Food & Drink Process & Packaging Issue 31 2020 | Page 15

If the linear actuator will be directly in the path of water , a rating of either IPX6 or IPX7 protection ( water tight ) will be required .
As Steve points out “ rodless electromechanical actuator cannot meet these protection requirements , even with modifications . This type of actuator will need expensive , customdesigned shielding and well-thoughtout installation to work in these wet conditions . On the other hand , an electric rod actuator can be manufactured to meet these higher protection levels ”.
Then there are environments like food processing where equipment is subject to aggressive cleaning that involves caustic washing solutions , high water temperatures , and high spray pressure . This situation calls for linear actuators with an IP69K rating which indicates resistance to high-pressure , hightemperature washdowns . Only electric rod actuators can achieve an IP69K rating .”
There is no IP rating for corrosion resistance , although many manufacturing environments have corrosive agents present . Because materials have varying levels of corrosion resistance to different
substances , MCP engineers need to understand the application thoroughly to enable them to correctly specify . When it comes to linear actuators , the housing , fasteners , rod , gasket and seals need to have the required corrosion resistance for the actuator to withstand the environment .
Motion Control Products offers two ranges of Tolomatic ’ s powerful electric actuators ( with forces up to 34kN / 7.8k lbf ) tailored for the most demanding of food and beverage processing applications :
One is ERD series hygienic actuators that are IP69K rated . They feature stainless steel construction for corrosion resistance . A rounded body design , protective motor housing , and comprehensive sealing allow the hygienic ERD models to stand up to frequent washdowns and caustic cleaning solutions . USDA certification is available as an option for actuators used in meat , poultry , and dairy operations , which are demanding environments with a focus on cleanliness .
The other range is IMA-S stainlesssteel integrated servo actuators , which is designed to hygienic standards for eliminating harbourage points and preventing bacterial growth . This IMA-S integrated servo actuator is a compact , hygienic motion module . It has a hollow rotor servo motor and feedback device integrated into the actuator housing , which facilitates conversion of pneumatic and hydraulic cylinder systems by increasing efficiency , motion control and eliminating product contamination risks . The 316 stainless-steel construction provides excellent corrosion resistance and withstands high pressure , high temperature and caustic wash-down . With its hygienic fasteners / cord grips design and IP69k ingress protection rating , the IMA-S meets clean-in-place requirements , allowing machine designers to achieve open machine designs and eliminate shrouding required to house standard actuators .
For more technical information of our complete range of Tolomatic electric actuators , please visit our website https : / www . motioncontrolproducts . com / linear-electric-actuators / tolomatic-electric-actuators / or contact Motion Control Products Ltd . at + 44 ( 0 ) 1202 599922
FDPP - www . fdpp . co . uk 15