Ideal for Life Science: Extensive product portfolio from SMC

At a Glance: The pneumatically operated angle seat valves of the VXB series from SMC feature a status indicator in the latest generation, so the valve position is immediately recognizable. The powerful valves are also characterized by low pressure loss, reduced leakage, and a very compact design. (Photo: SMC Deutschland GmbH)

In the laboratory, in the clinic, in the doctor's practice: For medical devices, the highest standards apply – including for their manufacturing. Today, manufacturing is globally networked. Therefore, alongside robust, precise, and easy-to-clean components, international collaboration is also in focus at Compamed 2018 in Düsseldorf. From November 12 to 15, SMC will present its comprehensive product portfolio and worldwide development, manufacturing, and service network for this demanding field at the leading global trade fair for the medical supply industry and product development. In Hall 8B at Stand H04, SMC experts will showcase, among other things, innovative solutions in liquid handling as well as for valves, sensors, temperature control, and static electricity reduction.

"With more than 12,000 basic models and 700,000 variants, our product portfolio in the field of pneumatic and electrical automation solutions is one of the largest worldwide," says Thomas Lindhammer, Key Account Manager Life Science at SMC. "We are present at 83 locations and in 5 technology centers around the globe. Together with our customers, we develop the right solution for each task. This makes SMC a leading manufacturer, partner, and solution provider in this field." Thanks to the global service and production network with 500 sales centers and more than 31 manufacturing plants, the required components are quickly available on site, even when replacements are needed.

Mini-Valve, Maximum Performance

Weighing just 10 grams and measuring 36 mm in length: the new 2/2-way miniature valves of the SX90 series are this small. Their performance, however, is substantial, with flow rates of up to 40 l/min in operating pressure ranges from 0 to 0.2 MPa. They also save energy: the power consumption is only 0.7 watts. The new mini-valves, which SMC will showcase at Compamed 2018, are particularly suitable for medical and laboratory processes where energy efficiency is as important as high performance and extremely compact dimensions – from mobile blood analysis devices to oxygen concentrators.

Robust Angular Seat Valves for Sterile Medical Devices

Medical devices must not transmit germs or bacteria to patients during surgeries and are therefore regularly sterilized. In addition to chemical and physical sterilization, thermal steam sterilization is also used. During this process, all potentially harmful germs are thoroughly killed with hot steam, typically at 121°C or 134°C. For these conditions, the pneumatic angular seat valves of the VXB series from SMC are ideally suited. With an internal leakage of a maximum of 10 cm³/min, they are extremely tight and ensure safe switching cycles in applications with steam up to 3 million cycles. An integrated operation indicator shows the valve position at a glance – saving time during fault diagnosis and reducing downtime. The valves made of bronze or stainless steel also impress with very small installation heights and are available in three connection sizes: 3/8" (100 mm), 1/2" (104 mm), and 3/4" (109 mm).