If you work in any industry that involves food, beverages, pharmaceuticals or biotechnology, your challenge is to implement and maintain strict sanitary control over your entire operation to prevent product contamination and protect public health. This means, that every aspect of the manufacturing process, including equipment and instruments you use to keep your systems running smoothly, must also meet certain sanitary and hygienic standards. Ashcroft is a globally recognized leader in pressure and temperature instrumentation, so we understand the unique requirements our products must meet for use in these highly regulated industries. In fact, as a Product Leader for the company's sanitary product line, I am often asked for guidance during our customers' gauge selection process. In this article, you will learn more about the unique safety challenges of these highly regulated industries, the safety standards that are designed for public protection and some factors to consider when selecting the best sanitary gauge for your needs. When you are done reading, you will also be directed to additional resources to help deepen your knowledge of pressure gauges in general.

If you work in any industry that uses pressure and temperature instrumentation to keep your process applications running safely and efficiently, there's a good chance you are familiar with Ashcroft gauges or sensors. That's because Ashcroft has been making pressure and temperature measurement instruments since its inception more than 170 years ago. What you may not know, however, is that Ashcroft also made nautical clocks in the late 1800s.

Pressure transducers are important instruments that are used to measure air, gas or liquid pressure in many industrial applications. They work by measuring pressure at various stages of a process and converting the measurement into an electrical signal, which is used to monitor and control the overall system. Ashcroft has been making pressure transducers for decades and one question we are often asked is whether these instruments can be installed in any orientation. While the short answer is “yes, they can,” there are factors to consider before you install your transducers. Read this article to learn how transducers work, the effect that changing the orientation may have on the instrument’s accuracy and how position errors can be fixed. You will also be directed to additional resources that can help answer other common questions about pressure transducers.

This article was originally published on May 23, 2022, by Lou Altieri and was updated on June 5, 2024, by Jessi Jackowski. Industrial water blasting and water jetting systems have unique challenges including high vibration, high pulsation and extremely high pressure. Water blasting, for example, can reach as high as 40,000 psi, while water jetting can reach 100,000 psi. These systems require close pressure monitoring using specialized instruments designed to withstand harsh conditions. With more than 170 years of experience, Ashcroft understands how difficult ultra-high applications can be. We also know that using instruments that are not manufactured to tolerate demanding applications like these can cause your system to fail, damage your equipment and possibly injure your operators. If you’re using pressure instruments that are not designed to handle these conditions, you could damage your equipment and disrupt your process Read this article to learn what you should consider before selecting a pressure measurement instrument for ultra-high-pressure applications. You'll also learn why the Ashcroft® T6500 Ultra-High-Pressure (UHP) gauge is designed with standards making it suitable for these pressurized water systems. When you are done reading, you will be in a better position to decide if this gauge is the right product to ensure the safety of your equipment and your operators.

If you are having difficulty understanding the differences between the Buy American Act (BAA) and Build America Buy America Act (BABAA), and how to ensure you comply with their requirements, you are not alone. Similar names and overlapping purposes make it easy to be confused about which law applies to you and how to ensure the products you purchase are in compliance with the law. As a global manufacturer of industrial pressure and temperature instrumentation for industries serving customers in the United States, Ashcroft understands how these laws affect our company and our customers. To help guide you, we’ve compiled a list of some of our customers’ frequently asked questions and documented our responses in this article. Read on for a high-level review of the BAA Act and BABAA Act, including similarities and differences between, the considerations for purchasing products for use in U.S.-based projects and how Ashcroft can help you find pressure and temperature instrumentation that meet your specific needs.

In another Ashcroft® Understanding the Basics article titled, What is a Pressure Gauge? you learn that manufacturers of pressure gauges must follow certain global standards to ensure all of these instruments function the same way. The standards that we are referring to are ASME B40.100 and EN 837-1. As a global leader in pressure instrumentation, Ashcroft is often asked which of these manufacturing standards we follow for our pressure gauges. The answer is both, and the reason is simple. This article will provide you with a brief overview of ASME B40.100 and EN 837-1 standards, what they cover, their similarities and their differences. Whether you are new to the world of pressure gauges, or you are looking for a quick refresher on the subject, you will gain a deeper understanding of these global standards after reading this piece. You will also find additional resources that may interest you when you are ready to go beyond the basics of pressure gauges.