A pneumatic system is a system that uses compressed air to carry out work. They capture air, transport it around a circuit, and accomplish designated tasks with the generated energy. These are present in both manual and automated machines, and within the industrial sector such as construction and mining. In short, pneumatic systems can be used in a broad range of applications.

Pneumatic devices get all their power from the energy in the compressed air they use, so we can see that they need at least two key components: something to compress the air (the compressor) and something that uses compressed air to lift, move, or hold an object (the actuator). We also need a pipe or a network of pipes (the circuit) to get air from the compressor to the actuator and a component to switch the air on or off (a valve).

As pneumatic components can perform three types of motions: Linear, swivel, and rotary, it is a versatile player in both the industrial systems and in everyday objects. In an industrial system, applications include packaging, filling, transfers of material, sorting of parts, stacking of components, stamping and embossing of components.

Thanks to technological progress made in material, design and production, processes have further improved the quality and diversity of pneumatic components and thereby contributed to their widely spread use in automation. Today, you can see pneumatic process automation being used in modern water technology, the chemical industry, the food and beverage industry, the pharmaceutical industry and many other segments.

Innovation in pneumatic technology has also make waves for smart and creative designs in modern applications, such as the field of robotics to help with human tasks.