Airwork, within its General Catalogue, offers several products entirely made of stainless steel AISI 304 and 316:

• >> pneumatic cylinders
• >> valves
• >> accessories
• >> fittings

The technical characteristics of this material allows its use in many industrial sectors. In this article we will see the technical characteristics and the fields of application.

» Industrial sectors

The range of application of stainless-steel products is very wide, as they are used in applications where the surface finish of normal pneumatic components would not be able to withstand the surrounding environment.

The most typical sectors for stainless steel products are therefore the food and agri-food sector, as well as the pharmaceutical, marine/naval and/or extreme applications where corrosive chemicals are used.

» Technical features

Stainless steels protect against chemical agents used during cleaning or disinfection, as well as offering better corrosion resistance and protection in the most aggressive environments.

Pneumatic cylinders, available according to ISO 6432 standards (MX series – from diameter Ø16 to Ø25 mm), ISO 15552 (CX series – from diameter Ø32 to Ø125 mm) as well as with special realizations or out of catalogue according to the customer’s request also for larger diameters.

Airwork cylinders, as well as the clean and linear design that allows easy maintenance, have always been recognized for their high reliability and robustness.

In the catalogue are included the most common versions such as: double effect, magnetic, cushioned, through rod, AISI 304 (EN 1.4301) or AISI 316 (EN 1.4401).

The choice of gaskets is wide, with countless types: FKM for high temperatures (up to +150°C), polyurethane for low ones (up to -40°C), heavy use for medium-dirty environments, up to the possibility of using scraper gaskets made in metal. This option can remove the hardest ice or even glue residues or welding sparks.

Our stainless-steel cylinders are also available in accordance with ATEX Directive 2014/34/EU for safe use even with atmospheres with potential risk of explosion.

In addition, a wide range of ISO stainless steel mounting accessories is available to cover all possible installation needs. For the correct operation of a system in which stainless steel cylinders are also essential auxiliary accessories, such as valves, flow regulators and fittings.

In the Airwork range, it is possible to find the valves for fluids, quick exhaust and non-return valves (VRX series, from 1/8″ to 1″), the in-line flow regulators (RFX series, from 1/8″ to 1/2″) available in both uni-directional and bi-directional versions, the quick-release couplings (A100X series) in which it is also possible to find the swivel flow regulators (for cylinders and valves).

All these products are made entirely of AISI 316 steel, in combination with FKM gaskets.

In conclusion, we can say that all Airwork stainless-steel products can be considered indestructible for extreme environments but also perfectly hygienic for the most delicate sectors such as food or pharmaceuticals.