New cylinder becomes seventh member of Festo’s Simplified Motion Series

Festo’s new EPCE cylinder, the newest addition to the Simplified Motion Series of simple-to-set-up electric drives for simple motion, is ideal for fast movement in sorting, distribution and testing applications.

Mississauga, ON, October 2020 – And then there were seven. The EPCE electric cylinder has become the seventh member of Festo’s Simplified Motion Series (SMS), a family of electric actuators that mimics the simplicity of pneumatics in performing simple point-to-point movements or positioning tasks. Each has an integrated servo drive, controller and electronics, and two on-board control options as standard: Digital I/O and IO-Link.

The EPCE cylinder unit is ideal for fast movement in sorting, distribution and testing applications. It converts the rotary motion of the mounted motor into the linear motion of a piston rod or rods via an internal toothed belt drive. The EPCE toothed belt technology provides maximum dynamic response and minimal positioning times. Its minimal zero stroke and extremely compact design make it an ideal choice for applications in small spaces.

There are numerous variants available, based on the location and number of piston rod(s), left or right, front or rear, etc. (Units with 1-4 piston rods are available, and there are through-piston rod as well as dual opposite-direction piston rod variants as well.)

Festo’s Simplified Motion Series, now augmented with the EPCE cylinder, are all-in-one actuators for simple motion that need no external drives or controllers and are fast and easy to commission right on the device.

The EPCE has all the same easy-to-set-up virtues as the other six SMS actuators to appeal to users who want an economical electrical alternative to pneumatic cylinders that’s simpler than most electric automation solutions to activate. Commissioning is fast and easy; all parameters are set manually on board the device. No software or special expertise is required to get the unit up and running. Extended functions are possible with IO-Link.

Festo at a glance

Festo, the world’s leading supplier of automation technology and technical education, is deploying its products and services to meet the challenges of digitization and smart production. Founded in 1925, the family owned company based in Esslingen, Germany supports a wide range of needs for advanced solutions in factory and process automation. In Canada, Festo has been supporting Canadian industry for over 40 years, continuously elevating the state of manufacturing in this country with innovative products, optimized motion control solutions and unrivalled support. Globally, some 300,000 customers put their trust in the company’s pneumatic and electric drive products and technology. In addition, Festo Didactic provides state-of-the-art training equipment and educational programs for industrial companies and educational institutions. The Festo Group registered sales of around €3.2 billion in the 2018 financial year and is represented worldwide at 250 locations with a total of 20,200 employees. About 8% of its annual turnover is invested in research and development.

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