Self-compensating or adjustable. The CA2–CA4 series is self-compensating — it adapts automatically to changing weight and speed, which suits duty where loads vary. The A1½–A3 series is adjustable from a socket on the absorber base, so you can fine-tune damping to a known, fixed application. Both are rugged, ready-to-install, and equally suited to emergency-stop duty.
Capacity. The CA series absorbs from 21,000 up to roughly 1,120,000 in-lbs per cycle across strokes of 2 to 16 in, covering effective weights into the hundreds of thousands of pounds. The adjustable A series spans 21,000 to about 390,000 in-lbs per cycle with strokes of 2 to 12 in. All run on ATF damping medium, and ACE sizes each unit to your application with its custom calculation program.
Where they're used. Portal systems, large machines and plants, conveyor and crane systems, lift bridges, steel structures, and sluice gates — heavy industrial settings where a substantial mass must stop on the spot without rebound.
For medium and lighter loads, step down to our industrial shock absorbers; for dedicated emergency-stop and crane end-of-travel protection, see our safety shock absorbers. Piedmont Technical Sales is an authorized ACE Controls distributor — send us the load, impact velocity, propelling force, and cycles per hour for a model recommendation, or request a quote on any part above.
