ancient Greeks, over 2000 years
ago, learned to harness the power and
energy of compressed air and man
tamed it to increase man’s inherent
strength, machinery motion at the
beginning of the Industrial Revolution
was driven by water and steam power.
However, with the development of the
railroad and mechanization of tunnel
mining in the mid 1800s, pneumatics
became a ubiquitous power and drive
source for automated machinery
motion across all industries. Today,
© 2008. All right reserved. Mountain Stream Group, Inc. 09

10. through major technological advance- In 2006, Europe overtook the United
ments in the past two decades, States as the largest fluid power
pneumatics can be used to proportion- economy with $14.7 billion in sales
ally control the force, position, and versus the United States with $11.3
velocity of machinery motion. billion. This represents a dramatic shift
in market share from 1998 when the
United States lead the world with a
42.4% market share. As of 2006,
Global demand for Europe leads with 42.9% followed
pneumatics keeps by the United States
(32.9%), Japan, China
on growing.
and Taiwan.
With the indus-
Taiwan’s share
trialization of
of the market
developing
has stayed
nations like
relatively
China and
$9.6 BILLION
constant be-
I n d i a ,
tween 1998
among oth-
and 2006 at
ers, and the Pneumatic Fluid Power Market 1.1% and
increasing
1.4%, respec-
mechaniza-
tively. How-
tion of work
ever, China’s
functions, the
share jumped
demand for mo-
from 1.7% in 1998
tion control drive
to 7.8% in 2006.
technologies keeps on
China’s growth is in
growing. According to the
sharp contrast to Japan’s mar-
Intercontinental Statistics Com-
ket share decline. In 1998, Japan held
mittee (ISC), an amalgamation of fluid
a 21.2% market share, but by 2006
power trade associations across the
that dropped to 15 percent.
world, the global fluid power market
was $34.31 billion in 2006—up from
$29.03 billion in 2004. Sales of pneu-
matic components and systems grew Editor’s Note: While fluid power trade associations are
from $8.6 billion in 2004 to $9.6 billion highly secretive with non-member organizations when it
in 2006. comes to their region’s economic data, there is enough
generic public information to determine strength, growth
and trends of the industry. The National Fluid Power
Association (NFPA) which represents the United States is
especially secretive since a consulting firm misused informa-
tion they obtain from the NFPA in an attempt to forecast
future sales and resold the data back to its members.
© 2008. All right reserved. Mountain Stream Group, Inc.

11. Drive technology demand is electrifying.
Depending on which market research that the Motion Control Association was
firm’s press release, and associated formed in October of 2006, and they
magazine article, one reads the global started collecting data beginning in
electric drive—otherwise known as the January of 2007. They have developed
‘general motion control’ or ‘motion the following product/service categories
control’—market size varies from for the industry: motion controllers
estimates of $7.8 billion by 2011 to (positioners), electronic drives (ampli-
$8.1 billion by 2010 to $8.2 billion by fiers), AC drives (inverter/vectors),
2012 with a steady growth of 5% to 8% motors (DC/AC servomotors), AC
CAGR. Even the new Motion Control motors (induction), actuators &
Association (MCA) jokes about the mechanical systems (mechanical driv-
varied reporting of the motion ers, gearboxes, etc), sensors & feedback
control market. devices, other ancillary components;
and support & services. The only way to
Part of the reason the market size varies get individual category data is by being
from market study to market study is a member of the association.
© 2008. All right reserved. Mountain Stream Group, Inc. 11

