Uses For An Air Compressor in Business and Industry

Air compressors are a great tool for any business or industry.

You can use air compressors to power pneumatic tools, inflate tires, and more. They are essential to many industrial processes including metal fabrication, woodworking, and construction.

This article will cover the most common uses for air compressors in both business and industry so you know how they can help your company!

Read on to learn about the best uses for an air compressor in your company today!

What Are Air Compressors?

Before we get into the specific uses for air compressors, it’s important to understand how they work and what makes them useful. If you already know this information feel free to skip ahead to another section.

Air compressors convert electricity from a power source like an outlet or turbine into mechanical energy. This compressed air is then stored in a tank or you can use it immediately for hand-powered tools.

The Compressor

A compressor uses a rotating pump to take in air and compress it several times until it creates high pressure, which is what we use for compressed air. These pumps contain up to 16 cylinders with pistons inside that move back and forth to compress the air.

The Tank

The tank on an air compressor holds all the compressed air that comes from the pump. Depending on the size and type of machine, most tanks range in capacity from 0.5 up to 40 gallons and they work like a reservoir to hold the air until you use it.

This tank stores compressed air and regulates its pressure through either a piston or diaphragm gauge system. When you turn the machine on, the tank sends the pressurized air into whatever device you’re using with minimal effort on your part. It then turns off when you turn the machine off.

All air tanks come with a pressure dial, which tells you how much air is inside the tank at all times. It usually displays three different numbers: the fill line, the operating line, and the cut-in/cut-out line.

See related: Portable diesel air compressor

What Are The Types of Air Compressors?

There are three different types of air compressors. They are commonly used by machines in business and industry: the oil-less single-stage compressor, two-stage compressor, and rotary screw air compressor.

Each machine has its own set of benefits so it’s important to know the differences before you buy one.

Oil-Less Single Stage Compressor

These types of air compressors are small and lightweight, making them perfect for anywhere from your workshop to a mechanic shop.

They don’t need oil changes or other time-consuming maintenance and they operate in just about any weather condition that doesn’t go below freezing. Yet, they also produce very little pressure and their maximum holding tanks tend to be quite small.

Two-Stage Compressor

These air compressors are a good middle ground between the single-stage compressor options and rotary screw compressors. They produce more compressed air than the oil-less type but don’t need as much effort on your part as the rotary screw compressor.

They’re also slightly larger and heavier, but they do have about twice the holding capacity of an oil-less single-stage compressor.

Rotary Screw Compressor

Are you searching for a used rotary screw air compressor for sale online? Rotary screw compressors are typically favored for commercial or industrial applications due to their longer initial setup time and higher cost. However, they boast unmatched power, featuring holding tanks ranging from 45 to 275 gallons to accommodate varying compressed air requirements. Moreover, they require zero maintenance!

What Are The Different Uses For an Air Compressor?

These are the seven main uses for an air compressor in business and industry:

Air Tools

If you’ve ever used an air tool in the workshop or at a job site, you know how much easier it is to use than similar tools that run on electricity.

This is because they’re lightweight and they don’t need any cords or batteries. Instead, compressed air flows through the hose into the gun where it operates as a small air pump.

You can also use compressed air to power paint guns, grease guns, and brad nailers – things that are usually powered by electricity.

Blasting

For this type of compressed-air tool, you would need an oil-less single-stage compressor because it needs to get the job done fast and doesn’t need much holding power.

This type of air compressor is commonly used to remove dirt, grime, and loose paint off the side of a building or other structure.

Spraying

Spraying requires compressed air that can be set to different pressures for different spray jobs, so you’d need either an oil-less single-stage compressor with many pressure settings or a two-stage compressor.

The most common use for compressed air sprayers is with paint, but you could also use compressed air to remove loose particles, dust, and dirt in places like out behind your business or on the factory floor – without worrying about damaging any of the equipment.

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Pumping

If you need to pump water or another liquid at a set pressure, an oil-less single-stage compressor with a pressure regulator is the best option.

Inflating: Whether you need to inflate a bouncy house or just have a flat tire that needs some extra air, an oil-less single-stage compressor takes seconds to get the job done. In fact, most oil-less compressors are so easy to use that even young children can handle them.

Breaking

An oil-less single-stage compressor is also useful if you need to break up concrete or other materials to repave your parking lot, for example.

Because it gets the job done fast and doesn’t need much holding power, it’s perfect for breaking large pieces of concrete into pieces small enough to carry away with a wheelbarrow.

HVAC

Even if you don’t have an HVAC system in your building, you probably still need compressed air from time to time for things like inflating, sandblasting, or spraying paint.

For this type of work, a rotary screw compressor is the best choice because it’s designed to produce large amounts of compressed air without sacrificing power.

Learn More About Air Compressors

These will give you a better understanding of the types of compressors available, how they work and just what you need to know to get the best one for your needs.

To learn more about the different uses for an air compressor and how to choose the one that will best suit your needs, contact us today!