trends in automation

Festo has been a strong industry partner in Italy for 60 years. A number of long-standing as well as former

employees of Festo Italy took a trip into the past this year to prepare themselves for the anniversary

celebrations. After all, there are 60 years of company history to review and collate into a book to mark

the occasion. The first Festo national company was opened by the Stoll founding family on 21 January

1956 in Milan. Numerous visits to Italy, as well as an innovative spirit and great vision were the major

factors in this important decision. In addition, Italy was the second-biggest sales market after Germany

for Festo. It all started with just over 20 employees in the Via Ettore Ponte. The company moved to

Assago, just outside Milan, in 1984. Today, Festo Italy has 225 people, 105 of whom work in sales. In its

60th year, Festo Italy is a national market leader and has an optimistic outlook on the future, despite the

ongoing economic crisis.

Happy birthday, Festo Italy!

Mobile air

Piezo valves in use

Around 600 million people worldwide suffer from chronic

obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). Portable oxygen therapy

devices improve the mental and physical ability of patients as

well as their quality of life. Japanese company Musashi Medical

Laboratory supplies easy-to-operate regulators for oxygen

therapy devices. Their size and weight are comparable to those

of a smartphone, and they can be comfortably carried directly

on the patient’s body in a shirt or trouser pocket. The regulator

is compact and light, not least of all due to the proportional

valve VEMR which regulates the supply of oxygen via the tubing.

With piezo technology oxygen can be administered to patients

gently instead of jerkily. The device is matched to the patient’s

respiratory rate. A sensor ensures that the regulator detects

inhalation. The right amount of oxygen is then mixed with the

respiratory air. During inhalation, the sensor detects a pressure

drop and transmits a signal to the regulator which in turn opens

the proportional valve VEMR. At the end of each inhalation, the

piezo valve shuts off the supply of oxygen. Oxygen consumption

is thus much more efficient. The oxygen bottle doesn’t have

to be refilled as often, and the patient’s range of action is in-

creased. Thanks to the energy-efficient piezo valve, the device’s

battery life is considerably extended. A further advantage of the

piezo valve is the quiet supply of oxygen and its silent switching

operations.

As compact as a smartphone:

Musashi Medical Laboratory’s

IVY flow regulator for portable oxygen therapy devices can be

held conveniently in the hand for operation and fits in any shirt

or trouser pocket. (Photos: Musashi)

Japan

2.2016

trends in automation

Festo worldwide

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