SMC gets the seven year itch!

After a seven-year absence, SMC Pneumatics has chosen the PPMA Show at the National Exhibition Centre to mark its return to major exhibitions and show a range of solutions for the process and packaging industries.
The Process and Packaging Machinery Association exhibition will take place from Tuesday 30 September to Thursday 2 October in hall 5 at the NEC. SMC, the global market leader in pneumatic technology and control system manufacturing, will be showcasing its expertise in three key areas:

• Wet, process and washdown products

• Energy-saving and monitoring products, and

• Static control and elimination products.
SMC's range of components for wet, process and washdown areas provides solutions specifically for the food and packaging industries – including the new 'HY' series of hygienic actuators and valves. All models are particularly suitable for applications in the non-food or splash zones of production lines, and high quality construction and special internal lubrication ensure a lifecycle performance which has never been achieved before.

The innovative new energy-saving CVQ series of combined valve and cylinders will also be on show. SMC's design engineers simply took their popular CQ2 cylinder and V100 solenoid valve and combined them in one single unit, eliminating the need for any piping. The result is a space-saving component offering reduced air consumption of up to 37% per cycle – plus improved response speed when compared to previous separate cylinder and valve configurations.

Demonstrating its expertise in static control and elimination, SMC has expanded its range of ionizers to include more new products – the IZS31 series. Available in a wide range of sizes, this bar-type ionizer uses the corona discharge method to eliminate static. Its smooth profile and aerodynamic cross-section ensure flow disturbance and particle generation are minimised, making the IZS31 ideal for use in clean room environments.
Speaking about the company's return to major exhibitions Nick Pittwood, SMC's UK Sales Manager, said: “We've listened to our customers regarding their needs, observed changes in the industries we serve, and thanks to our constant R+D programme we've been able to respond to those challenges. Since we last attended an exhibition in 2000, the market has changed; existing customers have grown and their needs have changed, presenting us with new opportunities – and new competitors have emerged. During that time we've launched almost 300 new product lines – some 40% of those are directly relevant to the process and packaging markets, and almost all of them will be on display at the show.

“The PPMA show is the perfect platform for us to promote all the benefits SMC can offer in an extremely competitive marketplace – companies in the process and packaging industries can talk to our sales engineers face to face, to see how we can help them. If you think you know SMC and that we're only about pneumatics, you're in for a surprise!”

At 110m2 and with an impressive 24 display panels showing some of the company's latest innovations, SMC's eye-catching stand will be one of the largest for a single exhibitor at the PPMA show. A team of sales engineers will be on hand on all three days to show visitors the most appropriate solutions for their requirements.

About SMC Pneumatics:
More than four decades of constant innovation and development have made the letters SMC synonymous with excellence in pneumatics and associated systems. Founded in Tokyo in 1959, SMC Corporation now has 260 sales centres in 67 countries, employing 5,300 people, maintaining close communication with customers and providing the best possible service.
Underpinning the company's vast product range of over 600,000 catalogue items and 11,000 variations, is an extraordinary combination of manufacturing excellence and technical expertise, plus a massive ongoing programme of research and development.

In the UK, a 130-strong sales team covers the entire United Kingdom, offering advice on products to suit customers' individual needs. Parts are despatched from SMC's Milton Keynes facility and, if in stock, are usually available for same or next day delivery from our wide distribution network. For more information visit www.smcpneumatics.co.uk.

About the PPMA Show:
The PPMA show is the UK's premier showcase for process and packaging machinery companies, allowing visitors to source, evaluate and purchase machinery, equipment and ancillary products & services. Now in its 20th year, this year's show will be officially opened by Lord Digby Jones, Minister of State for Trade and Investment. Over 300 companies will be represented, with organisers hoping for over 6,000 visitors over the three days. New for 2008, the show is co-located with Interplas 08, the UK's leading plastics and rubber exhibition, taking place over the same three days in hall 4 at the NEC. For more information visit www.ppmashow.co.uk.

For more information contact SMC Sales Administration:
Pete Humphreys  +44 (0) 1908 555017 phumphreys@smcpneumatics.co.uk
Tracey Richardson  +44 (0) 1908 555191 trichardson@smcpneumatics.co.uk