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Editorial
“ ”
Satisfied and
very satisfied:
92.9 % !
Any business that wants to stay in the course
at the highest level has to examine the
quality of its products and services and measure
the level of satisfaction of its customers.
In 1999 we gave this job to a firm of independent
consultants who surveyed companies
of all sizes from around the world. The
scores we achieved were welcomed with
great pleasure by all the SONCEBOZ
colleagues involved for years in a campaign
for quality.
Here are a few figures from the survey:
92.9 % of customers are satisfied or very
satisfied, a mark of 8.5 out of 10 is achieved
for the reliability of our products and competence
comes top of the qualities we are
known for.
But self-satisfaction does not lead to progress
and we immediately set up working
groups to further improve the points that
can be improved.
Alberto Tellan
Quality Director
Linear actuators
A market in motion
Linear motion is much in
demand in all sectors of industry
and the linear actuator is one
of the possible responses.
The linear actuator is generally
less cumbersome than a cogged
belt, simpler than a control rack
and more economical than a
SONCEBOZ
in control
of gas
Due to its energy-efficient
and environmental qualities,
gas (LPG and methane) is
becoming more and more
important in the world of the
car.
SONCEBOZ has developed
innovative solutions for perfect
control of the gas regulation
system (see article on page 4).
ball screw. It has a number of
major advantages for the user:
• Smaller size
• Reliability
• Longer life
• Performance (power + speed)
• Cost.
SONCEBOZ news
n° 3
Investment in a new high-production
line and the relevance of
the solutions developed should
speed up distribution of the
linear actuator in a market that
is always looking for new ideas.

Feature
Linear actuato
From the various systems to convert rotary motion
to linear motion, SONCEBOZ has put its faith in the
linear actuator. The company has invested heavily
since the 1980’s in research and development to
Linear actuator technology consists of a stepping motor in which
the shaft is replaced by a screw. The centre part of the rotor is tapped
to convert it to a “nut” adjusted to that screw. By preventing
the screw turning (antirotation), it can move axially, to give the
linear motion required.
The increment, that is the linear progression corresponding to
each step of the motor, is given by the screw pitch divided by the
number of motor steps.
This is selected to suit the actuator characteristics required. The
longer the pitch, the quicker the advance but the lower the power
of the device. Conversely, a fine pitch limits the speed but increases
the power available.
Every application
has its requirements
Fine adjustment of the actuator characteristics to the precise motion
requirements is possible through the parameter mix ratio.
Every application requires its own analysis based on the customer’s
specifications. This is even more the case now that linear actuators are
Medical
Extreme precision
Automated dosage in laboratories is developing
as the instruments achieve greater accuracy
and efficiency. The optimized resolution of
the 7214 actuator provides constant and
precise movement, even at high
speed.
increase its technological know-how to provide the
end user with suitable original solutions for any
drive problem.
6
7
3
5
9
11
1 Screw
2 Bearing
3 Ball bearing
4 Front bent plate
5 Casing
6 Nut
7 Rear bent plate
8 Mounting plate
9 Rotor
10 Coil
11 Coil
Heating, ventilation and air conditioning
The art of regulation
10
Drive system for a 3-way valve for a gas boiler. This is a linear
actuator which moves a valve to switch the hot water circuit to the
water or heating position.
8
4
2
1

