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.

For the industry novice looking to understand the basics of pressure measurement instruments, it can be confusing and overwhelming to search through the seemingly limitless number of available transmitters and transducers.

If you work with any of the critical mechanical applications found in the modern world - including mobile construction equipment, and fuel pumps for example - it is likely you also manage hydraulic systems. Because these systems use liquids in various forms to generate power, you know that the inherent pressure feature of hydraulics has to be managed properly. In the best-case scenario, a lack of sufficient management of pressure levels in a system could lead to inferior output. In the worst cases, it could cause damage to equipment or physical harm to system operators. Hydraulic pressure gauges play a critical role in regulating pressure by monitoring levels in either a specified part or the entire system to ensure things are operating normally. So how do you know which pressure gauge will work best in your hydraulic system? Just know what you’re looking for and choose carefully! Sounds simple, right? As a pressure gauge product lead at Ashcroft - a recognized authority in temperature and pressure solutions - I have seen many scenarios where the wrong pressure gauges were selected and the impact that decision had on operations. In this article, you will learn about the five pressure gauge features I consider most important for hydraulic applications so you can be confident about selecting the best option to meet your specific needs. Let’s get started.

When your organization operates equipment in critical processes – from plants dealing with hazardous chemicals to power stations providing energy for thousands of households – you can’t afford to have any questions about the accuracy and effectiveness of your pressure and temperature instruments. For these critical applications, your instruments need to be dependable and function the way your operators expect. It’s not always enough to perform the normal set of daily checks done by the team. From time to time, you need a more full-scale solution that gives you an in-depth understanding of how your instruments are performing and what needs to be improved. An instrument audit like the one Ashcroft offers in our Critical Application Solution Experts® (CASE®) service could be the perfect solution for helping you keep your equipment in top condition. In this article, we’ll explain what’s involved in our CASE audit and list some of its benefits for plant managers who pursue one.

Vulcanizing – the process of molding and hardening rubber with chemical treatments at a high temperature – is a critical step in the process of manufacturing quality, reliable tires for everyday use. A typical vulcanizer uses several hydraulic pressure systems to cure tires. These systems help power multiple parts of the machine, from molding the tire to transferring it to the next step in the manufacturing process. As raw tire rubber is molded into a shape that closely resembles its f

This article was originally published on August 9, 2021, and was updated on June 5, 2023. The semiconductor industry affects nearly every aspect of our lives today. Your cell phone, computer, television, car and any other electronic device you use each day all depend on semiconductor applications to exist. But these demanding applications require specialized high-purity equipment and instruments to run safely, efficiently and properly. Pressure transducers (and pressure transmitters but for simplification in this article I will refer to them as "pressure transducers") are crucial to the semiconductor process, but only if they are manufactured a certain way to handle hazardous environments. How do you know what makes the best semiconductor pressure transducer?