Transforming Compressed Air Management | Pattons

  Air compressors get the most attention, but filtration and piping can have a dramatic impact on performance. Compressed air systems can only be as good as their weakest link. That’s why filtration and  piping  need to be heavily considered when assessing performance. They are crucial elements of the system, responsible for cleaning and distributing compressed air throughout a facility. The quality of filtration and piping in a facility can affect production quality and operating costs. They also have a substantial impact on a system’s efficiency and reliability. “If an air compressor is a system’s heart, then the piping and filtration are its veins and arteries,” said Justin Beckett, field technician and support specialist with ELGi. “Choosing the right components can make the difference between a system that runs smoothly or bleeds money and risks breakdowns. The right piping Piping needs to be sized correctly for the system. When it’s too small, the undersized piping ...

  The best choice depends on your industry’s air purity requirements, though there are meaningful differences in maintenance and lifecycle costs. Compressed air is often called “the fourth utility” in manufacturing, standing alongside electricity, water and natural gas. More than 70% of manufacturers rely on compressed air for applications such as powering machine tools, spray painting and material handling. Because it is so central to daily operations, the quality of compressed air has a direct impact on a plant’s operations. One of the biggest choices plants need to make is between two air compressor designs: oil-flooded and oil-free. Each takes a different approach to producing compressed air, and they both have implicit benefits and tradeoffs. Oil-flooded compressors, such as  ELGi EN Series , are widely used when efficiency and lower upfront cost are priorities. Oil-free compressors, such as  ELGi OF Series , are the standard when the highest levels of air purity are...

  Investing in a new air compressor or compressed air system can overhaul production, improve product quality, boost efficiency and safeguard reliability. Financing options makes it easier to plan and budget. Air compressors and their systems are typically long-term investments for manufacturers and industrial facilities, with most looking at a decade of operation. With so many production processes reliant on compressed air, it’s considered a “fourth utility.” Air compressors operate in an ecosystem, though, and their usage also contributes to as much as 30% of a company’s energy costs. Ensuring system efficiency and securing modern equipment via financing helps minimize those costs and maximize ROI. It’s important to think of air compression systems as key components in energy efficiency, product quality and reliable operations. With an upgraded system, a business can lower its energy consumption and reduce its utility costs. A new system is more reliable, so breakdowns and mainte...