The pneumatic module (‘Pneumatic Module Metal’) is rated to be plugged and unplugged at least 10,000 times.

“It means that users can exploit the benefits of compressed air technology in frequently converted production facilities – in order to supply drive units, control units, brakes, holding and unloading units, for example,” said the firm.

The module fits into the Harting’s Han series of connector shells that allow various connector modules to be mixed and matched. These include electrical and fibre-optic modules.

An 8bar-rated plastic version is already offered, and the metal version extends this to 10bar permanent pressure.

Flow simulations was used to minimise contact pressure loss. “Pressure loss in the socket contacts with internal valves is now half that of conventional pneumatic interfaces,” claims Harting, which has pressure/flow curves in the module data sheet.