Pneumatic systems in the automation of food production and finished product packaging lines.

The vast majority of automation components and principles in food industry production processes and packaging lines (including filling, sorting, dosing, quality control, assembly, and packaging lines) rely on pneumatic components and assemblies.

This industrial sector is quite well-developed in Ukraine, particularly in the field of automation. Pneumatic systems ensure the precision, speed, and stability of equipment operation under varying loads. At many enterprises, they enable energy consumption to be reduced by 35%, which directly impacts cost savings and production costs while maintaining high quality and compliance with international standards.

When it comes to the Ukrainian market, FESTO solutions have traditionally been used in industry as the benchmark for reliable, practical German-made equipment that offers an optimal price-to-quality ratio.  One of the key indicators of trust is the fact that more than 80% of manufacturers of such equipment use FESTO components as their baseline standard, thanks to:

• long service life (50+ million cycles),
• system modularity,
• control accuracy,
• advanced diagnostic capabilities.
• A wide range of components
• An extensive network of suppliers in EU countries

The limited liability company “Engineering Company ‘PNEVMOSYSTEMC’ has been a partner of FESTO for over 10 years and works closely with the company in the field of pneumatic automation and components for process automation systems.

The FESTO catalogue is available via the following links: 👉 https://pneusys.com.ua

Pneumatic technology is one of the most effective means of automating and mechanizing production processes. It ensures high operating speed, energy efficiency, cleanliness, safety, low operating costs, and ease of maintenance. Thanks to these characteristics, pneumatics is widely used in mechanical engineering and light industry and plays an increasingly important role in packaging equipment and food production.

The use of pneumatic systems helps reduce non-productive time during operations, decrease the labor intensity of processes, and significantly increase the overall productivity of the equipment.

The issues of bacterial contamination and foreign particles in food products have become critically important for the industry. Therefore, companies must conduct regular sanitation inspections and clean their equipment—at least once a day.

For this reason, pneumatic components used in food production must meet specific requirements regarding:

• materials,
• geometry and design,
• lubricants,
• resistance to moisture, temperature, and chemical exposure.

These components must operate under the following conditions:

• intense splashing,
• high and low temperatures,
• high speed and cycle frequency.

FESTO offers the broadest range of food-grade components in this segment (CRDSNU, PUN-H, and QS-Hygienic series)

This ensures the consistent production of safe and high-quality food products.

A typical food production process

Raw materials → processing/seasoning → extrusion/filling → packaging → quality control → bundling and shipping

Various pneumatic components are used at each stage:

PNEUMATIC CYLINDERS — drive flow shutoff valves, pushers, and container gripping mechanisms. Compact and stainless steel versions, which are resistant to moisture and cleaning agents, are used in food and packaging equipment. For example: standard cylinders, stainless steel cylinders (FESTO CRDSNU, DSNU, ADVU, DSBC, DNC — one of the best options on the market + reliability and hygiene

Component	FESTO (item number)	SMC	Camozzi	MetalWork
Standard cylinders	DSBC-…, DNC-…, DSNU-…	CP96, C85	Series 41	ISO Series
Compact cylinders	ADVU-…, ADN-…	CQ2	QP Series	CN Compact
Stainless Steel Cylinders	CRDSNU-…, DSNU-INOX	CG5-S	Stainless Series	Inox Line
Sanitary cylinders	CRDSNU Hygienic, DSNU-PPS-Hygienic	CG5-F	Clean Design	Hygienic Inox
High-Load Cylinders	DNC-…, DSBC-…	MB	Heavy Duty	Power Cylinder

DISTRIBUTORS (VALVES) — control the direction of compressed air flows to operate actuators. They are characterized by a high operating frequency and stability in cyclic processes.

FESTO VUVS, VUVG, CPE, VTUX, CPV — one of the best options on the market + FESTO’s advantage: highest operating frequency, minimal coil power consumption (0.35–0.6 W)

Component	FESTO (item number)	SMC	Camozzi	MetalWork
3/2-way valves	VUVG-…, VUVS-…, CPE-…	EVT307	358 Series	70 Series
5/2-way valves	VUVG-…-M52, VTUX-…, CPV-SY	SY3000	Series 3	EB80
5/3 valves	VUVG-…-M53, VTUX-…, CPV-SY-5/3	SY5000–9000	Series 4–5	EB80 5/3
High-frequency valves	VUVG-FAST, CPE-FAST	SV	HF Series	HF Valve

AIR PREPARATION UNITS (FRL) — remove moisture, dust, and oil contaminants from the air, ensuring the necessary level of filtration for safe and stable equipment operation.

