Complete Guide to Actuators (Types, Attributes, Applications and

Suppliers)
Welcome to Thomasnet.com's Complete Guide to Actuators!

In this guide we will provide detailed explanations of the various types of actuators, their applications and uses
throughout industry, considerations when selecting them, and the top suppliers, manufacturers and distributors
for sourcing the correct actuator for your project.

Table of Contents

 What are Actuators?

 Top Suppliers and Manufacturers
 Actuator Types
 Applications and Industries
 Considerations
 Important Attributes
 Applications and Industries
 Related Categories
 References

What are Actuators?

Actuators are mechanical or electro-mechanical

devices that provide controlled and sometimes limited
movements or positioning which are operated
electrically, manually, or by various fluids such as air,
hydraulic, etc. Two basic motions are linear and rotary.
Linear actuators convert energy into straight line
motions, typically for positioning applications, and
usually have a push and pull function. Some linear
actuators are unpowered and manually operated by use
of a rotating knob or hand wheel. Rotary actuators convert energy to provide rotary motion. A typical
use is the control of various valves such as a ball or butterfly. Each actuator type has versions for
various power configurations and come in many styles and sizes depending on the application. Linear
chain actuators provide push and pull motions with rigid chains.

Top Suppliers and Manufacturers of Actuators

Need to find the correct manufacturer or distributor of actuators for your project? The Supplier Discovery Platform
at Thomasnet.com is a comprehensive source of supplier information in the U.S., with information on over
500,000 manufacturers, distributors and OEMs.

Below we've pulled the top actuator companies from our database, for your reference. For further research,
additions to your short-list, and the ability to send RFI or other supplier questions, see links to each company's
profile (in the table below).

Table 1 - Manufacturers and Distributors of Actuators

 Company Headquarters Annual Certifications, Company
Rev. Registration or Type
Diversity
Erdmann Louisville, Not Not Available. Distributor
Corp. KY Available.
Hansen Princeton, IN $50 -  ISO Custom
Motors 99.9M 14001:2004 Manufacturer
 ISO
9001:2008

E-Motion, Eugene, OR $1 - 4.9M Not Available. Distributor

Inc.
Harmonic Peabody, MA $100 -  ISO Manufacturer
Drive, LLC 249.9M 9001:2008
 AS9100C

Bishop- Pittsburg, CA $10 -  AS9100C Manufacturer

Wisecarver 24.9M  ISO
Corp. 9001:2008
 ISO 9000
 RoHS
Compliant
 ITAR
Registered
 Conflict
Minerals
Disclosure
 Women-
owned

Baelz North Marietta, GA Not  Small Manufacturer

America Available. Business
Enterprise
(SBE)

Pacific St Helens, OR $1 - 4.9  SBA 8(a) Distributor

Industrial Mil  Veteran-
Service Co. Owned
 NBBI
Boiler &
Pressure
Vessel
 ASME
BPVC

Micromatic Berne, IN $10 -  ISO Manufacturer

LLC 24.9M 9001:2008
OTP Columbus, $100 -  Hispanic Distributor
Industrial OH 249.9M American
Solutions  Minority
Business
Enterprise
(MBE)
 Veteran-
Owned

Island Holbrook, NY $1 - 4.9M  ISO Manufacturer

Components 9001:2008
Group, Inc.  AS9100C
 IPC-A-610

Company Summaries

Erdmann Corp.

Founded in 1933, and headquartered in Louisville, KY, Erdmann Corporation is a distributor of a wide range of
actuators, valves, and piping products. The company also has a repair and fabrication facility which services
valves.

Erdmann carries over a dozen brands of Actuators, and many more brands of valves and related products.

For complete information, or to contact this company, view their full profile on ThomasNet.com.

Hansen Motors

Founded in 1907 by a German-born watch-maker, the Princeton, IN based Hansen Motor Corporation has grown
to be a major manufacturer of motors, servo-motors and actuators. Their annual output tops 5,000,000 motors
per year, and they employ over 200 people.

They are an ISO 9001 and 14001 certified company. Their products can be specified by specific speed, voltage,
current, torque, and several other options.

To browse their products or contact this company, view their full company profile on Thomasnet.com.

E-Motion, Inc.

Based in Eugene, OR, E-Motion Inc. began its business as a purley electric automation company. It has since
expanded to include other types of actuator systems, including pneumatic, vacuum actuators and others.

As a distributor, they mainly serve the pacific northwest, and carry a dozen different brands of products. These
include Duravalve, Knudson, Fabco-Air, Metalwork, and many others.

