What is an ISO Standard Pneumatic Cylinder?
The International Organisation for Standardisation quite literally sets the standards for manufacturing worldwide, providing benchmark standards of conformity, safety, quality and reliability. ISO standards level the playing field for industrial manufacturers. But what are ISO standards, and what do ISO cylinder standards mean? Here, API UK explains everything you need to know about ISO standards for pneumatic cylinders once and for all.
WHAT ARE ISO STANDARDS?
ISO stands for the International Organisation for Standardisation. Headquartered in Geneva, the ISO develops and publishes standards for manufacturers worldwide. With a global membership of 167 national standards bodies, the ISO brings experts together to “share knowledge and develop voluntary, consensus-based, market relevant International Standards that support innovation and provide solutions to global challenges.”
WHY DO WE NEED ISO STANDARDS?
ISO standards are essential because they provide a baseline assurance that a product conforms to minimum international standards of conformity, safety, quality and reliability. ISO standards are an internationally recognised formula for doing things correctly. With more than 20,000 ISO standards worldwide, every purchase of an ISO product comes with the certainty that it’s been built to the highest standards.
ISO STANDARDS FOR PNEUMATIC CYLINDERS
Countless industrial products have been standardised, and ISO pneumatic cylinders are among them. For the most part, ISO standards for pneumatic cylinders centre around external mountings and accessories. There are two main ISO cylinder standards that you’ll find on the API UK webstore. Let’s take a closer look at these core types of ISO cylinders in more detail to give you a better idea of what they offer.
ISO 15552 PNEUMATIC CYLINDERS
The most common ISO standard for pneumatic cylinders you’re likely to encounter is ISO 15552. The ISO defines the ISO 15552 standard as follows:
“ISO 15552:2018 establishes a metric series of basic, mounting and accessories dimensions as required for interchangeability of single or double rod pneumatic cylinders with or without provision for magnetic sensors for a maximum rated pressure of 1000 kPa (10 bar).”
In practice, the ISO 15552 standard covers pneumatic cylinders with bore sizes ranging from 32-320mm, capable of operating at a maximum working pressure of 10 bar (1000 kPA). The latest ISO 15552 cylinders boast an extruded profile for mounting accessories. However, earlier versions employed tie-rods to secure the end caps, which is why you occasionally see ISO 15552 cylinders referred to as “tie-rod cylinders”.
ISO 6432 PNEUMATIC CYLINDERS
The other key ISO standard for pneumatic cylinders to be aware of is ISO 6432. The ISO categorises the ISO 6432 standard as follows:
“ISO 6432:2015 establishes a metric series of mounting dimensions required for interchangeability of commonly used pneumatic cylinders for a maximum working pressure of 1000 kPa (10 bar).”
This ISO cylinder standard gives manufacturers “freedom of design in metric cylinders” and doesn’t “restrict technical development but provides basic guidelines”. In real terms, ISO 6432 relates to pneumatic cylinders with a 20-100mm bore and a maximum working pressure of 10 bar (1000 kPA). It applies to round-bodied roundline cylinders and models that come with or without magnetic function for position sensing.
ISO STANDARD PNEUMATIC CYLINDERS FROM API UK
API UK manufactures and distributes an impressive range of ISO 15552 and ISO 6432 pneumatic cylinders. All our premium ISO standard pneumatic cylinders come with in-built pneumatic and mechanical cushioning for prolonged service life. They also offer life-long lubrication, clean lines for effective CIP/SIP wash-downs, and can be supplied to ATEX standards. Whatever your application, we have the ideal ISO pneumatic cylinder.
We also provide a same-day build service for custom pneumatic cylinders built to ISO 15552 standards. Highly skilled engineers carry out our ISO pneumatic cylinder builds at our Stoke-on-Trent workshop, many of which are completed in as little as 90 minutes. Best of all, we provide this fast, responsive service on ISO 15552 cylinders from 32-125mm bore and in any stroke length up to 1.5m, at no extra charge. So now you can minimise downtime, costs, and operational headaches with same-day ISO 15552 builds from API UK.
To discuss your ISO cylinder requirements or to arrange a free on-site visit, speak with our technical team today. As expert ISO standard pneumatic cylinder manufacturers, we can help you to understand the full range of options available to you and guide you towards the best system solution for your application. Call us on 01782 206 995, email [email protected], or complete our contact form.