KELM KKS Compact Pneumatic Cylinders
KELM Series KKS pneumatic cylinders are magnetic double-acting compact actuators designed for machinery where installation length needs to be kept down without restricting the available choice of piston diameter. The range extends from miniature 12 mm bore pneumatic cylinders through to substantial 100 mm bore versions, allowing the same compact actuator family to cover very different machine-force requirements.
The current Cylinder Warehouse KKS catalogue also provides an unusually broad choice of stroke lengths for a compact pneumatic cylinder, with verified configurations from 5 mm through to 150 mm. This makes KKS suitable for short clamps, stops and locating movements as well as longer fixture, positioning and handling applications.
Browse all KELM pneumatic cylinders, compare the wider compact pneumatic cylinder range, or use the bore collections below to narrow the KKS range.
Compact Construction Across Ten Bore Sizes
One of the strongest features of KKS is the breadth of the range. Many compact pneumatic cylinder families concentrate on only a handful of common bore sizes, while the current KELM catalogue spans ten diameters from 12 to 100 mm.
That allows machine builders to increase or reduce available pneumatic force without moving away from the same basic compact actuator platform.
KELM KKS Technical Specification
| Manufacturer |
KELM |
| Series |
KKS |
| Product Category |
Compact pneumatic cylinders |
| Operation |
Double acting |
| Bore Sizes |
12, 16, 20, 25, 32, 40, 50, 63, 80 and 100 mm |
| Verified Stroke Range |
5 to 150 mm depending on bore |
| Position Detection |
Magnetic piston |
| Body Material |
Aluminium |
| Cylinder Tube |
Aluminium |
| Piston Rod |
Chrome-plated carbon steel |
| Seal Material |
Nitrile / NBR |
| Working Pressure |
1 to 10 bar |
| Working Temperature |
-20°C to +80°C |
| Published Standard |
KELM compact-cylinder format; no ISO designation is applied in the current Cylinder Warehouse KKS data |
KKS Bore Options from 12 to 100 mm
KKS Pneumatic Ports and Rod Threads
The connection sizes change significantly across the KKS range. The complete manufacturer part number should therefore be used whenever possible when replacing an existing pneumatic cylinder.
| Bore |
Pneumatic Port |
Piston-Rod Thread |
| 12 mm |
M5 × 0.8 female |
M3 × 0.5 female |
| 16 mm |
M5 × 0.8 female |
M4 × 0.7 female |
| 20 mm |
M5 × 0.8 female |
M5 × 0.8 female |
| 25 mm |
M5 × 0.8 female |
M6 × 1 female |
| 32 mm |
1/8" BSPP female |
M8 × 1.25 female |
| 40 mm |
1/8" BSPP female |
M8 × 1.25 female |
| 50 mm |
1/4" BSPP female |
M10 × 1.5 female |
| 63 mm |
1/4" BSPP female |
M10 × 1.5 female |
| 80 mm |
3/8" BSPP female |
M16 × 2 female |
| 100 mm |
3/8" BSPP female |
M20 × 2.5 female |
Stroke Lengths from 5 to 150 mm
The current KKS catalogue contains short strokes such as 5, 10, 15, 20 and 25 mm together with progressively longer 30, 35, 40, 45, 50, 60, 70, 75, 80, 90, 100, 125 and 150 mm configurations depending on bore.
Verified examples include KKS-12X5, KKS-32X150, KKS-50X150, KKS-80X150 and KKS-100X150. This gives KKS considerably more stroke choice than a compact pneumatic cylinder range intended solely for very short movements.
Magnetic Position Detection
KELM KKS pneumatic cylinders use a magnetic piston, allowing compatible cylinder switches to provide non-contact position feedback.
This makes the range suitable for automated fixtures, assembly machinery and production equipment where the control system needs confirmation that the actuator has reached the commanded position before another operation begins.
Aluminium Compact Body
The verified KKS construction uses aluminium for both the main body and cylinder tube. The piston rod is chrome-plated carbon steel and standard sealing is nitrile / NBR.
