When Jorge walked through the compressor room at his manufacturing plant, the big machines caught his eye, the humming compressors, the dryers, the filters. But tucked away in the corner stood a piece of equipment he hardly noticed: a tall, steel air receiver tank. It didnβt have power cables, flashing lights, or gauges that demanded […]
Air Preparation
How does moisture affect pneumatic systems and how do we mitigate it?
By Josh Cosford, Contributing Editor Desiccant, membrane, deliquescent, centrifugal and refrigerated air dryers are all technologies used to dry our compressed air systems. They are installed in various locations throughout the plant, although downstream of the compressor is the most critical location. Compressing air collects the volume of moisture found in a cubic foot of […]
Show me the money: A story of hidden compressed air costs
By Ron Marshall Mark ran a busy plastics plant where compressors hummed day and night. For years, the system seemed to work just fine β air pressure was steady, production lines ran without interruption, and maintenance crews only dealt with the occasional leak. On the surface, nothing looked wrong. But as the monthly power bills […]
Air compressor failures β fix or replace?
By Ron Marshall When the main compressor at Billβs machine shop suddenly failed, the entire plant seemed to grind to a halt. Operators stood idle, production schedules slipped, and the pressure was on to make a quick decision. Bill gathered his maintenance crew in the break room, where they weighed their options: repair the aging […]
Whatβs really going on in your compressor room?
By Ron Marshal When a compressed air auditor arrived at a midsize manufacturing plant, the operators were confident their system was running just fine. The compressors switched on every morning, the gauges read pressure, and the machines on the floor kept humming along. To them, that was all that mattered. But the auditor had a […]
Why the compressed air system is the heart of the plant
By Ron Marshall With some imagination, your plant’s compressed air system can be compared to the circulatory system of the human body. The compressors act as the heart, pumping the lifeblood of compressed air to every corner of the facility. Just as the human body cannot function without the heart’s steady beat, production machinery cannot […]
Specific power: Your compressor gas mileage rating
When choosing a car, consumers rely on fuel economy ratings to compare efficiency. Miles per gallon or liters per 100 kilometers allow buyers to understand how far a vehicle can travel with a given amount of fuel. This standard measure is an essential tool for making informed purchasing decisions. Compressed air systems have a similar […]
Unlocking compressed air efficiency in the plastics industry
By Ron Marshall In plastics manufacturing, compressed air is as essential as the raw material itself. Whether itβs blow molding bottles or supporting injection molding machines, compressed air drives productivity. But it also represents one of the largest opportunities for efficiency gains β especially when system design and operation push pressure higher than necessary. One […]
The βdirty thirtyβ β Why the last few feet of piping matter
When people talk about improving compressed air systems, the focus is usually on compressors, dryers, filters, and main piping. But thereβs a part of the system that often gets overlooked β the last 30 feet of piping that connects your machine to the main header. In the industry, some folks call this stretch the βdirty […]
How can you cut energy waste with smarter compressed air management?
A plastics product company recently proved how much can be gained by taking a fresh look at compressed air systems. What began as a move toward lubricant-free compressed air for product quality quickly became an opportunity to improve efficiency, reduce waste, and cut energy costs in a big way. The facility already had a fairly […]