12. Based on published data from the MCA our conversation the representative at
website and magazine interviews with MCA spoke in global terms.
Paul Kellett, MCA’s director of market
analysis, what is known is as follows. Here is what is estimated.
The market shipments were approxi- IMS Research states the market grew
mately $2.0 to $2.1 billion for 2007. $480 million in 2007 to $6.2 billion
Product sales increased 18.8% and with a 13.4% growth from 2006. They
shipments grew 11.2% in Q12007 over forecast 8.3% CAGR of the motion
Q42006. Second quarter sales of control market to 2012. Servo products
motors, electronic drives, controllers, account for 80% of the market. They
actuators and other motion control state in some regions prices have fallen
components were up almost 4% from by up to 30% since 2003—increasing
the previous quarter. Electronic drive the feasibility of the servo solution.
and AC drive orders were up
18.8% and 18.1%, respectively, over ARC Advisory Group predicts the market
first quarter. to reach $7.8 billion in 2011 and $8.2
billion in 2012. These figures include
Motors, comprised of DC brush motors, PLCs, which according the MCA website
AC and DC brushless motors, servomo- this could be as much as $4 billion. The
tors with gearing mounted, direct drive, market is expected to grow at a
linear motors and steppers, accounted compounded annual growth rate
for the largest percentage of sales at (CAGR) of roughly 7.0% over the next
36.5%, followed by electronic drives five years. India is exceeded $150
(DC drives, AC and DC brushless million in 2006 and expects to grow
drives, multi-axis drives, and stepper 15.4% CAGR over the next five years.
drives) at 26% and AC drives (inverter
drives, vector drives, and AC adjustable Global Industry Analysts, Inc. forecasts
speed drives) at 14%. the electric drive market will reach $8.1
billion by 2010. Europe is expected to
Shipments of Q22007 were $503 remain the largest market until 2010,
million. Shipments were relatively flat currently holding a market share of
for Q12008. Second quarter informa- about 38%. Asia Pacific will be the
tion has yet to be posted and I was told fastest growing market with a 4.9%
that collection of Q3 information was CAGR from 2001 to 2010. AC drives
just finalized. represent the largest product segment
for electric drives, capturing a market
At this time one can only presume share of about 90% for 2006. The
based on comments posted on the Spanish industrial segment is currently
MCA website that these figures repre- under modernization drive motivated
sent the United States, however, during by its need to comply with EU regula-
© 2008. All right reserved. Mountain Stream Group, Inc.

13. tions, and is expected to be the fastest
growing market between 2005 and
2010. Germany is the largest Western
Europe market.
Frost & Sullivan states the Western
European electric drives market gener-
ated revenues of over $2.5 billion in
2005 and estimates it to exceed $3.0
billion by 2012. They found the
German market earned revenue of
$778.1 million in 2004 and estimates
it to reach $884.1 million in 2011.
Additionally, they find the European
food and beverage industry accounts
purchased $260.4 million in electric
drives in 2006 and estimates industry
purchases to reach $413.8 million in
2013. The French market is valued at The shifting sands lead to
$305 million in 2004 and likely to greater market clarity.
reach $347 million in 2011—a
1.8% CAGR. Part of the fluid power economy market
share shift from the United States to
During a telephone conversation with Europe can be contributed to the
an Intelligent Actuator Inc. representa- geographic expansion of CETOP
tive, they stated the electric linear (Comité Européen des Transmissions
actuator market to be comparable to Oléohydrauliques et Pneumatiques)—
the pneumatic cylinder market. the international umbrella organiza-
tion, formed in 1962, for national fluid
power associations in Europe.
They started their market coverage
expansion by signing agreements with
fluid power trade organizations in
Eastern Europe. They began in 1994
with the addition of Slovenia, then the
Czech Republic in 1997, followed by
Poland in 2005, and Romania in 2007.
Their plan is to keep is expanding their
coverage into the rest of Eastern Europe
and Russia. They have started to
© 2008. All right reserved. Mountain Stream Group, Inc. 13

14. COMPETITION
Getting the lay of the electropneumatic playground.
As the diagram in Appendix B, page
PNEUMATIC MANUFACTURERS B-20, shows the electropneumatic
MAKING ELECTROPNEUMATIC market is divided into two distinct
PROPORTIONAL 5/3 VALVES segments: Force/Pressure and Flow/
Directional Control. Under directional
Company Origin control is position and speed/velocity
Enfield Technologies USA control. In many applications speed/
velocity profiles are incorporated into
HR Textron† USA
position control.
Festo* Germany
Mac Valves USA Pressure regulation is performed by
Norgren USA either low-flow pressure transducers
(I/P or E/P), an electronically-controlled
Parker Hannifin‡ USA
proportional pressure regulator, known
SMC Pneumatics Japan as EPRs,—that can be a standalone
SchneiderKreuznach Germany device, manifold mounted, or assem-
SunStream Scientific USA bled as part of a FRL (filter-regulator-
lubricator) or FR array—or a
*Introducing the new VPWP series in 1Q 2009. electronically proportional 3-port/
†Servo hydraulic valve adapted to pneumatic applications. 2-position (3/2) valve. Generally those
‡Working something looking for beta sites.
Product in development 1 year away.
regulators that are designed to be part
of a manifold or FRL/FR array allow
© 2008. All right reserved. Mountain Stream Group, Inc. 31