For full product information or to contact this supplier, view their full profile on Thomasnet.com

Harmonic Drive, LLC

Harmonic Drive, LLC began it's business in the early 1960's as the manufacturers of a newly patented invention,
the Strain Wave Gear. By 1971, the companies hermetically sealed actuators help power the Lunar Rover,
landing (and driven by Astronaut Dave Scott) on the moon!

Since then they have developed and produced both standard and custom gears, servo-actuators, and other
components. Their actuators include both AC and DC varieties, and span across types to include linear, encoder,
servo, rotary actuators, and others.

For more detailed product information or to contact this supplier, visit their company profile on Thomasnet.com.

Bishop-Wisecarver Corp.

With beginning dating back to 1950, Bishop-Wisecarver was the brainchild of manufacturer Bud Wisecarver and
salesman Ray Bishop. By 1962 the Bud had secured an innovative patent which helped streamline the food
transportation industry. By 1967, Bud and Ray merged their companies, and Bishop-Wisecarver Corp. was born.

Today BWC focuses on manufacturing technology for motion systems. This includes both actuators (linear), and
bearings, guides and slides.

Their actuators includes everything from belt actuators to rotary actuators, with many features and applications.
For full detail, or to contact this company, see their full company profile.

Baelz North America

The Baelz brand dates all the way back to 1896, with roots in Heilbronn, Germany. Baelz Automatic still operates
there, and has partnered with Baelze North America to provide its valve and actuator products to the North
American market.

Baelz specialty is stainless steel, bellow sealed, hot oil control valves. Additionally they often several actuators
(both pneumatic and electric), as well as steam system packages. High temperature tolerances are especially
useful in applications such as steam and thermal oil.

For full information on Baelz NA's products and offerings, or to contact this suppliers, visit their company profile
on Thomasnet.com.

Pacific Industrial Service Co.

Located in St. Helens, OR, Pacific Industrial Service Co. has been a valued distributor and repair service of
valves for nearly two decades.

This veteran-owned business is recipient of several quality and diversity certifications, including the NBBI Boiler &
Pressure Vessel and ASME BPVC, and SBA. Their premises is also equipped with a full machine shop.

For more information or to contact this supplier, visit their company profile on Thomasnet.com.

Micromatic LLC
Micromatic LLC was founded in 1929, and is currently based in Berne, IN. They have a primary focus on two
product lines, their rotary actuators and turnkey system integration products.

Their actuator offerings come in pneumatic or hydraulic, and are often present under the trademarks Rotac or
Hyd-ro-ac. Applications include freight, medical equipment, automation, and others.

View full details or contact Micromatic at their company profile.

OTP Industrial Solutions

OTP Industrial Solutions was founded in 1963 in Columbus, Ohio as a distributor of power transmission
equipment and pumps. Since then they have expanded widely to including a much more extensive product
portfolio and 33 locations throughout the US.

Their products include actuators of various types, sizes, brands and applications. Some of these include linear
and rodless actuators, hydraulic, rotary, gripper and many more.

For a deep dive into their products, visit their company profile on Thomasnet.com.

Island Components Group, Inc.

Island Components, Inc. is a New-York based manufacturer of precision components and actuators for
application in the aerospace industry. They are lean certified (ISO9001:2008) and also MIL-SPEC (MIL-I-45208).

To view their full product offerings, visit their company profile on Thomasnet.com.

Actuator Types

See below for a breakdown of the various types of actuators. You can click the links below to go directly to the
appropriate section.

 Electric Linear
 Electric Rotary
 Fluid Power Linear
 Fluid Power Rotary
 Linear Chain Actuators
 Manual Linear
 Manual Rotary

Electric Linear
 Electric Linear Actuators are electrically powered,
mechanical devices consisting of motors, linear guides,
and drive mechanisms, which are used to convert
electrical energy into linear displacement through
mechanical transmission, electro-magnetism, or thermal
expansion to provide straight line push/pull motion. Key
specifications include the intended application, drive
type, motor type, the mounting configuration, as well as
other physical dimensions and electrical characteristics.
Electric linear actuators are used primarily in automation
applications when a machine component, tool, etc. requires a controlled movement to a particular
position. They are used in a wide range of industries where linear positioning is needed. The
actuators are driven by several means including ball or lead screws, belts, or voice coils, among
others. Typical applications include opening and closing dampers, locking doors, braking machine
motions, etc.

Electric Rotary

Electric Rotary Actuators are electrically powered, mechanical devices

consisting of motors and output shaft mechanisms with limited rotary
travel which are used to convert electrical energy into rotational
motion. Key specifications include the intended application, drive
method, number of positions, output configuration, mounting
configuration, as well as physical dimensions and electrical
characteristics as required. Electric rotary actuators are used primarily
in automation applications when a gate, valve, etc. requires controlled
movement to particular rotational positions. They are used in a wide
range of industries where positioning is needed. The actuators are driven by various motor types,
voice coils, etc. Typical applications include quarter-turn valves, windows, robotics, etc.

