Pneumatic Actuation

Single-Use Pneumatic Pinch Valve

Fast, uniform closure on standard plant air. Air-actuated pinch valve for high-cycle single-use bioprocess lines, ¼″ to 1″ tubing OD.

Our pneumatic pinch valves provide precise and reliable sanitary flow control in tubing, regardless of material composition. A unique central pinch point within an encapsulated valve body seat delivers closure reliability and consistent flow, even after multiple cycles. Manufactured from high-quality 316L stainless steel to meet rigorous industry standards for durability and hygiene, and available in multiple sizes to accommodate both silicone and braided tubing with outer diameters ranging from ¼ in. (6.4 mm) to 1 in. (25.4 mm). Part of our single-use pinch valve range.

Request the DatasheetView Specifications
Single-use pneumatic pinch valve with air-actuated top and clamp-on body for bioprocess tubing
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ActuationStandard Plant Air
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Tubing OD Range¼″ – 1″
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Pinch Head316L, Reusable
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InstallationTool-Free
Full Specification

Pneumatic Pinch Valve Specifications

Complete mechanical and material data for the pneumatic variant. Part of our single-use pinch valve range.

SpecificationDetail
OperationPneumatic
Utilities requiredStandard plant compressed air
Tubing OD range¼ in. (6.4 mm) – 1 in. (25.4 mm)
Tubing compatibilitySilicone, TPE, braided, reinforced. No proprietary tubing
Material316L stainless steel, body and connections
Connection typeClamp-on, pinches directly on tube
InstallationTool-free
Process temperatureDetermined by the selected tubing material
Position indicationVisible open/closed indicator
DocumentationMaterial of Construction (MOC) certification available
Why Pneumatic

Fast, uniform closure on the air you already have

Built for lines that cycle constantly and already run compressed air. No new electrical controls required.

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Fast cycling

Rapid open and close for high-throughput sequences where cycle time matters.

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Uniform closure

Consistent compression geometry across thousands of cycles, so sealing does not drift.

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Uses existing infrastructure

Runs on standard plant air. Nothing new to qualify if your facility is already piped.

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Corrosion resistant

316L stainless steel construction throughout the pinch mechanism.

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Reusable mechanism

The pinch head is autoclavable and reused. Only the tubing is replaced between batches.

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No wetted parts

The mechanism never contacts product. Your tubing is the entire flow path.

Where the pneumatic valve is used

High-throughput production

Commercial manufacturing lines where valve cycle counts are high and uptime is critical.

Buffer & media distribution

Automated routing across multiple lines, feeding from single-use bags into the process.

Harvest & collection sequencing

Timed switching between collection vessels during downstream capture steps.

Viral inactivation hold steps

Reliable isolation of hold vessels during timed inactivation, with visible state confirmation.

Diversion & bypass on pneumatic skids

Drop-in flow control on skids already built around compressed-air actuation.

Complete single-use fluid paths

Specified alongside flow path assemblies and PIXER pumps from one supplier.

Choosing between actuation options

If there are no utilities at the point of use, the manual pinch valve is simpler. If you need commanded position, throttling and feedback to a PLC, use the motorized pinch valve. Full side-by-side comparison on the single-use pinch valve overview.

FAQ

Pneumatic Pinch Valve FAQ

What air supply does the pneumatic pinch valve need?

Standard plant compressed air. Contact us with your facility air specification and we will confirm the correct configuration.

What tubing does it fit?

Silicone, TPE, braided and reinforced tubing with ¼ in. to 1 in. outer diameter.

Is the valve suitable for high-cycle duty?

Yes. The encapsulated 316L pinch head and uniform compression geometry are designed for repeated cycling.

Can I confirm valve position?

A visible open/closed indicator is fitted as standard. For electronic position feedback, use the motorized variant with optional encoder.

Is a pneumatic pinch valve the same as a diaphragm pinch valve?

No. People sometimes search for a pneumatic pinch valve using the term diaphragm pinch valve, but they are different mechanisms. A pneumatic pinch valve is a shut-off and throttling device with no wetted components, actuated by air pressure against the outside of the tubing. A single-use diaphragm valve has a disposable wetted body and diaphragm and offers finer proportional pressure control, at the cost of a wetted flow path.

What is the process temperature range?

Process temperature is determined by the selected tubing material rather than the valve itself. Tell us your tubing choice and we will confirm the working range.

How is the valve installed and serviced?

Installation is tool-free: the clamp-on body pinches directly onto your tubing with no special fittings. The 316L pinch head is reusable and autoclavable, so only the tubing is replaced between batches.

What qualification documentation is available?

Material of Construction (MOC) certification is available on request. Additional qualification documents are provided per project scope, contact our engineering team with your requirements.

Is the valve compatible with gamma-irradiated tubing?

Yes. Sterilization is handled at the tubing level, so the valve works with gamma-irradiated single-use tubing without modification.

What is the full tubing size range covered?

¼ in. (6.4 mm) up to 1 in. (25.4 mm) outer diameter, covering the standard range of single-use silicone and braided tubing.

Downloads & Documentation

Request the Pneumatic Pinch Valve Datasheet

Tell us your tubing size and application, and we will send the pneumatic pinch valve datasheet direct to your inbox.

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How It Works

How a Pneumatic Pinch Valve Works

A pneumatic pinch valve uses plant compressed air to drive a piston that compresses single-use tubing from the outside until flow stops. Air pressure applied to the actuator forces a stem down onto the tubing at a single central pinch point, seated inside an encapsulated valve body that keeps closing force consistent across high cycle counts. Releasing air pressure lets the tubing recover to its open state. Because closure is driven by air rather than an operator, the pneumatic pinch valve delivers fast, uniform, repeatable cycling that is well suited to automated production lines — and because the mechanism never touches the process fluid, there are no wetted parts and no seals to validate between batches.

1

Mount

Clamp the pneumatic pinch valve body onto the tubing run and connect the plant air supply line.

2

Actuate

Compressed air drives the piston, closing the pinch point in a fraction of a second for a fast, uniform seal.

3

Cycle

The valve opens and closes on command from your control system, supporting high-frequency automated cycling.

4

Reset & reuse

Releasing air pressure returns the tubing to open. Swap tubing between batches; the 316L pinch head is autoclaved and reused.

Because the pneumatic pinch valve is driven by plant air rather than manual operation, it is the standard choice for high-cycle, automated single-use process lines that already have compressed air infrastructure in place. See full specifications or compare it to our manual and motorized pinch valves.