With the takeover of process automation division of Seitz, Festo is completing its portfolio of valves for use in areas with explosion hazard and harsh environmental conditions. Among the products are variants with stainless steel housings, expanded temperature ranges down to -50°C and international certification. Leading companies in the chemical industry specify Seitz products for use in safety applications. These specifications will now be gradually revised to include Festo products.
Festo’s piloted solenoid valves were the first in the world to receive TÜV certification for applications up to requirement class 7, and subsequently up to SIL 3. Since then, they have been installed by many large chemical companies worldwide.
In 2015, 14 solenoid valves were removed from the reference application and subjected to extensive testing in the climatic chamber at Festo. The results of these tests were very positive. Switching characteristics, even with long duty cycles, were well within specification, as were levels of wear and the valves’ leak tightness. Festo was now able to confirm the results of the laboratory tests carried out in 1998 in collaboration with the German Technical Control Board TÜV-Rheinland with these results based on solenoid valves in practical applications.
