Kavlico
Kavlico, specialized in sensors, is divided into Kavlico Pressure Sensors and Kavlico Position and Force Sensors with locations in Minden (Germany), Ventura County (California) and Tijuana (Mexico) and AbOUT 1000 employees worldwide.
Kavlico Pressure Sensors is an international specialist in developing and manufacturing pressure sensors and transmitters.
Kavlico Position and Force Sensors has a global presence with involvement in many international aerospace programs. Both are brands of Custom Sensors & Technologies (CST).
History
- 1958: Kavlico was founded by Fred Kavli, a Norwegian immigrant in North America for the design, development, sales and production of innovative pressure, level force and other specialty sensors, transmitters and transducers
- 1999: It established its European site in Minden, Germany. It developed sales support, engineering and manufacturing of pressure and specialty sensors and transducers, customized OEM products, and value added pressure sensing assemblies for industrial and automotive applications
- 2006: Kavlico became two brands of Custom Sensors & Technologies (CST) under the names of Kavlico Pressure Sensors and Kavlico Position and Force Sensors. Custom Sensors & Technologies (CST) is a specialist in sensing, control and motion products.
- 2007: It moved into the new production site in Minden, Germany
- 2008: Grand opening of the new production site in Tijuana, Mexico
- 2010: Kavlico opened a new state-of-the-art Technology Center for thin film production in Minden, Germany
- 2012: It moved first production line into a shared CST building in Huizhoi, China
- 2013: Kavlico kept on developing with new manufacturing sites in Germany, Mexico and China; design, development and customization centers in Germany and North America and recruitment of high qualified Sales Engineers in North America, Europe and Asia
- 2015: Kavlico enforces further development of standard product portfolio thanks to high and low volume manufacturing capabilities in all sites.
Kavlico Pressure Sensors
Product lines
Kavlico Pressure Sensors is providing pressure sensing and signal treatment technologies to measure pressure, temperature and fluid level in Industrial, Building Equipment, Transportation, Medical and Aerospace and Defense applications
- Pressure Sensors: Oil Pressure, Air Pressure, Air Conditioning, Differential Pressure, Diesel Particulate Filer Pressure, Water Pressure, Hydraulic and Pneumatic Break Systems, Injection Molding Pressure
- Fluid Level Sensors: Oil & Fuel Level Measurement, Fuel Injection
- Pressure and Temperature Sensors: Industrial Automation, Air conditioning Systems and Medical Applications
Markets & applications
- Transportation: Trucks and Buses (Heavy Duty Diesel, buses, coaches, lorries, refuse collection, fire engines ...), Agricultural and Forestry equipment (from automated systems for intensive STOCK-rearing, incubators , milking machines, grain silos to greenhouse automation, sprinkler, pulverization and irrigation systems…). It also includes Construction equipment (cement-mixers, tarmac and paving machines...), Trains (underground trains, railway vehicles including manned and unmanned,…), Automotive and Civil Marine …
- Building equipment: HVAC (heating pumps, stoves, chimneys, radiators, pellets, Air conditioners, humidifiers, dehumidifiers,…), Building automation (Lifts, escalators, access ramps, blind and shutter drives, …)
- Food & Beverage: Food and drink dispensers (Machines for dispensing drinks, food, ice creams, coffee machines, coffee grinders for bars and collectivities,…), Refrigeration (supermarket fridges, freezers…)
- Commercial markets: Printing (printers, plotters, photocopiers, digital printers, franking machines, folding machines, shredders, machines for embossing, payment systems, small printing / publishing machines…), Home appliance (Washing machines, dish washers, Stoves and cookers, microwave ovens, domestic rotisseries, domestic toasters, coffee-makers, vacuum cleaners, mixers, fridges, freezers, chemical toilets…)
- Industrial markets: Plastic machinery (Injection molders, Extruders, Blow molding machines…), Compressors (production and packaging plants for solid, liquid or gaseous materials…), Test equipments (Equipment for measuring, reading, and recording physical or electrical values), Hydraulic/ Pneumatic Systems and Industrial pumps
- Energy and infrastructure: Energy production, Wind Turbine Equipment, Water and Waste treatment, Oil and Gas
- Medical markets: dialysis, anaesthesia and gas equipment, surgical equipment
- Aerospace & Defense: helicopters, light aircraft, business jets, wide body aircraft
Kavlico Position and Force Sensors
Product lines
Kavlico Position and Force Sensors is providing
- LVDTs: A Linear variable differential transformer operates using a non-contacting mutual induction principle, providing friction-free motion. They produce electrical signals proportional to the displacement of a moveable core (armature) within a hollow cylindrically wound coil assembly. The core is attached to the target via an armature extension.
- RVDTs: A Rotary variable differential transformer is used for rotary measurements in aviation applications. These angular position sensor produce output voltages proportional to the angular displacement of a laminated rotor stack. This rotor is mounted on a stainless steel shaft that when rotated, moves the rotor to direct greater flux into one secondary of the stator windings thereby increasing the voltage and reduces the flux in the opposing secondary.
- Force Sensors consist of a precisely machined spring and internally placed LVDT(s). When a force is applied via the clevis or rod end bearing, the spring deflection changes the position of the moving element (armature/core) of the internal LVDT. The voltage output and signal is calibrated to correspond to the force input.
- Cockpit Controls: these products include speed brakes, landing gear control, steering handwheel, single engine thrust control, flight spoiler control lever .
Markets & applications
- Aerospace and Defense: commercial aviation and regional & business jets (sensors with high accuracy thrust control levers or interface with full authority digital engine controls, force sensors products providing feedback to the data recorders, cockpit control,…), commercial helicopters (position feedback sensors for collective levers and cyclic sticks/autopilots,…), military jets & helicopters (power lever sensors, force sensors providing feedback to the data recorders…), and space (flight control and engine control).
Some programs Kavlico Position and Force Sensors took part to: Airbus A320/A340/A380, Boeing 707/747/787, Space Shuttle, Ariane, Poseidon…
- Energy & Infrastructure: industrial (sealed and low cost transmitters, regulated output devices), power generation (for applications such as modulating valves, actuators ...), nuclear power (application for stop valve position feedback...) and oil & gas markets (position feedback for power turbine applications…)
Further reading
- Kyle Horsman (Dec 11, 2014), What’s the Difference Between Gauge, Absolute, Differential, and Sealed Pressure? on Machine Design. 1
- PRLOG, Sept. 8, 2009, Kavlico Introduces a Low Range Dual Channel High Pressure Sensor for Aircraft Hydraulic/Fuel System 2
- Mike Sutton (Oct 22, 2008), Tiny MEMS Sensors Hold Big Potential,on WardsAuto 3
- Stephen Nellis, (November 29, 2013), Kavli remembered: Physicist employed thousands, gifted millions, on Pacbiztimes 4
- Thierry Dubois (June 18, 2013), CST Showcases Crouzet, Kavlico Sensors, on AINonline 5
- Frédéric Rolland (17 mai 2013), Crouzet Aerospace et Kavlico font cause commune et investissent, on usine Nouvelle, 6