IMI supports Beumer Group with energy efficient pneumatic system design

IMI’s Industrial Automation sector has supported global intralogistics solutions provider, Beumer Group, on a new project utilising the reliability, precision, and responsiveness of pneumatic cylinder technology.
Beumer designs and delivers bespoke solutions for conveying, loading, palletising, packaging, sortation, and baggage handling applications for customers worldwide. Building on a decade-long working relationship, IMI’s Industrial Automation sector collaborated closely with Beumer’s engineering team to support the development of a new pneumatic system for an automated packaging application, where consistent performance, repeatability and energy efficiency were critical requirements.
With Beumer requiring a ‘plug-and-play’ solution to further drive efficiencies across its line assembly, IMI’s Industrial Automation engineers provided a comprehensive package of support including valve island configuration and pneumatic system design, together with bespoke cylinder assemblies, guidance on compressed air consumption, and sizing of pneumatic components from the IMI Norgren portfolio based on process requirements.
The project focused on developing a new pneumatic system tailored to Beumer’s specific application needs. IMI’s Industrial Automation team supported the circuit design to meet cycle time requirements while ensuring critical safety features in the event of electrical or compressed air failure. Additionally, the team provided expertise in sizing cylinders based on load requirements through force calculations, specifying appropriate valve sizes, and recommending the maximum number of valves per inlet port on the valve islands. To further optimise the system, IMI’s engineers addressed tubing dimensions, often challenging traditional oversizing practices to reduce energy waste.
Further recommendations included the principal build-up of supply and airlines to ensure proper drainage and prevent condensation accumulation, enhancing system reliability and longevity. The application required a compact and robust pneumatic solution capable of delivering accurate, repeatable motion within a high-throughput automated environment. From the outset, Beumer’s technical team was keen to integrate IMI Norgren pneumatic products into the system architecture.
“This project demonstrates the value of a true engineering partnership,” said Bjarne Stærkær, Technical Consultant at IMI Industrial Automation. “By working closely with Beumer from the early design stages through to testing and optimisation, we were able to apply our pneumatic system expertise to help deliver a reliable, energy efficient solution that meets the demands of modern intralogistics applications.”