In an interview, Robert Saller tells you where the ­DELO-DOT PN3 excels in particular.

What made DELO decide to enhance the previous microdispensing valve?
As an innovative company, we are always committed to continuous development and to pushing things forward. There is no standstill at DELO. Existing products are therefore constantly reviewed and improved where possible. The robust DELO-DOT PN3 valve has been developed with a special focus on performance and handling. We did not only concentrate on achieving optimal dispensing performance and reliability, but also wanted the valve to be easily managed by the customer. For, after all, what use is a good jet valve if it fails or is complicated to operate?

What is better about the brand-new jet valve from DELO?
The answer is quite clear: It's its jet performance, which is significantly increased as compared to the predecessor model. The valve is not only suitable for jetting many different adhesive types, but also in much smaller quantities. On average, the minimum dispensing amount is reduced by a factor three, and some media can even be jetted permanently in amounts as low as 0.009 mg. This is obviously an important point for our customers, given the increasingly smaller component sizes. But there is another beneficial aspect of the DELO-DOT PN3: With a maximum dispensing volume of almost 14 mg, the valve covers a large field of applications.

How is it possible to implement the process of dispensing such different quantities?
This is made possible by the optimized geometry of the fluid box and two different piston types, one for very small dispensing amounts and one for small to medium drop sizes. The fluid box is made of stainless steel, which makes it more robust and more resistant to chemical attack than its predecessor. The connected luer-lock adapter, as well, is no longer made of PEEK but of metal.

And what has changed in terms of handling?
It is now possible to set the stroke of the piston without any additional tool, just by means of a rotary wheel used to select one of five different locking positions. The respective position is indicated by an LED, thus making it easier to check the stroke setting, in particular after integration into a production system. Furthermore, the newly developed nozzle heater has no open contacts and is simply clipped onto the valve, which facilitates disassembly for cleaning and maintenance.