Full power - even in the splash zone

The requirements in terms of cleanliness are particularly high in the food industry. Therefore, in addition to the corresponding proof of conformity, components must also meet the highest standards when it comes to cleaning - and at the same time convince with their performance. With the JSY5000-H series, automation specialist SMC has now developed a new valve terminal in clean design that also enables use in the splash zone and thus as close as possible to the application. In addition, the solution has, among other things, IP69K protection and FDA-compliant materials, shines with a flow rate of up to 1600 l/min (ANR) at low power consumption and can be easily connected via IO-Link.

Valve terminals for pneumatic applications are used throughout the industry. The food industry stands out in particular due to its requirements: in order to guarantee food safety, the components used there must be easy to clean and at the same time thoroughly cleanable, without leaving any residue or risking malfunctions due to cleaning. To help designers in the food industry achieve a compact machine design that is reliable at all times, SMC has developed the JSY5000-H series valve terminal in Clean Design.

With this, the specialist for pneumatic and electrical automation offers an FDA-compliant solution that can also be used in the splash zone and enables cleaning with high-pressure cleaners under high temperatures of up to 80 °C. In addition, short cycle times can be realized thanks to a flow rate of up to 1600 l/min (ANR) while at the same time requiring little energy thanks to an energy-saving circuit. Depending on the application, there is a choice between multiple connection plate or single valve.

Guaranteed food safety

The new JSY5000-H series valve terminal features a clean design with a gap-free exterior and a space between the valve covers that allows cleaning liquids to flow off easily even without disassembling the manifold sub-base. To prevent malfunctions, it has an IP69K protection rating, which prevents the ingress of both solids such as dust and liquids - even during high-pressure cleaning with temperatures up to 80 °C. Safe and reliable operation in the food industry, even in the splash zone, is completed by materials that meet U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) requirements, 316 stainless steel metal parts with high corrosion resistance, and food-grade NSF-H1 grease.

In addition to the aforementioned design advantages, other benefits include a compact design with dimensions of 81 x 166 x 233 mm (H/W/D) for 5 stations - the valve width of the single valve is only 15 mm. In addition to an increased number of variants, the choice between multiple sub-bases or individual valves (in the version with mounting bolts or with plug-in connection) allows individual valves to be installed as close as possible to an application instead of in control cabinets. In the case of different pressures, an additional blockable individual manifold can also be used as a supply and vent module. Taken together, not only are small and thus space-saving machine designs possible, which includes short hose lines and installation close to the process. At the same time, their design reduces maintenance time and thus costs.

Powerful performance and communication

Despite its compact design, the JSY5000-H series enables a flow rate of up to 1600 l/min (ANR), ensuring a high cycle rate and increasing productivity in the food sector. At the same time, it is a true energy saver: even in the standard version, power consumption is only 0.4 W. As an option, it can also be equipped with an energy-saving circuit, which reduces power consumption to as little as 0.1 W after switch-on. Users can thus increase their productivity and, in parallel, reduce their energy consumption and thus their costs, which also pays off positively in terms of sustainability.

A single cable with an M12 connector can be used to implement both the power supply and the data transmission. Connectors and other additional devices can also be dispensed with for the machine design, which reduces the cabling and wiring effort and again saves costs. The IO-Link-compatible new EX430 module used in this process can be connected to various fieldbus protocols via an IO-Link master. Serial communication can be used to query all numerical valve values and realize remote control of industrial networks. Designers thus have better control over their applications, get more meaningful data and integrated product diagnostics. Besides, they manage the setup after a product change faster and can use standard cabling for this purpose.