FESTO MS Series, D Series — one of the best options on the market, offering higher performance and lower pressure drop.

Component	FESTO (item number)	SMC	Camozzi	MetalWork
LFM Filters	MS4-LFM-A, MS6-LFM-A	AFF	MC	Syntesi
ULPA Submicron Filters	MS6-LFM-ULPA, MS9-ULPA	AMH	MDH	ULPA Syntesi
Pressure Regulators	LRP-1/4, LRP-1/8, LR-D-…	IR	PR	Precision Regulator
Filter Regulators	MS-LFR-D-7, D-FRL	AW	MC FRL	Syntesi FRL
Oil Sprayers	MS-LOE, D-LOE	AL	Lubricator	Syntesi LOE

VACUUM COMPONENTS — suction cups and ejectors are used for gently gripping, handling, and moving fragile products, boxes, or packages without the risk of damaging them.

FESTO offers the broadest range of vacuum solutions (OVEM, VADMI, VAS)

Component	FESTO (item number)	SMC	Camozzi	MetalWork
Vacuum Suction Cups	VAS-…, ESS-…, SIL-VAS	ZP2/ZP3	Vacuum Cups	Suction Cups
Vacuum Ejectors	OVEM-…, VADMI-…	ZH/ZK2	Venturi	VM Series
Vacuum Modules	OVEL-…, OVEM-M-…	ZL	Vacuum Units	VM Modular

TUBES AND FITTINGS — are made of stainless steel or food-grade polymers (such as Teflon), which prevents bacterial buildup and simplifies sanitization. FESTO offers the widest range of pneumatic connections for all applications (QS, NPQR, NPQH, PUN-H, PAN, PUN)—quality that provides exceptional flexibility and resistance to water hammer.

Component	FESTO (item number)	SMC	Camozzi	MetalWork
PU Air Tubes	PUN-H-6X1, PUN-H-8X1.25, PUN-4X0.75	TU	PU	PA12
Teflon Tubes	PAN-6X1, PAN-8X1.25, PAN-R-…	TL	PTFE	TFL
QS Fittings	QS-1/4-6, QS-1/8-4, QS-6-6	KQ2	5000 Series	Push-in
NPQH Stainless Steel Fittings	NPQH-…, NPQR-…	KQG2	Stainless Series	Inox Fittings
Food Tubes	PUN-H-Food, PAN-Food	TU-Food	PU-Food	PA-Food

PNEUMATIC COMPONENTS FOR THE FOOD INDUSTRY (HYGIENE, CIP/SIP) – Pneumatic components for the food industry are specialized solutions designed to operate under conditions with heightened requirements for hygiene, sterility, and resistance to cleaning agents. Their key advantage is that they support CIP/SIP modes, withstand intensive cleaning cycles, do not accumulate contaminants, and ensure stable equipment operation even in environments with moisture, steam, and chemical reagents. Thanks to stainless steel materials, leak-proof designs, and special seals, these components ensure high product safety, minimize the risk of bacterial contamination, and enhance the overall reliability of the production line.

FESTO offers the broadest range of specialized solutions for the most demanding requirements, in compliance with all current ISO standards and with the corresponding certification

MPA-C Air Island

Component	FESTO (item number)	SMC	Camozzi	MetalWork
Sanitary cylinders	CRDSNU-Hygienic, DSNU-PPS-Hygienic	CG5-F	Clean Design	Hygienic Inox
CIP/SIP components	CRDSNU-SIP, VUVG-SIP	–	–	–
Antistatic Tubes	ESD-PUN, ESD-QS	ESD-TU	ESD Line	ESD Fittings

Conclusion: 

The use of modern pneumatic components in the food and packaging industries is not just a technological necessity, but a strategic investment in production stability, safety, and productivity. The use of high-quality FESTO solutions, as well as carefully selected equivalents from SMC, Camozzi, and MetalWork, allows companies to operate continuously, minimize downtime, ensure hygienic processes, and comply with international standards. That is why choosing a reliable supplier and engineering partner is of key importance.

PNEUSYSTEMS Engineering Company is a center of expertise in the selection, integration, and maintenance of pneumatic systems of any complexity. The company offers:

• Official supplier of genuine FESTO equipment;
• Professional engineering and component selection tailored to specific technical challenges;
• technical audit and optimization of existing systems;
• fast logistics and warehouse availability in Ukraine;
• Warranty and post-warranty support.

Thanks to its in-depth expertise and wide range of products,  PNEUSYSTEMS Engineering Company, LLC provides businesses with maximum reliability, energy efficiency, and durability of equipment, and helps implement solutions that meet the highest requirements of the food industry, including hygiene standards and CIP/SIP procedures.