This gives KKS a straightforward industrial specification focused on compact machine integration and broad dimensional coverage.
Female Piston-Rod Connection
The current KKS range uses female piston-rod threads, with the thread increasing as bore size grows.
This is particularly important when replacing an existing actuator because two compact pneumatic cylinders with identical bore and stroke can still require different tooling or adapters if their piston-rod connections do not match.
KKS or KELM KI?
| KELM Series |
Construction |
Primary Buying Reason |
| KKS |
Compact pneumatic cylinder |
Minimum installation length and broad compact bore/stroke choice |
| KI |
ISO 15552 aluminium profile pneumatic cylinder |
Standardised ISO 15552 mounting, longer conventional cylinder format and large stroke capability |
The two ranges overlap in several bore sizes but are designed around different machine layouts. KKS is the better starting point where axial space is restricted, while KI is appropriate where the machine uses the conventional ISO 15552 profile format.
KKS and Replacement Searches
The KELM source data also carries FT Pro and AirTAC comparison references for the KKS family. These are useful search and sourcing clues, but they should not be treated as automatic like-for-like interchangeability.
Before replacing another compact pneumatic cylinder with KKS, compare the complete body dimensions, fixing pattern, bore, stroke, pneumatic port, piston-rod connection and sensor arrangement.
Examples from the KELM KKS Range
| KELM MPN |
Bore |
Stroke |
Port |
Rod Thread |
| KKS-12X40 |
12 mm |
40 mm |
M5 × 0.8 |
M3 × 0.5 female |
| KKS-20X100 |
20 mm |
100 mm |
M5 × 0.8 |
M5 × 0.8 female |
| KKS-32X150 |
32 mm |
150 mm |
1/8" BSPP |
M8 × 1.25 female |
| KKS-50X150 |
50 mm |
150 mm |
1/4" BSPP |
M10 × 1.5 female |
| KKS-80X150 |
80 mm |
150 mm |
3/8" BSPP |
M16 × 2 female |
| KKS-100X150 |
100 mm |
150 mm |
3/8" BSPP |
M20 × 2.5 female |
Replacing an Existing KELM KKS Pneumatic Cylinder
The KKS manufacturer code makes basic identification straightforward. For example, KKS-50X100 identifies a 50 mm bore × 100 mm stroke compact pneumatic cylinder.
That product uses 1/4" BSPP pneumatic ports and an M10 × 1.5 female piston-rod thread. A KKS-80X100 changes to 3/8" BSPP ports and an M16 × 2 female rod connection, despite sharing the same stroke.
For this reason, use the complete KKS MPN rather than selecting a replacement from stroke alone.
KELM KKS Selection Questions
Is KELM KKS double acting?
Yes. The current Cylinder Warehouse KKS catalogue consists of double-acting pneumatic cylinders.
Is KKS magnetic?
Yes. The verified products use magnetic pistons for compatible position sensing.
Is KKS ISO 21287?
The current KELM source data does not specify an ISO standard for KKS, so Cylinder Warehouse does not present the range as ISO 21287. It is listed as KELM's compact pneumatic cylinder format.
What bore sizes are available?
The current range spans 12, 16, 20, 25, 32, 40, 50, 63, 80 and 100 mm bore.
What is the longest current KKS stroke?
The Cylinder Warehouse catalogue contains verified KKS configurations up to 150 mm stroke.
What pressure can KKS operate at?
The verified catalogue specification gives an operating range of 1 to 10 bar.
What material is the KKS piston rod?
The current product data specifies chrome-plated carbon steel.
Does every KKS use BSPP ports?
No. The smaller 12–25 mm versions use M5 × 0.8 metric ports. From 32 mm bore upward, the verified range moves to BSPP connections.
Where can I compare other compact pneumatic cylinders?
Browse the wider compact pneumatic cylinder range or return to all KELM pneumatic cylinders.
