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 […]
Air Compressors
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 […]
PneuTech introduces line of rugged piston air compressors
PneuTech released its new PF series piston air compressors. Competitively priced and assembled in the USA, PF Series compressors are stocked for quick shipment to distributors and end-users nationwide. The line includes eight models ranging from 5 to 10 hp, with integrated ASME-certified vertical or horizontal air tanks (80 or 120 gallons) to suit a variety […]
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 it’s blow molding bottles or supporting injection molding machines, compressed air drives productivity. But it also represents one of the largest opportunities for efficiency gains — especially when system design and operation push pressure higher than necessary. One […]
Ensuring growth through energy savings with compressed air management
Reducing energy use through compressed air monitoring and management allows you to speed up production and fine-tune efficiency. Energy is expensive, especially compressed air which can be eight times more expensive than electricity, with up to 50% of it being wasted through leaks. Pneumatic machines wear. Systems are often oversized, taking more energy than required. […]
The “dirty thirty” — 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 there’s a part of the system that often gets overlooked — the last 30 feet of piping that connects your machine to the main header. In the industry, some folks call this stretch the “dirty […]
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 […]
