There is no denying that compressed air is a valuable resource for industrial applications. Whether you brew beer, manufacture paper, produce semiconductors, develop pharmaceuticals or treat oil and gas, compressed air plays a crucial role. So what is its real value? We’ve put together a list of fac

The American Society of Mechanical Engineer’s (ASME) Turbo Expo has been taking place for more than 60 years. This year, it will be held at the Charlotte Convention Center in Charlotte, North Carolina from June 26-30. Atlas Copco is proud to be a sponsor of the five-day conference dedicated to new r

Compressed air is a key component of countless industries and their work flows. For more than 100 years, the Compressed Air & Gas Institute has served air users and professionals with the resources they need to effectively operate their compressed air systems. CAGI is the united voice of the com

Automotive paint and body shops use compressed air in nearly every step of the automotive body repair process. Including various sanding steps (rough to wet finishing), multiple paint applications, (primer coats, base coats and finishing clear coats) and they all consume compressed air. As a result,

While it may be easier to go with the flow and assume your compressor is sized correctly, to ensure it is at the top of its game you need to build a flow profile. A flow profile measures your flow (CFM) usage and illustrates how much flow your machinery should be using. Often, pressure (PSI) is meas

Abrasive blasting is a process where various media (depending on the application) is shot against a surface to change its texture. Abrasive blasting may roughen or smooth a surface as well as remove corrosion.  The abrasives in this application are typically propelled by compressed air, so choo

Mining operations work round the clock in conditions that require sturdy equipment. The mining environment can be harsh and pace of work unrelenting, so reliable machines are a must. Drills, loaders, haul trucks and every other piece of equipment needs to be ready to operate at any time, and the sam

Innovation rarely happens in isolation. It’s a collaborative process driven by reevaluating current assumptions, questioning established practices and examining possibilities through a fresh perspective. Similarly, some of the greatest innovators rarely limit themselves to one particular field of re

When it comes to different technologies for industrial vacuum applications, none have been around as long as liquid ring. Originally developed at the turn of the 20th century, this relatively unchanged technology is still a common product used today. How does a liquid ring pump work? The principle

When teachers at St. Michaels Association for Special Education (SMASE) turn on taps, what comes out scarcely resembles water. The odorous liquid is dense with cloudy particulates, coloring it yellow, brown and even black. “Our water looks like black, like ink from the octopus,” said Brianna Tsosie,

Ah, summer. Warm weather, sunshine and dehydration? While the summer months can be great, there are safety precautions that should come with the rising temperatures, especially if you’re working with air compressors. Heat illness can happen to anyone as a result of environmental or personal risk fac

Whats the first thing that comes to mind when you hear the word horsepower? The superpower to transform into a horse? The ability to communicate telepathically with your pony pals? None of the above? Fair enough. If you’re like most people, you immediately think of a car engine or other machine, and

Axial compressors are a type of dynamic compressor. Unlike displacement compressors, dynamic compressors work under constant pressure and are affected by changes in external conditions such as inlet temperature. As the name suggests, these compressors have an axial flow; the air or gas passes along

Ask Atlas Copco is a segment that discusses commonly asked questions about various compressor, vacuum, and blower technologies, processes and best practices. Today’s answer comes from Deepak Vetal, oil-free product manager.  Last week, we talked about the history of the horsepower rating. The

Steve Bruno, an expert on variable speed drive (VSD) and oil-free compressors for Atlas Copco, is a speaker during this month’s Expert Webinar Series hosted by Compressed Air Best Practices on Thursday, March 30. Bruno’s presentation, titled “Proper Sizing of VSD Compressors,” will share techniques

If you’re lucky, you don’t think about water. You don’t consider where you’ll get your next drink. You don’t trek miles to find water for cooking and bathing. You don’t worry that the water you do get will make you sick. If you’re lucky, clean water is in your shower, your kitchen sink, your drinkin

The following is an excerpt from the article Air = Money by Bob Baker, Atlas Copco Industrial Air Division in the U.S. The full version can be read online or in the March issue of Plant Engineering. Compressed air is not free. In fact, when comparing the percentage of power input to value deliv

On Thursday, March 30, Compressed Air Best Practices hosted another installment of their Expert Webinar Series featuring presentations on variable speed drive (VSD) application from industry experts, including Atlas Copco’s Steve Bruno and Compression Engineering Corporation’s Tim Dugan. Bruno discu

Compressed air quality is a serious matter. Depending on your end use or application, any particulates, vapors or aerosols present may damage your products or equipment. Because of this, operators install filters to remove particulates and aerosols and dryers to remove excess moisture. But sometimes

As the saying goes, April showers bring May flowers, but they can also bring something else: excess moisture. The rising temperatures signal an increase in humidity, and that can spell trouble for compressors. When relative humidity passes the 50 percent threshold, corrosion can occur in compressed