What causes the ‘swoosh’ sound when a soda can is opened? What powers the gates, brakes, and passenger restraints on a roller coaster? What makes animatronics work at an amusement park? Compressed air is the magical force behind all of these things – and much more.
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Compressed air is composed of the same gases as the air we breathe, but it is compressed into a smaller space and kept under pressure, causing its molecules to be closer together. When the pressure is released, it becomes an energy source that is safer and more convenient to use compared to other power sources like steam or batteries.
Manufacturing facilities worldwide utilize compressed air to power their industrial and commercial applications, including pneumatic systems. These systems utilize manual, air-pilot, or solenoid valve actuators for control, providing a cost-effective, flexible, and safe alternative to electric actuators in various industrial and commercial applications.
By combining basic pneumatic components such as valves, cylinders, hoses, and fittings in different configurations, simple and reliable machine control can be achieved. Pneumatic power transmission is often the most effective way to grip, lift, press, shift, or stack products.
Many companies rely on Metal Work, based in Concesio, Italy, for their pneumatic components and systems. Metal Work offers a diverse range of products across five lines: actuators, valves, air treatment units, fittings, and handling components. These products are ISO 9001, ISO 1401, and OHSAS 18001 certified, ensuring their quality and reliability.
“Our goal is to provide innovative, reliable, and efficient solutions that enhance our customers’ productivity and profitability,” said Paul Saunders, President of Metal Work Pneumatic USA, Inc. “We continuously seek solutions and products to meet their needs and address new market demands.”
Automation Direct offers Metal Work air prep assemblies, pushbuttons, switches, indicators, and pneumatic components. The latest addition to their Metal Work offerings is the Syntesi combination air prep assemblies. These assemblies come pre-assembled with popular component configurations, including manual shut-off with filter/regulator and lubricator, filter/regulator with lubricator, filter with lubricator, and filter with coalescing filter assemblies.
Fifty-Six Years of Growth and Innovation
Metal Work started in 1967 as a small workshop manufacturing push-in fittings for compressed air systems. Today, the company has expanded to 59 subsidiaries across Asia, the Americas, Africa, and Europe, employing 1,350 people. In recent years, Metal Work has also ventured into the production of electrical components and vacuum technology.
Metal Work Pneumatic USA, Inc. serves as the company’s U.S. subsidiary and is headquartered in Arlington, Texas. It is a leading manufacturer and supplier of high-quality pneumatic components, systems, and solutions for various industries, including automation, food processing, packaging, medical, and automotive.
Solenoid valves are one of the core product lines of Metal Work. These valves are essential components in pneumatic systems, controlling the flow of air, gas, or liquid in different applications. Metal Work Pneumatic USA offers a wide range of solenoid valves to cater to the diverse needs of their customers. These valves are renowned for their high quality, durability, and reliability. They are designed to withstand demanding operating conditions and undergo rigorous testing to ensure they meet or exceed industry standards.
The company is also recognized for its exceptional customer service. Metal Work Pneumatic USA’s team of expert technicians and engineers provide comprehensive support to customers, from design and installation to maintenance and repair. The company also offers training programs and technical support to help customers maximize the benefits of their products.
Focus on Quality and Sustainability
From its inception, Metal Work has prioritized producing quality products while adhering to sustainable economic, social, and environmental practices. Metal Work has been ISO 9001 certified since 1992, gained ISO 14001 certification in 2000, OHSAS 1800 certification in 2007, and transitioned to ISO 45001 in 2019.
“These certifications reflect our total commitment to quality throughout our organization,” said Daniele Marconi, Managing Director. “We pay attention to saving energy starting from the initial design phase of a product and application. As a result, the electric power required to operate Metal Work valves has decreased by 75 percent in recent years.”
Additionally, the company is proud to present the first edition of its Sustainability Report for 2022. This report showcases the company’s current and future commitments to social and environmental issues, promoting and disseminating the organization’s vision of a sustainable future.
Looking Forward to Geographic and Product Growth
Metal Work continues to expand its global presence and product offerings. The company recently inaugurated a new headquarters in Malaysia and looks forward to further expansion worldwide to better serve its customers.
The company is also dedicated to assisting customers in managing operational data, lifetime, and diagnostics for processing machinery through pneumatic automation for Industry 4.0, the era of intelligent manufacturing systems.
“Every processing machine has numerous components to manage – actuators, pneumatic cylinders, electric motors, limit switches, pressure regulators, or temperature gauges,” said Saunders. “The most common but inefficient approach to managing this data is to entrust it to the machine’s PLC. However, the PLC and the person programming it already have numerous responsibilities, leaving little focus on the intelligent management of statistical, diagnostic, and preventative maintenance data for individual actuators or sensors. Consequently, this essential information for the satisfactory operation of the entire system is often ignored and not managed.”
To address this issue and help manufacturing facilities operate efficiently, Metal Work developed the EB80 Electro-Pneumatic System. This system allows the PLC to handle work cycles, sequencing, and machine checks while transmitting its decisions to the actuators/sensors. It verifies that everything is operating satisfactorily and sends a warning when a component malfunctions or reaches its expected lifetime. Ultimately, the system helps manufacturers achieve reliable, high-performance, efficient, and sustainable systems.
“Being part of this Industry 4.0 transformation and assisting our customers worldwide with these changes is invigorating,” said Saunders. “It is also exciting to see how our company has evolved from producing fittings for compressed air systems to incorporating electrical components, vacuum technology, and more to meet the evolving needs of our customers. We eagerly anticipate further growth and innovation in the future.”
