Solenoid valves are electromechanically operated valves and are used to control the rate of flow in fluid or air powered systems and are quite often just referred to as just ‘solenoids’. With automatic operation, solenoid valves are incredibly useful to engineers as they remove the need to manually operate valves. Solenoid valves are most commonly found in fluidics, fluid power pneumatic and hydraulic systems. They are normally constructed from robust materials such as stainless steel, aluminium, brass or plastic. You can learn more in our comprehensive solenoid valves guide.Uses of Solenoid Valves:Solenoid valves are versatile and can be used to distribute fluids, mix fluids, shut off fluids or release them. Solenoid valves can be used with fluid power pneumatic and hydraulic systems to control larger industrial valves, fluid power motors or cylinders. They can even be found in domestic appliances within the home, such as dishwashers or washing machines. The valve can control the water entering the device.BenefitsAutomatic operationFast switching abilityInstant reaction timeSafe switchingHighly reliableCan lead to a reduction of energy usage compared to a direct acting valve