Electromechanical Actuators for Cost-Effective Industrial Automation

[Cengiz Özemli]

## Electromechanical Actuators for Cost-Effective Industrial Automation

RS Components introduces Festo's Simplified Motion Series, which provides cost-effective electric motion control in manufacturing and intralogistics applications. These integrated electromechanical actuators focus on simplifying the transition from pneumatic systems to electric motion.

### Transitioning from Pneumatic to Electric

With Industry 4.0, the increase in automation, electrification, and digitalization has raised the demand for integrated electric motion solutions. While pneumatic systems are widespread due to their low initial costs, electric systems reduce the total cost of ownership through lower energy consumption, improved control, and the elimination of the need for compressed air infrastructure.

The Simplified Motion Series offers cost-optimized electric actuators for small and medium-sized industrial operations, facilitating the integration of smart automation into the digital supply chain.

### Integrated Design and Easy Installation

These actuators combine mechanical drive components, motors, and control electronics into a single unit, eliminating the need for external servo drives. Following a "plug and play" principle, no special software or programming knowledge is required for installation and commissioning.

Basic parameters (speed, force, end positions) can be configured via digital I/O (DIO). Advanced functions such as remote parameter setting, diagnostics, and data exchange are also supported with IO-Link. This allows users accustomed to pneumatic systems to easily adopt electric motion control.

### Application Areas and Motion Capabilities

The series is designed for simple positioning and motion tasks such as feeding, sorting, aligning, gripping, and stopping. Although optimized for movements between two end positions, intermediate positioning, controlled motion profiling, and soft landing are supported.

It is preferred in production lines, automated storage and retrieval systems (AS/RS), material handling, packaging lines, and Cartesian robots used for operations like sorting, assembly, and palletizing.

### Product Variety and Motion Types

The Simplified Motion Series offers various actuators for linear and rotary motion:

• Ball screw driven linear actuators for high precision and feeding force
• Toothed belt driven actuators for high speed and long strokes
• Compact mini slides for guided linear and vertical movements
• Models developed as functional alternatives to pneumatic cylinders; supporting tasks such as gripping, positioning, and material distribution
• For rotary motion, the backlash-free bearing ERMS actuator is particularly suitable for guiding and positioning applications in intralogistics

### Operational Efficiency and System Simplification

By replacing pneumatic systems, it eliminates the need for compressors, air preparation units, and distribution lines. This reduces maintenance requirements, energy losses, and system complexity.

Simple installation, integrated control, and reduced infrastructure requirements increase operational efficiency in industrial environments and support data-driven improvements.

### Role in Industrial Automation

The Simplified Motion Series offers a balanced alternative between traditional pneumatic solutions and fully programmable servo systems, providing an ideal bridge between cost and functionality. This allows manufacturers to gradually adopt electric motion control while preserving existing processes and competencies.

This approach by RS and Festo helps companies wishing to modernize their operations without extensive redesign to proliferate smart motion technologies.