s
used in sectors as diverse as cars, medical technology, heating,
textiles etc. which have very different conditions of use
and therefore very specific constraints.
Put to the test
in car engines…
One of the main products in production is the 7217 actuator
developed to regulate the deceleration of an injection
engine. It is the result of the long-term development and
numerous refinements which have involved mastering
the techniques of screw roll bending, selecting suitable
materials and making a product with very high reliability.
This was the only way to give it credibility in the very
demanding environment of the car industry which sets
ruthless standards, especially reject rates of less than
20 ppm (parts per million).
The extreme conditions of temperature, vibration, aggressive
chemical environment etc. and the durability required
have enabled us to accumulate more know-how on linear
motion every single day.
Automotive
Finesse and
robustness
The environment in a
car engine places severe
demands on the components
- vibration, temperature
variations, thermal
shock and an aggressive
chemical atmosphere – and
yet the job of the linear
actuator that regulates
the by-pass deceleration
requires high precision. It is
clipped directly onto the
butterfly valve to avoid
using fixing screws.
SONCEBOZ news
Development:
Creative
dynamics
Move
Product development is stimulated by three factors:
• Market needs
• Specific customized applications
• Technical innovations proposed by our research departments.
Interactive dynamics synonymous with progress, performance and
reliability are created within this triangle.
The actuator principle
The product is the basis on which a
whole series of actuators has been
developed, from the smallest 25 mm
diameter F=10N to actuators based on
57 mm diameter hybrid stepping
motors.
Linear actuator with
integrated electronics
New developments launched in recent
years have led to many improvements
in terms of power, speed and reliability.
But without doubt what has contributed
most to improved operation is
integration of the control electronics.
Adaptation for medical
This actuator is based on a stepping
motor with a permanent magnet and
fits perfectly into our customer’s
assembly. It has a leakproof housing
and is non-sensitive to outside conditions.
The first automotive specific
version
The first actuator developed for
the automotive industry had a metal
housing.
The demands in terms of performance,
weight, reliability and price required
the development of a new generation
of actuators with the weight divided
by two.

Survey
SONCEBOZ SA
2605 Sonceboz - Switzerland
Tel. +41 (0) 32 488 11 11
Fax +41 (0) 32 488 11 00
e-mail: info@sonceboz.com
internet: http://www.sonceboz.com
Gas,
a new energy source
Move
Gas is already used in many applications in widely-varying industries.
In the automotive industry this alternative fuel has been used for nearly 50 years and is now
enjoying a boom, due in part to its ecological aspects. Natural gas combustion causes much less
pollution, particularly from nitrogen oxides (Nox), non-methanoic hydrocarbons (NMHC) and
carbon dioxide (CO2).
Metropolises burdened by smog are exploiting this option. In Buenos Aires, for example, the majority
of the taxi fleet is made up of gas-burning vehicles.
Birth of gas systems.
A pioneering world.
During the Second World War the shortage of traditional
fuel contributed to the formation of small
companies converting vehicles to alternative fuels.
Only a few large entrepreneurs understood the role
that gas could play in the national energy spectrum,
but the real history is simply that of bold
people wanting to set up in business who created
an industry that is now substantial.
A niche world.
Each of them used their own resources to establish
a reputation in their country with the aim of obtaining
a larger share of this niche market.
The horizons were therefore narrow and the priority
was to survive. The powerful energy players
could have forced out these small companies,
which certainly could not have imagined 20 years
ago the impact that alternative sources of energy
would have on the market.
A new future.
Today it is easy to assess the opportunities offered
by all the alternative solutions to save energy and
be environmentally friendly.
Everyone is aware of the intense activity of
authorities worldwide in relation to environmental
standards.
The arrival on the scene of ever more sophisticated
and high-performance electronic gas instrumentation
and control components and systems have
made it possible to establish standards which are
more stringent year by year on emissions and safety.
We must remember that emissions have actually
fallen by a factor of 20 between the 1980’s and
today in terms of CO2, HC and NO X.
Today’s technology.
In the route taken in the last twenty years, the culture
and technology of gas systems have not always
highlighted the environmental aspects, but the
industry players are now the protagonists in the
fight to reduce emissions.
SONCEBOZ news
To control emissions and reduce them to a minimum,
car manufacturers have set up a diagnostic
system in Europe called EOBD (European On
Board Diagnostic) which analyses the data from
the lambda probes located before and after the
catalytic converter to check the efficiency of the
unit.
Continuous research by industry experts has led to
the manufacture of products that interface with
modern diagnostic systems and can be integrated in
the gas conversion unit of a vehicle.
Times are changing.
Italy and Holland are the world leaders in gas
conversion systems for vehicles, but economic
constraints are forcing other countries (Poland,
China, India, etc.) to take a closer interest in this
new technology. The players in this sector have
seen the need to make themselves known and share
with the end user all the quality and reliability
aspects of products that are being continuously
improved by research and experimentation.
The target in this area is also to move towards the
zero emissions level.
A part to play.
The contribution of SONCEBOZ in the world of
gas is closely linked to consumption because the
linear actuator regulates the gas flow rate to maximize
carburization.
GRAFITI PROSPECTIVE RC B 329 627 061
Crédit photos : Patrick Bogner