IMI Precision Engineering launches new Excelon Plus air preparation units and upgrades its valve islands with PROFINET IRT and EtherNet/IP

23 August, 2017

Tamper-resistant features come as standard and include: padlock features on the shut-off valves and regulator; a rotating safety shut-off valve making it easy to isolate the system with no reduction in performance; and a unique double safety bowl lock with an audible bowl clip – a safety detent which when pressurised makes it impossible to remove the bowl when in use.

The new air preparation units also feature a new filter maintenance system. “The system is easy to understand – good engineering doesn’t need to be very complicated,” said Bernward Sprünken, team leader of IMI Precision Engineering’s Business Development Group, who added that the units also benefit from an attractive, modern appearance. The filter maintenance system allows the filter element assembly to be removed with the bowl, enabling faster and cleaner servicing. It features a Quikclamp system, which acts as a bracket and locks Excelon Plus modules together. Excelon Plus can be used on stand-alone or modular assemblies and allows for installation and removal of units without breaking a pipe connection.

David Whelan, global product director, said: “Excelon Plus is a result of our inventiveness, imagination and innovation…With the new safety and functionality features and a compact and lightweight design with no compromise on robustness, Excelon Plus helps keep customers’ marvellous machines running smoothly.”

Sprünken commented: “We are known and respected for our air preparation solutions, not only in the UK where we have a very successful history, but also in places such as the US and throughout Europe. We are also known to have one of the widest ranges of air preparation solutions available today.”

Sprünken explained that IMI Precision Engineering adheres to lean production processes to develop its new products. He added that the company also relies on new product development processes such as APQP (Advanced Product Quality Planning), which is a cross-functional methodology. “This means there are not only development engineers, but also sales, product management, quality and manufacturing people involved in bringing a new product to market,” he explained.

Upgraded valve islands

Offering high flow rates, almost unlimited configurations and a choice of connectivity to enhance customer applications, IMI Precision Engineering has upgraded the connectivity of its IMI Norgren VM and VS ranges of valve islands with PROFINET IRT and EtherNet/IP.

Providing ultimate flexibility of machine design, the VM Series Valve Island is available in both 10mm and 15mm valve body widths and provide flow rates of 430 l/min and 1000 l/min respectively. In response to customer feedback, IMI Precision Engineering has increased the connectivity options on its VM10 Valve Islands from individually wired, multipole and fieldbus to include Industrial Ethernet. The islands can be configured from four to 16 stations, with single or double solenoids, providing a high number of manual overrides and tube fitting sizes. The VM series Valve Island offers over 15 million configurations.