Small Business Resources, Business Advice and Forms from AllBusiness.com
 

Hydraulics shines in touchless car wash

Automatic car-wash systems used to be built with engineering taking a back seat to price. But as car-wash owners realized the profit potential in higher quality and productivity, they began to demand more up-time, faster wash cycles, and cleaner cars.

That led car-wash manufacturer D&S Manufacturing

Inc. to team with fluid-power distributor John Henry Foster Co. (JHF) and redesign the hydraulics controlling the wash-and-rinse process. The goal of these St. Louis-based companies, according to Dave Benedict, D&S CEO, was to use higher-quality components that would improve performance while holding the line on price.

IMAGE PHOTOGRAPH 1

The D&S 5000 is a high-pressure brushless car wash. A hydraulically controlled gantry passes over vehicles to automatically wash, rinse, and apply polishes and protectants.

A two-station Series D03 manifold controls hydraulics on the Super 5000 car wash.

In addition, make sure to read these articles:

  • Broad-Based Design and Manufacturing Event Returns...
  • LOS ANGELES -- Show organizer Canon Communications has added the Automation Technology Expo (ATX) to its traditional lineup of co-located design, manufacturing, plastics processing, ......
  • Classified directory: 2/auxiliary equipment...
  • POLUTION CONTROL SYSTEMS AAF International, KY Air Liquide America LP, TX Aqua-Flo Inc., MD Beltran Associates, Inc., NY Bindicator, SC Carter-Day Industries (Canada) Ltd., MB ......
  • What matters most?
  • HEADNOTE Industry executives think outsourcing and software will change the way engineers develop products What does the future hold for new technologies and trends within ......
  • PLC platform
  • The IndraLogic PLC platform is offered by the co. as a universal control system, now with DeviceNet and EtherNet connectivity, and is the latest in ......
  • Lean guide.
  • [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Bosch Rexroth Corp. Bosch Rexroth Corp. publishes a free lean manufacturing guidebook Leon Manufacturing: Principles, Tools end Methods. The guidebook explains nine ......
  • Focus
  • Closed-loop control AC drives The PowerFlex 40P AC drive provides closed-loop control and category 3 safe-off functionality. It features encoder or pulse train input, allowing ......
  • Cleanroom Framing System
  • Modular aluminum framing components have been designed for cleanroom applications and other contaminant-sensitive environments. The system uses easy-to-assemble, bolt-together construction for maximum configurability using hand ......
  • Powerful Control Options
  • If you are an engineer looking for controllers, you have more flexible options available than ever before and suppliers are offering a wide variety of ......
  • Device lifts objects without touching them.
  • Non Contract Transfer device (NCT) can lift objects up to about 1.3 pounds without contact between the device and the object. NCT uses the Bernoulli ......
  • Hydraulic press systems
  • Bosch Rexroth Corp., Racine, Wis., offers the Hydraulic Press Systems program, NG 6, 10, 16, and 25 (D03, DOS, D07, and D08). Numerous versions are ......
  • Erector set for cartesian robots.
  • From simple linear and pick-and-pack systems to gantries and booms, Cartesian robots are increasingly common in assembly and production environments. Vendors have come a ......
  • Single-strand conveyor
  • A single-strand chain conveyor, called VarioFlow, lets manufacturers link assembly operations with functions such as parts feeding and packaging on either side of the assembly ......
  • Distributed Intelligence is Key
  • Joe Biondo, marketing manager for Electric Drives and Controls with Bosch Rexroth Corp., discusses how automation suppliers are meeting demands for high-precision motion control and ......
  • Retrofit manifolds to meet regulations
  • HEADNOTE Basic of design engineering Hydraulics Replacing hydraulic press systems that do not meet ccident prevention standards is costly and time consuming. NRB manifolds from ......
  • Robots are compact, easy to install.
  • Turboscara series of robots uses technological innovations for easy installation and smaller footprints. Absolute encoders ensure that robot always knows its work envelope position without ......