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This article was published on July 23, 2023, and updated on April 21, 2025. Pressure transducers, such as those used in tire manufacturing and other hydraulic applications, must be designed to withstand the rigorous demands of their environments. These sensors play an important role in measuring and monitoring process pressure to ensure your systems operate safely and efficiently. In tire manufacturing, for instance, transducers must endure high temperatures and pressures during the vulcanizing process, where the rubber is molded and hardened. Similarly, in other hydraulic applications, they must be resilient against factors like hydraulic shock, vibration, and pressure spikes, which can significantly impact their performance and longevity. Therefore, selecting the right transducer involves considering its ability to handle these challenging conditions while maintaining precision and reliability. In my 30+ years of experience working with pressure sensors, I’ve been able to help thousands of customers ensure that they have the right transducer for the job. This article will help you understand the critical factors you should consider when selecting pressure transducers for challenging environments such as vulcanizing and other hydraulic applications that experience tough conditions. When you are done reading, you will also see additional resources to help deepen your knowledge about pressure transducers and mistakes to avoid when selecting the right instrument for your needs.

In applications involving conductive fluids such as tap water, seawater, ammonia and condensation from air and gases, safeguarding pressure instruments against galvanic corrosion is a critical concern. The corrosive nature of these systems can significantly compromise the functionality and longevity of your instrumentation, underscoring the importance of selecting the most appropriate options for your specific requirements. Typically, people focus on media compatibility as it relates to the wetted materials of the individual components that will be used in a system such as pressure instruments. However, it is also critical to identify potential areas of galvanic corrosion throughout the entire system and only use materials that are corrosive-resistant and compatible with galvanic conditions. Ashcroft has a long and successful history in pressure and temperature instrumentation, including those used in harsh applications such as saltwater and chemical environments. Read this article to better understand galvanic corrosion, where and how it occurs, and why media and material compatibility are so important when selecting the best pressure measurement solution for water-based applications. You will also be directed to additional resources that can help you take the next step in your instrument-purchasing journey.

Whether you are measuring low-pressure airflow in a critical environment, high-pressure mobile hydraulics in OEM applications, or even ultra-high purity gases in semiconductor manufacturing, you are likely relying on a pressure transducer to keep your system running safely and efficiently. In each of these instances, the challenge is selecting the best transducer for the specific application, especially when there are so many options available to you. Ashcroft and its parent company Nagano Keiki Co. LTD have a proven track record of reliability and excellence in pressure measurement instrumentation. All the sensing technologies discussed in this article have been designed and manufactured by Ashcroft along with Nagano Keiki, allowing us to control the performance, cost and lead time of our pressure sensors. Read this article to learn what sets Ashcroft pressure transducers apart from the competition and why our company is the best choice for customers in many industries around the globe. You will also gain access to other valuable insights and resources to enhance your understanding of these instruments and their functionality. When you are done reading this article, you will be in a better position to take the next step in your purchasing decision.

If you work in an industry that involves hydrogen, or other volatile substances, you understand the dangers that you and your team face daily. But do you know that any equipment used in these environments (aka hazardous locations) must meet certain requirements and be designed to help contain or prevent a fire or explosion from occurring in the first place? For example, certain pressure sensors like the E2F Flameproof and E2S Intrinsically Safe pressure transducers are built to withstand or prevent explosions and fires in hazardous locations. This makes them effective options for managing pressure in complex industrial applications. Ashcroft is a recognized leader in pressure and temperature instrumentation and has been for more than a century and a half. In my role as product leader, I am familiar with the complex nature of hydrogen and have been educating customers on how to select the best sensors to meet the stringent quality and safety requirements for highly combustible environments. This article will explain the factors and classifications of a hazardous location, the product certifications that are required for use in these environments and the solutions available to help keep you and your team safe. When you are done reading this article, you will have a better understanding of what type of pressure transducer you will need for your application and be ready to take the next step in your purchasing decision.

Now more than ever, industrial leaders are taking measures to protect the environment. For example, if you are in the HVAC/R business you may be using a more ecologically friendly refrigerant compound like ammonia to help reduce your energy consumption and greenhouse gas emissions. If this is the case, you need to be aware of certain risks and solutions that can help minimize potential danger. According to the American Society of Heating, Refrigerant and Air-Conditioning Engineers (ASHRAE), ammonia is an ideal alternative to traditional chlorofluorocarbon refrigerant compounds because of its low impact on the environment. However, in certain quantities, ammonia can also be hazardous to people and animals. That’s why systems with ammonia and similar refrigerant-based compounds need to have quality components, including pressure sensors. In some ammonia-based systems – such as those used in fuel pump controls – using the wrong kind of OEM pressure transducer could lead to leaks or bursts that cause serious harm to operators and equipment.

Data centers that house servers and other computer equipment that are crucial to the success of many companies require a specialized controlled environment to function properly. These areas must be maintained at a consistent temperature to keep the equipment running at peak efficiency to help reduce energy costs, and in an environment that keeps out dust and contaminants to prevent premature equipment failure. The wrong pressure instruments used in critical environments, such as data centers, can result in inaccurate measurements, damage to equipment and downtime for your application. Differential pressure sensors are used in several different applications in data centers. This article will discuss what product features make for the best differential sensors for these applications to ensure your application runs accurately and efficiently.