Why Pneumatics are Beneficial for Industrial Applications

Robert Dickman of SMC Corp. discusses the performance advantages of pneumatics and how they can benefit various industrial applications.
Oct. 13, 2025

Pneumatic systems remain a technology of choice in several industrial machinery applications because of the many benefits they can provide.

As Robert Dickman, UTC Senior Engineering Manager at SMC Corp., explains in this interview with Power & Motion, pneumatics offer faster cycle times, clean operation and a more simplified system setup. These attributes have made pneumatic systems a desirable option for applications such as food packaging and pharmaceutical production.

He noted that while electric actuation options can be a good fit for some applications, there are many other for which pneumatics is the better choice due to performance requirements or environmental conditions.

Watch this interview with Dickman to learn more about the benefits of pneumatics as well as the industrial applications best suited to their use.

Read "Advancements in Pneumatics to Meet Modern Industrial Machinery Demands" for more insights on the trends shaping pneumatic system design from our interview with Dickman

About the Author

Sara Jensen

Executive Editor, Power & Motion

Sara Jensen is executive editor of Power & Motion, directing expanded coverage into the modern fluid power space, as well as mechatronic and smart technologies. She has over 15 years of publishing experience. Prior to Power & Motion she spent 11 years with a trade publication for engineers of heavy-duty equipment, the last 3 of which were as the editor and brand lead. Over the course of her time in the B2B industry, Sara has gained an extensive knowledge of various heavy-duty equipment industries — including construction, agriculture, mining and on-road trucks —along with the systems and market trends which impact them such as fluid power and electronic motion control technologies. 

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