Did you know that industrial air compressors are one of the fastest-growing markets today? And for good reason!
They’re becoming more widespread as their ease of use and functionality grow. When it comes to having the complete toolkit necessary, you can’t do better than an industrial air compressor.
At an industrial scale, being able to save warehouse space with a single machine that facilitates a wide array of jobs is a no-brainer.
An industrial air compressor is the swiss-army knife of enabling on-site toolkits when it comes to your compressed air needs.
Keep reading, I’ll convince you!
Table of Contents
What is an Industrial Air Compressor?
It’s exactly what it sounds like, no surprises there. Take a normal run-of-the-mill garden shed air compressor and scale its power ratings up. There you have it. They’re already ubiquitous in use for a range of DIY and home business applications. Chances are you even own one yourself!
When it comes to industry, the requirements each air compressor will have to meet for each job are going to vary widely and precisely. There’s no room for cutting corners, especially when you’re investing money in a machine you expect to be a valuable asset for years to come.
Compressed air and its use is a marvel of engineering. For one thing, the air is free and its acquisition is straightforward. It leaves no residue in pipes or reservoirs. It’s easily directed. It isn’t flammable or corrosive, and can store considerable amounts energy.
It’s no wonder why these machines are gaining in popularity with attributes like these.
Uses of Industrial Air Compressors
Why might you consider the purchase of an industrial air compressor yourself? For no singular reason, most probably. Especially since they’re an integral part of so many and varied operations.
Do you work with handheld pneumatic tools? The array of tools that can be hooked up to an air compressor is dizzying. Nail guns, air hammers, impact wrenches, ratchets… the list goes on, all using the simple properties of air displacement.
Spraying paint is a commonly associated application when it comes to compressed air. Air compression enables a constant stream of delivery that is easily adjusted and unreactive with the paint itself. No more brush hairs to worry about picking out of your work, either. A large area of paint can be applied in seconds with fine mist while airbrushing, perfect for industrial spray booths.
Laser cutters and CNC machines are also gaining in popularity. Without compressed air, there wouldn’t be any way to remove unwanted material from contact points while under load. This lessens the accuracy of cuts, shortening the lifespan of the machine and expensive routing bits.
Not to mention the supply of power to conveyor systems and hydraulic machinery.
Air Compressor Types
It will come as no surprise that with all the jobs these machines are expected to improve upon and streamline, there are different types to be found. It’s important to understand which air compressor would be best for your particular needs.
In blanket terms, there are commonly agreed to be three main types of air compressor, each with its select advantage.
Screw compressors operate quietly, have reduced maintenance requirements and high energy efficiency. They’re often relied upon for tasks that take a long time to complete. that can be automated and left to complete over days with the use of an automated variable speed drive.
Scroll compressors excel where cleanliness and extreme quiet is paramount. These are often found in breweries, universities, and hospitals where the coming and going of people is a regular occurrence. The air supplied by a scroll compressor is also completely clean, meaning there’s no need to worry about oil impurities in the air.
Piston compressors are smaller and cheaper than their counterparts. They’re often bought by businesses where space is a valuable commodity. These machines are mostly for industries where constant high pressure isn’t necessary.
See related: Guide to buy a diesel engine compressor.
Owning an Industrial Air Compressor
The purchase of an industrial air compressor allows you to remain competitive. You’ll always have compressed air on-site available whenever you need it. This means you’ll never have to deal with a rental or leasing company, which can be a maze of jargon and hidden costs.
Purchasing outright means building equity on the machine immediately which can’t be done if you’re renting the machine. Your company has complete control over when you get to use the industrial equipment. The addition of modifications becomes possible where it may not be under rental contract agreements.
Ownership means no scheduling conflicts. No more rushing to get a job done before the lease is up or the contract expires, which means continued quality of work and less stress.
Rental units are often less powerful and have a smaller capacity than their constant use static industrial counterparts. When you require heavy use over an extended time, the purchase of a unit to the exact specifications you require will likely save on headaches.
The Choice is Yours
Now you know a little more about the advantages of owning your own industrial air compressor. If you’re on the fence about taking the plunge, hopefully, this article has helped to sway you one way or another!
If you’re curious about how best to look after your industrial air compressor after you’ve bought it, we have an article for that! Check it out here.
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