ICI's Actuator & Valve Industry Blog

A good analogy for initially understanding duty cycle can start with the idea of riding a bicycle. You peddle (period of energy exertion) and then coast (continuemoving from your own forwardforce, without the addition of any power). As you slow down (due to wind resistance, road friction, or road terrain) you peddle to speed up and then coast again.

Nowadays wind turbines play a larger role in the power generation combination for the USA. Every day, more and more turbines are being installed across states and the country. Although valves don’t play an important part in the wind energy generation, actuators are a much more significant element in the operation of wind turbines.

This installation and maintenance manual explains how to install and maintain electric actuators. Information on installation, disassembly, reassembly, operation, troubleshoot and parts is provided. Every actuators manufacturer should provide an installation and maintenance manual to its customer but in some cases, they are incomplete or don’t even make it to the end-user on the field. So here is a somehow generic installation, operation and maintenance manual that could be used for most electric actuators on the market.

“Let’s create a night shift!” 

Anyone working for a growing manufacturer has heard that before. Sounds easy and simple: hire a few more workers, no need for costly overtime anymore, and increase production to meet customer needs… Really?!

Not that long ago, the only way a manufacturer could build a prototype was to spend a whole lot of money in R&D and then even more into castings or moldings. Now, however, building a prototype can be as inexpensive and simple as hitting the “print” icon on your computer.

Electric actuators have been used in many industries for tens of years but their positive impact on the environment is often disregarded. Nowadays many end-users and contractors are still choosing hydraulic or pneumatic systems over electric systems. Electric actuators can do the same job with more environmental benefits. Using electric actuators not only reduce negative environmental impact, they require less energy to function and cut down on operating costs.

With Baby Boomers coming close to retiring or already retired, manufacturers must do all they can to keep employees and knowledge inside the company. Labor turnover can be costly and is very negative to manufacturing businesses, which depend on well-trained personnel and steady production. Here’s what you, we manufacturers, need to ask the workforce.