15. the most flow through them. The 3/2
valves can come in low flow or high PNEUMATIC MANUFACTURERS
flow configurations. MAKING ELECTRONIC
PROPORTIONAL REGULATOR (EPR)
Typically, pressure transducers and
low-flow pressure regulators and 3/2 Company Origin
valves are used in control valve and AirCom Pneumatic GmbH Germany
instrumentation applications were the
ASCO Numatics USA
flow mass is not as critical as pressure
is. Conversely, the high-flow 3/2 AZ Pneumatics† Italy
valves are typically used in fast Bosch Rexroth Germany
response-time applications. Camozzi Italy
CKD Japan
However, the high-flow 3/2 valves are
also used in positioning and speed/ Festo Germany
velocity applications as are electroni- GAS-Automation GmbH Germany
cally proportional 5-port/3-position Linator AG Germany
(5/3) valves. These 5/3 valves are
Mac Valves USA
controlled by a servo motor, propor-
tional solenoid coil or a voice coil. The Matrix Pneumatic Division* Italy
latter being the SunStream Scientific Metal Work** Italy
control method. The 3/2 valves are Norgren USA
typically controlled by proportional
Parker Hannifin USA
solenoid coils, however, more
manufacturers are developing product Pneumax Italy
using piezo technology, which is Proportion Air‡ USA
common in many of the EPRs. The other Riba Pneumatik Germany
control method in EPRs is the pulse
SMC Pneumatics Japan
width modulation (PWM) of two 2-way
valves. Some manufacturers are using Sasto Automation Austria
PWM with two 3/2 valves for position
†The AZ Pneumatic EPR looks to be a brand label product from Origa,
and speed/velocity control. Some now Parker Origa.
researchers have gone as far as ‡Only manufactures EPRs.
*Division product line limited to EPRs and a small assortment of valves.
embedding a series of 2-way valves in
**Uses the Matrix EPR 100 series as the driver of their Skilltronic and
the actuator head and cap and using Newtronic EPRs.
PWM for position control. Product can be incorporated into a filter-regulator-lubricator (FRL) or
filter-regulator (FR) array.
© 2008. All right reserved. Mountain Stream Group, Inc.

16. Battling for product and technology supremacy.
Editor’s Note: While it will be necessary for SunStream Who wins the battle will the undisputed
Scientific to develop or acquire EPR products, for the
electropneumatic (servo-pneumatic)
purposes of this situational analysis our focus will on those
manufacturers who produce electronically proportional 5/3
market leader.
directional control valves for the purposes of control of
position and velocity of actuators. However, first there needs At this moment, and to the best of our
to be some background information. knowledge and investigation, there are
just 7 manufacturers of 5/3
Heavyweight versus heavyweight. proportional pneumatic directional
control valves. They include:
David versus Goliath.
• one fluid power super heavyweight
There is a real battle brewing for the (Parker Hannifin),
hearts and minds of engineers and • three pneumatic heavyweights
machine designers of the United States (Festo, Norgren and SMC Pneumat-
and the rest of the world. ics),
• one hydraulics heavyweight (HR
It starts in Germany crosses the Textron),
Atlantic to the shores of the United • one end user (SchneiderKreuznach),
States. Oh, don’t forget the Japanese • one David (Enfield Technologies),
who are attacking from the Pacific. and
• an unknown (SunStream Scientific).
© 2008. All right reserved. Mountain Stream Group, Inc. 33

18. FLUID POWER STATISTICS
A-1

19. FLUID POWER STATISTICS
A-2

20. FLUID POWER STATISTICS
A-3

21. FLUID POWER STATISTICS
A-4

22. PNEUMATIC PRODUCT GROUPS
B-1

23. PNEUMATIC PRODUCT GROUPS
B-2

24. PNEUMATIC PRODUCT GROUPS
B-3

25. PNEUMATIC PRODUCT GROUPS
ISO
Oval Piston
Round
Multiposition
NFPA & Tandem
B-4

26. PNEUMATIC APPLICATIONS
Doctor Blade Control
Doctor blades are used through-out the paper process to remove water
and contaminants from the roll. The use of a double-acting cylinder (or
bladders or bellows) on each end of the roll, with two T3512’s control-
ling the position of each cylinder, increases the positioning accuracy of
the doctor blade.
C-1

