When Dana took over as production manager at a packaging plant, she quickly learned that compressed air pressure was a constant source of frustration. Operators often complained about pressure swings, too low during peak demand and too high during quieter shifts. The compressors seemed to be either racing at full throttle or idling wastefully. Energy […]
Air Compressors
Keeping compressed air filters efficient
By Ron Marshall Compressed air filters are often forgotten components in industrial plants, but their role is critical. They not only protect downstream equipment and processes from contaminants but also affect the efficiency of the air compressor system itself. Neglecting filters can lead to poor air quality, rising energy costs, and unnecessary wear on equipment. […]
Do your workers care about compressed air?
By Ron Marshall When Sarah took over as operations manager at a mid-sized food processing plant, she assumed compressed air was just another utility, important, but hardly worth much attention. Her team kept the machines running, and as long as production targets were met, she didn’t think twice about it. But when a compressed air […]
How an air receiver transformed a plant
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 didn’t have power cables, flashing lights, or gauges that demanded […]
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 — 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 — fix or replace?
By Ron Marshall When the main compressor at Bill’s 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 […]
What’s 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 […]
Critical maintenance tips for compressed air in mining
Contributed by Dave Henning, Sales Manager, MCE Automation If you’ve ever found yourself stuck by the side of the road kicking yourself for putting off some crucial bit of auto maintenance, then you know firsthand that an unscheduled breakdown can be dramatically more inconvenient and costly than whatever you were putting off. When it comes […]
