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Product category: Pneumatic equipment
News Release from: Asco Numatics | Subject: ATEX certified pneumatic products
Edited by the Manufacturingtalk Editorial Team on 09 November 2004

Certified pneumatic products suit
hazardous use

A full range of non-electrical, ATEX certified pneumatic products includes certified solenoids, enclosures and automation products for use in hazardous atmospheres.

The introduction of a full range of non-electrical, ATEX certified pneumatic products means that Asco Joucomatic is now able to offer users and OEMs in all industry types a single source supply for the widest range of ATEX certified solenoids, enclosures and automation products for use in potentially explosive gaseous and dust laden atmospheres Asco Joucomatic's ATEX certified non-electrical range is the third component of an ATEX offering that also includes one of the widest ranges of solenoid operators and enclosure types complying with the Directive, and dust collector systems for removing dust from the atmosphere in industrial manufacturing plants

Asco's non-electrical ATEX range covers zones 1-21 /2-22, with certification for zone 0-20 available on magnetic detectors and pending for PEC and PES cylinders.

The range overall is extremely comprehensive, including air service units, spool valves, special interface Namur valves, direct operating solenoid valves, pilot valve islands with fieldbus control, angle seat valves for use on hot water and aggressive fluids, pneumatic cylinders and mountings and magnetic detectors.

All of these products are certified individually by ensuring that all metal surfaces, which could come into contact with an explosive atmosphere are earthed.

On most components earthing continuity is achieved by removing part of the surface treatment, ensuring direct contact to metal parts.

In the case of earth continuity on pneumatic cylinders many manufacturers have found it necessary to connect the cylinder piston rod to earth.

With Asco Joucomatic's ATEX 450, 453 and 449 series of cylinders this procedure is not required, saving the equipment user both time and cost.

Asco's alternative is to provide five spot faces for earthing on the cylinders: four on the mounting screws of the rear end cap and one on the mounting screws of the front cap.

The benefit of this arrangement is that, as the piston rod is always in contact with the guiding bearing, earthing continuity is ensured between the body and rod of the cylinder.

Users also benefit from Asco Joucomatic's certification of individual devices, which provides flexibility by allowing the association of many like- certified components in assemblies.

What this means in practice is that users of pre-assembled ATEX devices are not constrained from modifying them, because the combination of devices or assemblies is not subject to a single overall ATEX certification.

Complementing the new non-electrical ATEX products, Asco Joucomatic offers users one of the widest ranges of solenoid coils and enclosures complying with the new ATEX directive for use in gaseous and dust-laden environments.

The range includes: * d ? flameproof.

(ATEX Zone1/21).

* m ? encapsulation.

(ATEX Zone 1/ 21).

* em- encapsulation with increased safety.

(ATEX Zone 1/ 21).

* ia - intrinsically safe for use in continuously explosive atmospheres.

(ATEX Zone 0/ 20).

* ib - intrinsically safe for atmospheres where combustible dust is likely to occur during normal operation, occasionally.

(ATEX Zone 1/21).

* n ? non-sparking.

(ATEX Zone 2 /22).

Asco is the world leader in solenoid valves for explosive atmospheres and its enclosures meet the needs of all industry types, being available in a variety of metals such as aluminium, cast iron and stainless steel - and also as convenient epoxy encapsulations such as the EM range.

(PV, ZN, ISSC and SCDU) The EM has been in the vanguard of the trend for designing smaller, lower cost ?increased safety? solenoid operators in hazardous areas, rather than those of expensive flameproof ('d') construction.

Also designed by Asco to meet a specific requirement is a new family of solenoid valve operators, which meet the Category 2 requirements of the ATEX directive.

These flameproof (II 2 G/D EEx d IIC) operators are manufactured in lightweight aluminium (NF), which is epoxy coated to combat corrosion, cast iron (NL) and stainless steel (WSNF).

Conforming to European Standards EN50014, EN 50018 and EN 50281-1-1, the operators are push or pull type units offering ingress protection to IP67.

They are designed for use in the water and process industries, piloting large actuators, or to directly operate large diaphragm or diverter valves.

* ATEX dust collector systems - uniquely among control manufacturers and valve suppliers, Asco Joucomatic extends the scope of its ATEX certified valve operators into fully integrated dust control systems.

The company's innovative Power Pulse range of valves optimises the performance of Pulse Jet cleaning systems, one of the most effective techniques for removing dust from the atmosphere in foundries, wood working plants, incinerators, power stations and many, many more.

In addition to meeting the needs of industry at large, Asco Joucomatic's ATEX certified range is particularly relevant to OEMs. Request a free brochure from Asco Numatics ...

It is employed in the company?s Power Pulse Tank System, which provides a neater package for dust collector installations The tank system is a fully integrated package that effectively overcomes the problem of CE certification for OEMs who traditionally build their own tank.

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