Actuation and Engineered Products
Actuation refers to the process of causing something to move or operate. This can be achieved by using an actuator, a device that converts a source of energy into motion. There are two types of actuators: linear ac...
Actuators automate valves, dampers and machinery by turning electric, pneumatic or hydraulic energy into motion. Automated valves improve process control, allow remote operation and provide fail-safe protection.
Actuator Types
- Pneumatic actuators – rack and pinion and scotch yoke for quarter-turn valves
- Electric actuators – precise control without compressed air
- Linear actuators – globe valves and linear motion
- Polymer actuators – corrosive environments
- Thermal link actuators – fire-safe automatic closure
- Actuator accessories – solenoids, limit switches and positioners
Sizing an Actuator
Size actuators to the valve's torque or thrust requirement with a safety margin. Choose spring-return for fail-safe operation, and consider available power, air pressure, control signal and environment.
Centro supplies actuators and accessories and can help you choose the right actuator for your valve.
Shop by type: Electric Actuators | Pneumatic Actuators | Actuator Accessories
Related categories: Actuation and Engineered Products | Regulators | Volume Boosters | Washdown Systems
Regulators are devices that control the pressure of gases and liquids. Centro carries compressed air regulators, filter-regulator (FRL) combinations and precision air regulators in a wide range of port sizes and pressure ranges. Our compress air regulators are designed to maintain a constant output pressure, even as the input pressure changes. Our FRL compressed air regulators are ideal for applications where the inlet pressure is unstable or unknown. And our air regulators can be used to adjust the flow rate of gases. We have the perfect solution for your commercial or industrial application. Please browse our website today to find the suitable regulator for your needs.
Related categories: Actuation and Engineered Products | Actuators | Positioners and Limit Switches | Volume Boosters
Transducers convert a physical quantity such as pressure, force or position into an electrical signal that a controller or display can read. They're the link between the process and your control system, so accuracy and stability over time matter.
Transducer Types
- Pressure transducers – millivolt, voltage or 4-20 mA output for gauge, absolute and sealed pressure
- Differential pressure transducers – for filter monitoring, flow and level measurement
- Position and displacement transducers – linear and rotary feedback for actuators
- Temperature transducers – convert RTD and thermocouple readings into standard signals
- Load and force transducers – weighing, tension and press monitoring
What to Specify
Know the measuring range, required accuracy, process connection and output signal your controller accepts. Check that the wetted materials suit the media and that the electrical connection and enclosure rating fit the installation. For pulsing or spiking pressure, add a snubber to protect the sensor.
Centro carries transducers from leading instrumentation brands, and our team can help you choose the right range and output for your system.
Related categories: Actuation and Engineered Products | Washdown Systems | Volume Boosters | Actuators | Regulators
We offer a full range of washdown systems designed to keep your facility clean and compliant. Whether you’re in food processing, manufacturing, or any industry that requires strict sanitation, we have the equipment to get the job done.
Our selection includes high-pressure hoses, nozzles, pumps, compact foamers, and sanitizing stations—everything you need to tackle tough grease, grime, and contaminants. A well-designed washdown system not only makes cleaning more efficient but also helps prevent the spread of bacteria and other pathogens.
Not sure what you need? Our experts are here to help you choose the right equipment for your operation. Plus, with our easy-to-navigate online store, you can find and order everything in one place.
Browse our selection today and upgrade your washdown process with the best solutions available.
Related categories: Actuation and Engineered Products | Volume Boosters | Transducers | Actuators | Regulators
Volume boosters increase air flow to a pneumatic actuator without changing the control signal. They let large control valves stroke quickly and accurately, which matters for anti-surge, emergency shutdown and fast-acting control loops.
How They Work
A positioner or controller sends a small pneumatic signal to the booster. The booster matches that signal pressure while supplying much higher flow from the air supply, filling and exhausting the actuator far faster than the positioner could alone.
Key Considerations
- Flow capacity (Cv) – sized to the actuator volume and stroke time you need
- Bypass adjustment – prevents instability with positioners
- Materials – aluminum or stainless for corrosive environments
- Connection sizes – match supply and actuator tubing
Proper tuning is important. Too much boost can cause overshoot and cycling. Centro can help you size volume boosters and integrate them with your valve positioners.
Related categories: Actuation and Engineered Products | Actuators | Washdown Systems | Regulators | Transducers
Positioners and limit switches are crucial in various industrial applications, ensuring precise control and safety measures. Positioners are devices designed to accurately control the position of a valve or actuator in response to an input signal. They are commonly used in pneumatic and hydraulic systems to regulate the flow of fluids or gases by adjusting the opening and closing of valves. Positioners enable operators to precisely control the process variables, such as flow rate or pressure, improving industrial operations' efficiency and accuracy. On the other hand, limit switches serve as safety devices that detect the presence or absence of an object and trigger an action when a predetermined limit is reached. These switches are often employed to monitor the position of mechanical components, such as valves, actuators, or machine parts, and ensure that they operate within safe limits. Limit switches can signal the end of travel, prevent overtravel, or initiate emergency shutdown procedures in case of abnormal conditions, enhancing operational safety and protecting equipment from damage. Positioners and limit switches contribute to the reliability, precision, and safety of industrial processes across various sectors, including manufacturing, petrochemicals, and utilities.