27. PNEUMATIC APPLICATIONS
Tire Molding
During the vulcanization stage of tire making, a green tire is molded
into a finished tire — ready for testing, inspection, and shipment. Tight
control of pressure and temperature is absolutely critical to the making
of high quality tires. This requires valves for steam, cold water, and air
pressure, as well as devices to monitor pressure and temperature. In
the illustration, the T3510P I/P is mounted in the cabinet with the PLC,
to locate all the electronics in a single location. The T79V volume
booster provides the flow capacity to open and close the valve rapidly,
as well as a ‘tunable’ integral needle valve to provide stable operation.
C-2

28. PNEUMATIC APPLICATIONS
Tire Testing
Most manufacturers run finished tires through a battery of tests &
inspections. To minimize total testing time, multiple tires must be
inflated and deflated very rapidly, with pressure held constant during
the testing. In the illustrated example, the PLC begins the test by sending
a setpoint to the T3220 electronic pressure controller. The T20 pre-
amplifies the flow of the T3220, to provide tight responsive control of
pressure delivered to the High Flow Booster. The T3220 and T20 can
be ordered as a single integrated unit.
The High Flow Booster is selected based on the size and number of tires
to be tested. Marsh Bellofram has a full range of flow boosters up to 2"
port size and 2000 scfm.
In order to maintain the highest accuracy, the RPS pressure sensor
is mounted close to the tire. The T3220’s two-loop capability allows it
to close the loop with the downstream sensor, freeing up the PLC for
other things.
C-3

29. PNEUMATIC APPLICATIONS
Tire Sidewall Grinding
A Type 3212 provides pressure control in a tire sidewall grinding appli-
cation. A command signal is channeled through a ZMS15-2 Power
Supply which feeds the command signal as well as the 15 volts DC
supply voltage to the Type 3212. A gauge monitors the downstream
pressure of the Type 3212, with a relief valve to protect against over
pressurization.
C-4

30. ELECTRIC ACTUATOR APPLICATIONS | IAI Electric Actuator
Adhesive Press Equipment for Electronic Parts Assembly
• Manufacturing equipment forces two plastic parts to bond
using adhesive
• Since too much force would damage the plastic parts, the
equipment utilizes RCL-SA actuators to supply a lower
controlled force to act as a press
Aluminum Cutting Machine
• ROBO Cylinder is used to feed aluminum into machine to
be cut
• Touch panel is used to set the size and configuration of the
aluminum to be cut
• Touch panel displays the current data value as communi-
cated from the PCON through the field network
D-1

31. ELECTRIC ACTUATOR APPLICATIONS | IAI Electric Actuator
Automated Inspection System
• Automated inspection system is used on mechanical parts
arranged in an array on a tray.
• Gripper is used in the system to grasp and carry parts to
determine good and bad parts. Good parts are returned to
the tray in their original positions. Bad parts are carried to a
different location.
• Less time is needed with the automated system than a tradi-
tional manual system
Ink Filling
• The ROBO Cylinder is used to squeeze the air out of the
plastic bag so the ink system can then place the cap on.
• The actuator moves fast to get closer to the bag, then it
squeezes the bag slowly to make the ink rise level high
enough for sensors to detect it which then communicates to
the actuator to pause and hold.
• By using ROBO Cylinder, it is possible to easily change
speeds, which eliminated defects such as ink leakage,
opposed to when Air Cylinders were used.
D-2

32. ELECTRIC ACTUATOR APPLICATIONS | IAI Electric Actuator
Baseball Bat Inspection
• ROBO Cylinder has been adopted as an equipment that
measures the shape of a baseball bat
• The equipment scans the bat to get new coordinate data
which is sent through a PLC to a PC via a Gateway Unit
• The collected data is easily sent to a CNC machine for au-
tomated cutting
• As a result, accuracy is improved and processing time is
shortened by 1/3 in comparison to be manually performed
• Many major league baseball players use the bats that are
produced using this technology
D-3

33. ELECTRIC ACTUATOR APPLICATIONS | IAI Electric Actuator
Food Processing
With the introduction of this device the quality of the slices
improved as well as the productivity
• Previously done by hand
• Uniform cutting was difficult
• Large quantities caused physical injury such as tendonitis
• Speed control of the blade is needed to make smooth
consistent slices
• No air source available at this particular facility for an air
cylinder
Manual Labor:
3,000-4,000 slices of cake were made in 15 hours
Automated Machine:
5,000-6,000 slices of cake were made in 7 hours
About 3x as fast!! @16 slices per cake
D-4