Closed-loop control of machinery is key to improving
productivity and decreasing life cycle costs. In hydraulic
applications where exerting a precise pressure is required,
automated monitoring of hydraulic pressure is a necessity.
Pressure relief valves can play a role in preventing unsafe
conditions by ensuring that hydraulic pressure doesn’t rise
above a nominal value. However, they make poor pressure or force
controllers. A relief valve only limits pressure or force, and
on only one side of the piston. Using pressure transducers, on
the other hand, enables precise control of pressure or force
being applied.  Common applications like presses and injection
molding machines have successfully used pressure transducers for
many years, but many new fields of application are also coming
to fruition. For example, materials and production testing
systems are being transformed as awareness and knowledge about
how to apply pressure transducers to non-destructive testing has
grown.  Beginning with basics  Pressure tra