January 19, 2009

2 Min Read
Valve Supplier Delivers Integrated Fluid-Control Components

Originally Published MPMN January/February 2009

MD&M WEST: FIRST-TIME EXHIBITORS

Valve Supplier Delivers Integrated Fluid-Control Components

Stephanie Steward


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The Acrosense product line includes digital control boards that enable component integration in fluid-handling applications.

From its origins as a machine shop, Acro Associates Inc. (Concord, CA) soon began customizing pinch valves for medical device applications. The company specializes in the design and manufacture of pinch valves and fluid-control systems for medical applications in which disposable tubing and consumables are used.

As it continued to expand its operations, Acro's focus grew to concentrate in the device and bioprocessing markets. In particular, the company expanded its engineering services to provide comprehensive consultation in fluid control for medical device applications, and it subsequently added full-scale manufacturing services to accommodate this specialty. In 2007, Acro modified its facilities to integrate lean manufacturing principles, and this year has expanded its facilities to increase service and production capabilities.

The company's expansion has continuously been driven by product innovation."We are launching a major new piece of technology called the Acrosense fluid-control platform at MD&M West," says Winston Wong, vice president of sales and marketing. "The development of Acrosense was driven by market need for the integration of fluid-control components such as pumps, valves, motors, sensors, and other devices into a single, stand-alone system."

Suited for system integration or use in a stand-alone environment, the platform can comprise various components to create a system capable of networked process control. "We are seeing a trend toward more-compact devices with reduced power consumption and improved ease of use."

With this in mind, he says that this trend is influencing the design of Acro's products. "People would like to easily integrate a wide variety of components in their system design in a logical fashion," he says. The Acrosense line includes a variety of digital control boards that enable basic to high-level component integration in fluid-handling applications.

The company also offers engineering design services, prototyping, and pilot production of fluid-control systems and components. It provides pilot to scale-up production contract manufacturing with quality control, inventory management, and regulatory documentation. The company has more than 30 years of experience in designing and testing fluid-control systems. Its offerings include a line of standard solenoid and pinch valves that can also be tailored to particular specifications and requirements.

www.acroassociates.com
Booth #626


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