Fluid Power Linear

Fluid Power Linear Actuators are mechanical

devices consisting of cylinder and piston
mechanisms that produce linear displacement
by means of hydraulic fluid, gas, or differential
air pressure. Key specifications include the
intended application, fluid power type, mounting
configuration, travel length, and force
capacities, as well as physical dimensions as
required. Fluid power linear actuators are used
primarily in automation applications when an
item requires a controlled movement to a particular position. They are used in a wide range of
industries where linear positioning is needed. Typical applications include the opening and closing of
damper doors, clamping, welding, etc.

Fluid Power Rotary

Fluid Power Rotary Actuators are fluid powered,

mechanical devices consisting of cylinder and
piston mechanisms, gearing, and output shafts
giving limited rotational travel, which are used to
convert hydraulic fluid, gas, or differential air
pressure into rotational motion. Key
specifications include the intended application,
fluid power type, drive mechanism, mounting
configuration, output configuration, rotation limits,
and force capacities, as well as physical dimensions as required. Fluid power rotary actuators are
used primarily in automation applications when an item requires a controlled rotary movement to a
particular position. They are used in a wide range of industries where rotational positioning is needed.
The actuators are powered by various media including air or other gases and hydraulic fluid. Typical
applications include opening and closing dampers and doors, clamping, etc.

Linear Chain Actuators

Linear Chain Actuators are mechanical devices consisting of

sprockets and sections of chain which are used for providing
linear motion via the free ends of the specially designed chains.
Key specifications include the intended application, drive method
and mechanism, actuation length, chain size, and the mounting
configuration. Linear chain actuators are used primarily in motion
control applications for providing a straight line push or pull
motion. The chain, when straight locks into position with adjacent
links and forms a rigid member. They are available in many sizes
and chain styles, as well as chain storage options depending on available space in a particular
application. The actuators typically have single driving gears or sprockets that produce the forces
required for the push and pull motions.

Manual Linear
Manual Linear Actuators are mechanical devices
providing linear displacement through the
translation of manually rotated screws or gears and
consist of hand operated knobs or wheels,
gearboxes, and guided linear motion mechanisms.
Key specifications include intended application,
actuator type, drive mechanism, travel length, and
other physical dimensions as required. Manual
linear actuators are used primarily in commercial
applications for precise positioning such as manipulating tools or workpieces. Manual actuators are
unpowered and use a rotating knob or hand wheel to operate. There are several types including those
with lead screws, racks and pinions, belt drive, etc. each having its specific load and drive force
capability. Thermo-mechanical actuators are another type and operate by means of thermal
expansion, usually on a micro scale.

Manual Rotary

Manual Rotary Actuators are mechanical devices providing

rotary output through the translation of manually rotated
screws, levers, or gears, and are usually composed of hand
operated knobs, levers, or handwheels, gearboxes or threaded
nut mechanisms, and output shafts. Key specifications include
the intended application, drive method and mechanism,
mounting configuration, valve type, if applicable, as well as
physical dimensions as required. Manual rotary actuators are
used primarily for the operation of valves. They are also known
as manual valve actuators or valve operators. Valve types can
include ball, butterfly, check, and globe valves. Other applications may include any that require limited
and controlled rotational movement.

Applications and Industries

Powered actuators generally incorporate motors, cylinders, or other motion devices to produce
rotation or linear translation. Rack and pinion arrangements, ball screws, and other kinds of power
transmission components connect the motors, etc. to the loads.

Actuators are segregated by motion and power source. Linear actuators produce push/pull action.
Rotary actuators produce rotational motion. In many cases, linear actuators begin with a rotary prime
mover—a motor, typically—whose rotation is converted to linear motion through a power screw or
similar device. The opposite is also true: many rotary actuators can begin with linear devices such as
hydraulic cylinders which produce circular motion through rack and pinion arrangements.

Actuators are used extensively to operate valves remotely. A valve so equipped is termed a control
valve. (see Valves Buying Guide for discussion of control valves.) A typical actuator for a globe valve
needs to be capable of turning the valve stem through its many revolutions between open and closed.
Often a globe valve actuator will consist of an electric motor that drives a worm gear which in turn
rotates a nut that engages the threads of the valve operator stem. Quarter-turn valves such as ball
valves often use pneumatic actuators to push and pullracks
past pinions which impart rotary motion to the valve ball,
butterfly, etc. In short, valve actuator designs are closely
aligned with the design of the valve they are intended to
operate.

