Pneumatic Tips

Nearly every manufacturing facility uses compressed air. And all share the challenge of keeping compressed air systems running efficiently and reliably. Depending on the industry (e.g., automotive, consumer goods, mining, etc.), the compressed air system accounts for 10-50% of a plant’s energy usage and is as essential to uptime as electricity. But compressors are inherently […]

Are you spending your summer struggling with the quality of your compressed air, with stinky, rusty water pouring out of your pipes? When it comes to air quality, the hot summer months are the most challenging time for most compressed air systems, and to avoid problems, you need to plan for the worst-case scenario. Typically, […]

A meat processing company air upgraded its compressed air system to increase capacity and reduce energy consumption. They installed large, premium efficiency VSD compressors, a smart compressor controller, efficient filters, large storage, and heated blower desiccant dryers connected with oversized compressor room piping — all in an effort to reduce pressure loss. The maintenance workers […]

These resources cover a range of topics, from system optimization to maintenance practices and measurement techniques. They can provide valuable guidance for improving the efficiency and performance of compressed air systems in various industrial settings. 1. “Improving Compressed Air System Performance: A Sourcebook for Industry” by the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE): This valuable sourcebook […]

In the realm of fluid power engineering and manufacturing, innovation knows no bounds. The advent of miniature pneumatics has ushered in a new era of precision and efficiency, enabling a wide range of industries to benefit from compact and surprisingly powerful pneumatic systems. These miniaturized marvels have found their way into various sectors, using low […]

The lubricated screw air compressors are the most common type in the industrial environment, helping power critical operations in various sectors. Maintaining the quality of your compressor lubricant is very important if you want trouble-free operation. Let’s examine the significance of maintaining high lubricant quality for a lubricated screw air compressor — and its overall […]

A very important element of any compressed air system is the system storage volume. But how much do you need? Is your storage capacity big enough? Sufficient system storage is important to the efficiency of a compressed air system because it allows for easier compressor control. Having a large volume connected to your compressors slows […]

When is it time to retire a compressor? Your old unit may have served you very well over the last few decades, reliably providing a seemingly endless supply of compressed air. Some units, like the unit in Fig. 1, have been around so long that they have almost become part the family. This design is […]

Despite being in force since the early 1990s, compressed air auditors frequently run across compressed air safety hazards when studying their client’s sites. Fig. 1 is a common example where blow guns installed for cleaning have been modified by machine shop personnel. This gun,  if the tip is blocked, will deliver over 100 psi to […]

Compressed air receivers have become more important in modern compressed air systems.  Having an adequately sized main receiver in the compressor room is quite important for the health and efficiency of your air compressors, especially if you have switched from small reciprocating compressors to lubricated screw type. Years ago, the rule of thumb for use […]

Tsunami CORE series desiccant dryer is the newest addition to the Air Dryers product line, designed to better serve the automotive and professional coatings industry. This manual change desiccant air dryer features a spring-loaded cartridge style desiccant canister that eliminates dusting and tunneling of the media. It is rated for 25 cfm and is designed […]

Manufacturers across all industries seek ways to electrify, digitize, and automate their systems to decrease costs and increase efficiency. Electro-pneumatic pressure regulators and valves enable such efforts while improving pressure and flow rate accuracy. Back in the day, there were only manual pressure regulators that relied on the skill and precision of the human hand. […]

A wood products company decided to conduct a treasure hunt for energy savings on its compressed air system.  Plant personnel were scheduled to have a production outage during a one-week period — and so they invited a compressed air expert to help them identify any suggested improvements to the system. Industrial plants frequently have staff […]

Spartan Scientific, a manufacturer of high-quality fluid & pneumatic automation components, releases a newly engineered addition to its media-separated valve offerings. Manufactured with all-stainless steel working components along with a glass-filled nylon valve body, the 4DKR provides controlled flow in applications that require a separation of media flow within a direct-acting valve. The Series 4DKR […]

Elgi North America will introduce the AR Premium Series Energy Saving Cycling Refrigerated Air Dryers at the annual Association of Independent Compressor Distributors (AICD) conference in Grapevine, Texas, taking place from May 21–23. In addition, Elgi will showcase its expanded range of AB Series oil-free screw air compressors in 15-30 hp, offering a more affordable […]

A lumber processor installed a remote lubricant-injected rotary screw compressor in an outbuilding to supply compressed air to a debarking system out in the yard.  Lubricant injected air compressors normally pass some compressor oil into the system — usually about 4 parts per million for a well-maintained compressor — even though there is an air/oil […]

Atlas Copco has developed its new DVS vacuum pump series with a focus on this requirement profile. The result: the DVS models are oil-free, dry rotary vane pumps that guarantee emission-free, quiet operation and do not contaminate the processes. High efficiency at competitive costs “This makes them ideally suited for a wide range of applications, […]

With the intelligent Aquamat i.CF, Kaeser Kompressoren has redefined condensate treatment. Available for delivery volumes up to 90 m³/min, this new oil-water separator now comes equipped for the first time with the Aquamat Control internal controller, which undertakes active management of the process while simplifying maintenance planning and making service work cleaner. Wherever compressed air […]

 A sawmill maintenance department requested a compressed air assessment to determine the efficiency of its system and to find out if any improvements could be made to reduce their compressed air system operating costs. They called in an auditor who placed data logging equipment to measure pressure, flow, and power. From these measurements, the auditor […]

Rotary screw compressors are the dependable backbone of an industrial compressed air supply. With a multitude of features, the innovative CSD/CSDX range from Kaeser Kompressoren fulfills this role more efficiently, dependably, and economically than ever before, while at the same time reducing a company’s CO² footprint. The most important highlight of these compressors is their […]

A routine audit of a wood products company has turned up some surprising results on a system that was thought to be very efficient. The system is simple — one compressor, a 100-hp variable speed drive controlled (VSD) screw compressor, and a heatless desiccant air dryer. Data loggers were placed on the system by a […]

A metal products company had a system of multiple compressors arranged in two compressor rooms.  The maintenance workers were having constant problems setting up their compressors to run in a logical sequence. For some reason, the main compressor would never turn off in automatic start, which would allow them to save energy.  The big compressor […]

Piab has continued to evolve its piCOBOT program by adding a larger version. Developed with the needs of customers in mind who work with small industrial robots and cobots, its high payload combined with a low building height enables maximum capacity usage. With its lifting capability of up to 35 lb, the piCOBOT L is […]

A wood products company had issues with its compressor room. Despite installing good filtering, the compressor oil and air coolers would clog up with sawdust — and the compressors would constantly overheat. The maintenance manager, remembering something from one of his previous jobs, decided to move his compressor coolers outdoors. This worked great in the […]

Compressed air quality is crucial for aerospace manufacturing, as aircraft components and tools must be of the highest quality and precision. This demanding standard for component quality urges aerospace manufacturers to utilize compressed air with specific requirements. The air must be clean, dry, and unvaried under pressure. If the air becomes dirty, moist, or varies […]