The new JSY5000-H valve manifold from SMC Corporation, to be showcased at AUSPACK, is designed with the food and beverage sectors in mind, and features a smooth surface, large radii, and is free of crevices and contamination traps to make the cleaning process faster and more effective.
The IP69K-rated valve differentiates itself in the marketplace thanks to its high flow rate, low power consumption, and IO-Link point-to-point communication capability – bringing a new level of control to production in wet process areas subject to high pressure CIP and decontamination.
The new series will be showcased at this year’s AUSPACK 2022 exhibition on Stand E140, which Paul Grantham, global account manager for SMC Corporation Australia and New Zealand, believes is the ideal platform to officially launch the product.
“There are numerous prerequisites when adopting automation for stringent industry sectors such as these,” he said.
“These include an IP69K protection rating, FDA approved external materials, NSF-H1 food-grade grease, and a clean surface design to avoid the accumulation of solvents and wash liquids, while ensuring that the produce is not introduced to any unsafe contaminants.”
However, modern food and drink plants also need to meet various performance demands to stand-out in a globally competitive marketplace.
“For instance, a valve with a large flow rate will increase the number of cycles, while lowering power consumption driving down energy bills,” Grantham continued.
Wide range of applications
All types of machines and systems are set to benefit from the five-port SMC JSY5000-H, including those forming part of production, filling and packaging lines.
“The JSY5000-H not only offers power consumption as low as 0.1W, thanks to the power saving circuit, but also a large flow rate of 1600l/min – all from lightweight and compact dimensional envelope,” explained Grantham.
“This capability contrasts with many existing high flow rate valves that require more power and space, both of which are pain points for food and beverage facilities.”
According to Grantham, another issue is that of communications, with many food and beverage facilities still relying on electrically complex solutions with excessive wiring that deliver insufficient data to improve the application’s control and performance level.
“Again, the new SMC JSY5000-H confines this issue to the history books by offering IO-Link point-to-point communication, driving savings through reduced installation and setup time, along with less wiring, connectors and auxiliary equipment,” he added.
“Most notably, however, IO-Link communication allows access to all numerical values in the valve, as well as the remote control of industrial networks – users can adjust and check parameters from anywhere.
“In turn, plants enjoy better control of the application, more valuable data, and onboard product diagnostics.”
Ready to use
The cost-effective, easy-to-clean manifold (also available in a single valve) is entirely safe for use in food production and processing areas, including those where aggressive cleaning process area used, according to SMC.
All of the valve’s metal parts are made from 316 stainless steel, thus delivering superior anti-corrosion performance.
Grantham added that plants with valves installed far from their equipment or even inside cabinets are likely suffering from difficult maintenance, poor equipment control, and greater expenditure on air lines.
“However, with the SMC JSY5000-H, it is possible to eliminate all these issues. This advanced new valve manifold can function up close to food and drink processing activities, helping to push performance and control to new levels,” he concluded.