Actuators are also used in many linear motion applications

where air power is not available to drive cylinders or where
extra force is needed from compact designs. One unusual
linear actuator uses chain which when straight forms a rigid
length but which can curve around the driving gear to obtain its motion. Other linear motion actuators
use toothed belts, lead screws, or rack and pinion sets, to achieve push/pull action. Smaller linear and
rotary actuators often employ direct drive voice coil motors.

Linear actuators are used in packaging machines, medical equipment, production machinery, etc. as
well as in a host of transportation industry applications from aircraft to rail. Linear actuators
sometimes combine stepper motors with ball screws to achieve precise controllable positioning (left).

Both linear and rotary actuators are available as manual models

that serve as motion devices for slides, etc. and as operators for
manually operated valves. In some cases, manual valve actuators
are used as override devices for control valves that are normally
actuated with fluid or electric powered actuators (right). They are
designed to declutch from the control actuators during normal
automatic operation so as not to harm bystanders.

Considerations

Picking powered actuators entails knowing such parameters as loading, stroke length, timing, etc.
Many of these parameters have limits as to speed and force and narrowing the selection in this
manner can bring the appropriate technology into focus. Other considerations include the kinds of
services available. Hydraulic actuators provide large forces in small sizes but need a source of
hydraulic pressure. Air powered actuators use readily available factory air but there is a tradeoff to be
made due to their bigger sizes for equivalent forces. Electric actuators have advantages of better
controllability and are less prone to leaking, an advantage in clean-room settings and more
economical in the long run. Electric actuators do tend to have appreciably higher first costs. They also
have advantages in outdoor installation where air systems can freeze.

Pneumatic valve actuators fall into two camps: double acting and spring return. Double acting means
that air pressure moves the valve in both directions. Spring return means that a spring is used on one
stroke which the air pressure must overcome to open (or close) the valve. It makes a difference as to
how the valve will behave upon a loss of air pressure. A spring return valve will return the valve to its
unpowered state upon an air-pressure loss. Hydraulic valve actuators can be fitted in similar
fashions.

For motion control, actuators are selected based on speed

requirements and precision. Some linear actuators are designed for
micropositioning and rely on piezo crystals to produce very small,
high resolution motions which are useful in the nanometer world of
optics, semiconductor manufacturing, etc. More typically, belt and
ball screw based actuators impart motion to positioning stages and
the like to achieve repeatability measured in thousandths of an inch.
Some linear actuators are used with hand controls, such as those
found in dental chairs, and do not require positional feedback other
than end-of stroke limit switches. Some manufactures even eliminate these limit switches by providing
integral freewheeling at the end of stroke, such as the actuators shown at right.

Important Attributes

Mounting Configuration

This attribute describes the way in which the actuator attaches to the actuated device. Valve actuators
sometimes mount directly to the valve flange or use trunnion mounts to give access to valve stem
packing glands. Relative advantages of each method are described in the reference cited below.

Actuation Features

Selecting double acting or spring return here will choose the failure mode of the actuator upon loss of
air or hydraulic pressure.

Output Torque

Output torque applies to both electric and fluid powered rotary actuators and describes the rotational
force the actuator can apply to the valve to close it. It is usually expressed in in-lb. or Nm.

Maximum Extension/Retraction/Holding Force

These attributes apply to linear actuators and may be sometimes be expressed as a single value such
as maximum thrust force. They are usually given in lbf or N.

Maximum Speed
For powered actuators, this is the highest linear or rotational speed the unit can deliver. It is usually
expressed as rpm for rotary actuators and as in/sec for linear devices.

Enclosure Protection Rating

Electrical enclosures are specified in accordance with NEMA or IEC criteria for environment and
ingress protection.

Related Product Categories

 Valves see our Valves Buying Guide.

 Power Screws are mechanical devices or assemblies composed of threaded screws, mating
nuts, and optional end supports used to convert rotary motion to linear motion.
 Jacks are electromechanical switches used to protect various devices from voltage, current,
or thermal overloads.
 Guides are mechanical devices that are used to position or move objects with high degrees
of accuracy and repeatability.
 Slides are mechanical devices or systems that provide controlled motion along linear or
curved paths.
 Hydraulic Cylinders are mechanical devices consisting of pistons and rod assemblies
housed within cylindrical bores and capped on their ends, which are actuated by
incompressible fluid pressure.
 Pneumatic Cylinders are mechanical devices consisting of pistons and rod assemblies
housed within cylindrical bores and capped on the ends, which are actuated by air