The theme introduces a new 'supply chain series' on key industrial components
Actuators are essential to automation technologies and efficient control systems; they apply energy to convert rotational motion into linear motion
Actuators are classified by power source, electric, pneumatic (using compressed air) or hydraulic (using pressurized liquid)
Enabling precision and control, guaranteeing safety and cleanliness, electric actuators benefit from the rising adoption of automation technologies, such as in
- factory automation, robotics, semiconductor manufacturing
- chemical processing, water treatment, power generation
- climate control systems
Integration with digital control systems (sensors, IoT connectivity, and AI-based predictive analytics) are key market drivers for electric actuators
Multinational engineering firms (ABB, Honeywell, Schneider Electric) are significant players with a global footprint in industrial automation, energy management, fluid process control, automotive, and aerospace industries
Midsized firms focus on actuator integration with specific control systems, such as capture of visual information (Cognex, Teledyne), sensors and meters for climate control (Belimo), motion and fluid controls, and data capture across industrial application (Hexagon, Moog, Omron)
Systems integration is stimulated by partnerships, to name just a few...
Hexagon partners with German automotive firm Schaeffler for the rotary actuators to power the joints of Hexagon’s humanoid robot
Teledyne maintains multiple robotics partnerships, largely focusing on defense, subsea autonomy, and industrial automated systems, supplying its vision, sensing, and perception technologies
Rotork collaborated with Rockwell Automation to make it easier to integrate Rotork's actuators in industrial automation projects