New Cylinder Becomes Seventh Member of Festo’s Simplified Motion Series

November 26, 2020

And then there were seven. The EPCE electric cylinder has recently become the seventh member of Festo’s Simplified Motion Series (SMS), a family of electric actuators that mimics the simplicity of pneumatics in performing simple point-to-point movements or positioning tasks. Each has an integrated servo drive, controller and electronics, and two on-board control options as standard: Digital I/O and IO-Link.

The EPCE cylinder unit is ideal for fast movement in sorting, distribution and testing applications. It converts the rotary motion of the mounted motor into the linear motion of a piston rod or rods via an internal toothed belt drive. The EPCE toothed belt technology provides maximum dynamic response and minimal positioning times. Its minimal zero stroke and extremely compact design make it an ideal choice for applications in small spaces.

There are numerous variants available, based on the location and number of piston rod(s), left or right, front or rear, etc. (Units with 1-4 piston rods are available, and there are through-piston rod as well as dual opposite-direction piston rod variants as well.)

The EPCE has all the same easy-to-set-up virtues as the other six SMS actuators to appeal to users who want an economical electrical alternative to pneumatic cylinders that’s simpler than most electric automation solutions to activate. Commissioning is fast and easy; all parameters are set manually on board the device. No software or special expertise is required to get the unit up and running. Extended functions are possible with IO-Link.

For more information, visit www.festo.com.

Related Articles


Latest Articles

  • How Schneider Electric Canada is Driving Industries into the Future 

    September 17, 2025 By Krystie Johnston  Automation, digitalization, IIoT, and AI. Data. Cybersecurity. Sustainability. These are some of the biggest trends in automation that are affecting industries in Canada today and are bound to shape their future, along with such imperatives as labour shortages, and reshoring. Schneider Electric is a leader in technology and was… Read More…

  • Why Stop at Efficiency? Build EtherCAT Networks for Maximum Reliability

    September 17, 2025 In the race toward smarter, more automated industrial operations, every microsecond counts. In response to rising demands for higher precision, speed, and synchronization across industries like robotics, packaging, and semiconductors, EtherCAT has become the standard for high-performance motion control. Its unique “on-the-fly” processing principle delivers deterministic, high-speed communication that traditional industrial Ethernet… Read More…


Featured Article

Revolutionizing Material Movement with Autonomous Mobile Robots

Revolutionizing Material Movement with Autonomous Mobile Robots

In today’s fast-paced manufacturing and logistics industries, the need for efficient and flexible material movement solutions has never been greater. Traditional methods like conveyor systems, forklifts, and manual pushcarts have served us well, but they come with limitations.

That’s why Omron is thrilled to announce the launch of their game-changing MD Series of Autonomous Mobile Robots (AMRs). Read more


Products

  • New AT-HA Grommet from icotek:

    September 18, 2025 Compact integration of 3A and 4A connectors in the IMAS-CONNECT™ system With the new AT-HA grommet, icotek is expanding its innovative IMAS-CONNECT™ adapter system with a forward-looking solution for industrial use. The AT-HA enables the integration of 3A and 4A plug inserts directly into an adapter cable entry without the need for… Read More…

  • POSITAL Precision Magnetic Encoders – Now Available with BiSS C Communications Interface

    September 17, 2025 POSITAL’s new generation of IXARC magnetic absolute rotary encoders are now available with BiSS C communications interfaces. Encoders with this interface are ideal for commutation and position feedback in BLDC servo motors. Moreover, their excellent performance characteristics, compact size (36 mm diameter, 32 mm high), and low energy requirements make these IXARC… Read More…