Compressed air is a proven source of reliable and sustainable power for industrial operations. Now, with technologies such as remote monitoring and AI optimisation, it is set to enter a new era of performance and efficiency.
Atlas Copco Rental UK and Ireland, has opened a new depot in Brockworth, Gloucester to strengthen its presence in the South and South West.
Ashley Quarterman, Executive Director Designate from the British Compressed Air Society (BCAS), explores how generating nitrogen as a by-product of compressed air can offer cost savings of up to 90%.
Pennine Pneumatic Services Limited (PPS), a compressed air distributor in Yorkshire, UK, has become part of Atlas Copco Group, after being acquired by Atlas Copco UK Holdings Ltd
Libby Peacock, a compressed air specialist at Rubix, has highlighted the significant financial challenges faced by production facilities across Europe due to air leakage. She emphasises that this often-overlooked issue can lead to substantial financial losses as well as serious environmental consequences. PWE reports.
ERIKS UK & Ireland has launched a new compressed air filtration technology - Expel. The compressed air filter continually removes 99.9999% of water, oil emulsion fluids and solid particulates down to 1 micron. Its design means that users never have to change any internal elements, but simply fit and forget. Typically, it would take three conventional compressed air filters – one each for water, oil emulsion and solid particulates – to do the job of one Expel.
An Italian bicycle manufacturer has significantly improved its energy efficiency by upgrading its compressed air system, achieving a 30% reduction in energy consumption. This enhancement has supported the company's commitment to sustainability and high production standards. PWE reports
KME Steelworks has reduced its costs and carbon footprint with a new onsite nitrogen generation system from Atlas Copco Compressors. PWE takes a closer look
KME Steelworks has reduced its costs and carbon footprint with a new onsite nitrogen generation system from Atlas Copco Compressors. PWE takes a closer look
Niccolò Casini, Director of Product Management, ELGi Europe examines ways to consume less energy, produce more, and bring lasting benefits in terms of sustainability, profitability, and effectiveness to your compressed air applications.
The British Compressed Air Society (BCAS) has appointed Terry Collier as its Learning and Development Officer.
We all know that compressed air leaks are a huge source of energy (and money) waste, but do you know how much they really cost? After conducting around 60 surveys in different facilities from different industries, using an ultrasound camera, UE Systems concluded that the average leak would cost around £1200 per year. When you think that any industrial site will have dozens or even hundreds of leaks, you can quickly realise the savings potential. PWE reports
The British Compressed Air Society (BCAS) has appointed Steven Rohan as its new president.
Atlas Copco Group has launched a new identity, including a new Group logo, a new visual identity, and a new Group message: Technology that transforms the future.
With energy accounting for a significant proportion of the cost of ownership of a compressed air system, operators will want to ensure their equipment is optimised for best performance. Vanda Jones, Executive Director at the British Compressed Air Society discusses the importance of good compressed air system design in helping to mitigate for rising energy costs.
Avoiding process contamination is a necessity for any hygienic application using compressors – ranging from the food and beverage sector, to pharmaceuticals to sensitive electronic environments. Claudia Vignelli, Product Manager Plant Air Centrifugal Compressors Ingersoll Rand, explores the variety of factors to consider when selecting the most appropriate oil-free compressed air technology.
Winches play a crucial role in ensuring ship passenger safety in the maritime industry. Responsible for lowering and lifting lifeboats and liferafts to and from the water surface, winches must be reliable, repeatable and easy-to-use. Technidrive, a bespoke integrated automation systems provider, says it recently tackled a challenge posed by Survitec, a manufacturer and supplier of liferafts, Marine Evacuation Systems (MES) and offshore rental PPE, to create a winch solution for its liferafts.
Cliff Warne, BCAS Executive Director explores the importance of compressed air system design to ensure energy performance is optimised, highlighting the various options available to calculate the annual running cost of an air compressor, while also advising on how best to design an energy-saving system
The British Compressed Air Society (BCAS) has appointed Cliff Warne as Executive Director.
The Pressure Systems Safety Regulations (S.I. 2000 No 128) (PSSR) relate to pressure systems for use at work and the risk to health and safety. Vanda Jones, Executive Director at the British Compressed Air Society (BCAS) outlines the responsibilities as an owner or operator
The Government’s new Energy Bill Relief Scheme, which came into effect on the 1st of October - is encouraging compressed air users to act now to minimise their compressed air energy consumption for the long-term through a series of low-cost measures. PWE reports.
As energy prices continue to soar across Europe, operators may be tempted to delay the recommended maintenance intervals and routine service on compressed air systems in order to save cost. However, this can be an expensive mistake says Gary Spence, Service Operations Leader from CompAir
The British Compressed Air Society (BCAS) has launched a new compressed air installation best practice guide (BPG 101). As one of the only truly impartial guides in the UK, the guide covers ‘installation’ in terms of the collection of equipment and processes within the compressed air system. PWE reports.
Atlas Copco, founded in Stockholm in 1873, has celebrated its 150-year anniversary. During a century and a half, Atlas Copco says it has been driving development and delivering breakthrough innovations to customers in many different industries.