Shop by type: Limit Switch Enclosures
Related categories: Actuation and Engineered Products | Regulators | Actuators | Volume Boosters
$1,495.21$1,760.00
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$2,080.55$2,449.00
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$2,552.90$3,005.00
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$3,266.53$3,845.00
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$2,844.30$3,348.00
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$4,015.83$4,727.00
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Subject to factory lead times
$1,556.03
$964.38$1,156.00
Subject to factory lead times
$2,123.88$2,500.00
$400.99$472.00
Subject to factory lead times
$550.49$681.00
Subject to factory lead times
$559.85$659.00
Subject to factory lead times
$739.96$871.00
Subject to factory lead times
$888.92$1,123.00
Subject to factory lead times
$1,259.04$1,482.00
Subject to factory lead times
$1,583.56$1,864.00
Subject to factory lead times
$725.52$854.00
Subject to factory lead times
$1,178.33$1,387.00
Subject to factory lead times
$1,526.64$1,797.00
$571.75$673.00
Subject to factory lead times
$739.96$871.00
$1,281.97$1,509.00
$1,495.21$1,760.00
Subject to factory lead times
$2,080.55$2,449.00
Subject to factory lead times
$2,552.90$3,005.00
Subject to factory lead times
$3,266.53$3,845.00
Subject to factory lead times
$3,204.51$3,772.00
Subject to factory lead times
$2,844.30$3,348.00
Subject to factory lead times
$4,015.83$4,727.00
Subject to factory lead times
$4,173.85$4,913.00
Subject to factory lead times
$1,556.03
$964.38$1,156.00
Subject to factory lead times
$2,123.88$2,500.00
$400.99$472.00
Subject to factory lead times
$550.49$681.00
Subject to factory lead times
$559.85$659.00
Subject to factory lead times
$739.96$871.00
Subject to factory lead times
$888.92$1,123.00
Subject to factory lead times
$1,259.04$1,482.00
Subject to factory lead times
$1,583.56$1,864.00
Subject to factory lead times
$725.52$854.00
Subject to factory lead times
$1,178.33$1,387.00
Subject to factory lead times
$1,526.64$1,797.00
$571.75$673.00
Subject to factory lead times
$739.96$871.00
$1,281.97$1,509.00
- The right actuator type depends on your application's speed, force, control precision, and environment. Pneumatic actuators use compressed air and are the most common choice for on/off valve service — they are fast, simple, reliable, and inherently safe in hazardous areas since they produce no electrical sparks. Electric actuators convert electrical energy into mechanical motion and offer precise positioning, modulating control, and easy integration with digital control systems — ideal for applications requiring accurate throttling or remote operation where compressed air is not available. Hydraulic actuators deliver the highest force output in the most compact size, making them the choice for very large valves or high-pressure applications where pneumatic or electric actuators cannot generate sufficient torque. Also consider the fail-safe requirement: pneumatic spring-return actuators provide inherent fail-open or fail-close capability on loss of air supply, while electric actuators require battery backup or a spring-return mechanism for fail-safe operation.
- Fail-open and fail-close describe what position the valve moves to when the actuator loses its power source — air supply for pneumatic actuators or electrical power for electric actuators. A fail-close actuator drives the valve to the fully closed position on loss of signal or power, which is critical in applications where an uncontrolled open valve could release hazardous materials or cause a safety incident. A fail-open actuator drives the valve to the fully open position on loss of power, which is essential in cooling water systems, relief paths, or any application where flow must continue during a power failure. The fail-safe action is typically achieved with a spring-return mechanism — compressed springs store energy and drive the actuator to the safe position when air or power is removed. Selecting the correct fail-safe mode is one of the most important safety decisions in valve automation and must be defined during the engineering phase based on a process hazard analysis.
- Valve automation replaces manual handwheel or lever operation with an actuator — pneumatic, electric, or hydraulic — that opens, closes, or modulates the valve in response to signals from a control system. You should automate a valve when the application requires remote operation from a control room, fast or precise response to process changes, frequent cycling that would be impractical by hand, operation in hazardous or hard-to-reach locations, or integration into an automated process sequence controlled by a PLC or DCS. An automated valve package typically includes the valve body, actuator, mounting hardware (often to ISO 5211 standard), and accessories such as solenoid valves for pneumatic control, positioners for modulating service, and limit switches for position feedback. Automating even a few critical valves in a process can significantly improve safety, consistency, and throughput while reducing the labor required for routine operations.
- ISO 5211 is an international standard that defines the flange dimensions, bolt patterns, and drive interfaces for mounting actuators to quarter-turn valves such as ball valves, butterfly valves, and plug valves. It matters because it enables interchangeability — an ISO 5211 compliant actuator from one manufacturer can be mounted directly onto an ISO 5211 compliant valve from a different manufacturer without custom adapters or machining. The standard specifies a series of flange sizes (F03 through F40) that correspond to increasing torque capacities and valve stem dimensions. When specifying an actuator, matching the ISO 5211 flange pattern to the valve ensures a bolt-on fit with proper alignment between the actuator drive and the valve stem. This standardization reduces lead time, simplifies spare parts management, and makes future actuator replacements straightforward because the mounting interface remains the same regardless of brand.
- Sizing an actuator requires matching the actuator's torque output to the valve's torque requirement with an appropriate safety factor. Start by obtaining the valve's required operating torque from the valve manufacturer — this includes the breakaway torque (force needed to unseat the valve from fully closed), the running torque (force to move the valve through its travel), and the dynamic torque (force from fluid pressure acting on the disc or ball during operation). The actuator's available torque must exceed the highest of these values by a safety factor — typically 25% to 50% above the maximum required torque to account for friction increase over time, temperature effects on seals, and supply pressure variations. For pneumatic actuators, torque output varies with supply air pressure, so always calculate at the minimum expected air supply pressure, not the nominal. For electric actuators, verify the torque rating at the specific voltage available. Undersized actuators stall or fail to close tightly; oversized actuators waste energy and can damage valve seats and stems.