Everybody is talking about digitalisation – and sometimes it is the simplest applications that demonstrate its power to transform. By opening a window to visualise their compressed air energy consumption in real time, production teams are defending against rising costs and achieving operating efficiencies with relatively little effort. PWE spoke to Darren Pratt, Industrial Instrumentation Product Manager for SICK UK.
PWE looks at different blower technologies and how to improve the reliability and efficiency of legacy plants.
Colin Mander, Business Line Director at CompAir, discusses the role that variable speed compressors can play in helping businesses to reduce their electricity consumption. Indeed, every kWh in electricity saved now, will contribute to even greater savings with the current and unprecedented increase in electrical costs.
Paul Clark - Business Line Manager - CTS Sales and Marketing, Atlas Copco, explains how compressed air systems health checks and energy audits carried out in an industrial environment can reduce costs, improve environmental performance, and help deliver energy efficiency improvements.
Which Standards have an impact on your business as an end-user? BCAS reports.
The British Compressed Air Society (BCAS) is urging food producers to consider the benefits of onsite nitrogen generation, to help mitigate the risk of CO2 gas shortages in the future. PWE reports
Typically, a fifth of UK industry’s electricity bill is attributed to the production of compressed air, but it is a sobering fact that a substantial portion of the generated power dedicated to its production is energy wasted. So how is a VSD compressor different from a conventional fixedspeed unit? PWE reports
Roy Brooks, technical development officer for the British Compressed Air Society (BCAS) outlines some of the latest advice in working safely with compressed air.
Lentus Composites (Lentus), manufacturer of composite products, assemblies and systems, has benefitted from a bespoke compressed air solution from CompAir, which is expected to cut the business’ compressor maintenance costs by 80%.
Compressed air accounts for a significant part of total energy costs for industrial manufacturers - typically about 12% and may be as high as 40% in some facilities. This means that any compressed air energy savings that are achieved will have a big impact on a factory’s total energy consumption and CO2 emissions. PWE reports
PWE takes a look at how to select the right blower technology for industrial effluent treatment plants.
Contrary to what some might think, compressed air is not free. In fact, for what it takes to produce it, to what is generated it is often considered the most expensive utility in a typical manufacturing facility. Air Compressor experts have also estimated that as much as 30% of the compressed air generated is lost via leaks in the compressed air system.
The British Compressed Air Society (BCAS) is reiterating its advice to compressed air users to adhere to air treatment best practice during the Coronavirus pandemic. PWE reports.
Social responsibility is forcing manufacturers to find new ways of reducing their carbon emissions and energy consumption. Obvious steps like the use of low-energy light bulbs and automated heating offer some immediate carbon savings. But even once these steps are taken, there remains a pressure to reduce further. PWE reports.
Compressed air has critical roles to play in brewing operations but poses a major threat if it becomes contaminated. PWE reports
Optimising a compressed air system’s performance is not just about the compressor unit. Where it is installed and how the associated infrastructure is designed also has an impact on a system’s energy efficiency, how quickly a business will see a return on its capital investment, and in some cases, even its ability to comply with environmental controls. Martin Chitty, business development manager at Mattei UK, explains how to choose a suitable site to install a compressor.
Central controllers are the backbone of an optimised compressor installation, managing the whole compressor room, matching the air supply to demand while offering pressure stability, and contributing significantly to energy efficiency. Ken Revell, business line manager, compressor technique service division, Atlas Copco Compressors UK, says it is a proven fact that a 1bar pressure band reduction can achieve as much as 7% in direct energy cost savings.
BCAS looks at what to consider when improving the compressed air distribution system.
From water, steam and electricity to compressed air, PWE gives a brief history of the factory through the ages and the energy that powered production.
Brian Barnes, business line Manager compressor technique service operations at Atlas Copco, outlines air compressor oil and additive properties and their functions: to seal, cool, clean and reduce wear.
When purchasing new compressors, an increasing number of factory managers are stipulating ‘oil-free’ and ‘class zero’ requirements as part of the specification process. However, research shows that these products can be less energy efficient and cost more to maintain than oil-lubricated equivalents. Andy Jones, managing director at Mattei, considers how oil-free air can best be achieved.
If Industry 4.0 has so much to offer manufacturers, why are so few of them rushing to implement it? Plant & Works Engineering spoke to Carl Sharpe, UK & Ireland sales manager of compressed air specialist BOGE who has some practical, real-life examples to show how its benefits can easily be gained right now.
Andy Jones, managing director at Mattei (pictured), explores how a two-stage sliding vane compressor coupled with the novel intracooling system could present the compressor solution of the future.
What air treatment equipment is recommended for an industrial compressor? Andy Lill, business development manager for Quality Air, Atlas Copco Compressors UK reports.
BEKO Technologies has installed a compressed air desiccant dryer to help reduce energy costs in a dairy. This wholesale dairy concentrates in butter production, butter specialities, convenience products for the end consumer as well as market-oriented products for the catering industry. The dairy is a family owned business and their product comprises of an entire range of modern dairy products: From butter to milk by-products, including cheese, everyone will find something to suit their taste.
Gardner Denver has supplied a leading food packaging machine manufacturer with a solution to help ensure it meets required hygiene and safety standards. PWE reports.
