Compressed Air Archives

Monthly air compressor maintenance

Written by Tami Matthews on February 6, 2020. Posted in Air compressors, Automotive, Compressed Air, General, Industrial. Leave a Comment

Maximize compressor efficiency and lifespan by performing monthly preventive maintenance checks. Or hire a certified service technician to handle your compressed air system to ensure you’re getting expert support.

Follow these 6 monthly steps to ensure your Kaeser compressed air system is running efficiently and properly.

1) Check belt tension

To make sure that your air compressor will function properly, check that the tension of the belt drives is optimal to avoid slipping and premature wear of the drive belts and pulleys.

2) Check the cooling oil level

Most air compressors require a certain amount of oil circulating throughout their system. If this amount is not enough, the internal temperature will rise, which will ultimately lead to the compressor overheating and shutting down. If the problem is not solved promptly, it will result in premature wear.

3) Cooler: check the filter mat

The filter mat helps to keep the cooler clean. If the filter mats are clogged, inadequate cooling of the components could result

4) Control cabinet: check the filter mat

A filter mat is placed behind every ventilation grille. Filter mats protect the control cabinet from the ingress of dirt. If the filter mats are clogged, clean or replace the filter mats.

5) Check the condensate drain

Condensation is an inevitable result of air compression. If the condensed liquid is not adequately drained off at all collection points, it will cause corrosion that will damage the compressed air system.

6) Log all maintenance tasks completed

Documenting all the maintenance work will determine if there is any deviation from the OEM’s recommendation. Remember: That only qualified and authorized personnel should be allowed to perform any maintenance task.

Elevated can help with preventive maintenance

Some compressors come from Elevated with a warranty, guaranteeing we’ll service your compressor. For others, you’ll need to ensure you get on a maintenance schedule. Luckily, Elevated makes it easy. When we sell you a compressor, we provide a maintenance schedule based on the make and model as well as the environment and runtime expected or experienced on your compressor. Plus, our team is certified.

Compressor life cycle cost

Written by Tami Matthews on January 27, 2020. Posted in Air compressors, Compressed Air, Compressed air systems. Leave a Comment

Many factors go into the total cost of investing in a compressed air system. Focusing on just the upfront expenses can hurt your company and cost thousands. For example, energy usage alone can outpace the initial price of the compressor in just a couple of years. These factors make up the overall return on investment (ROI) you’re getting when you think of budget costs.

Here are 4 categories to consider when thinking about the life cycle cost of your compressed air system. It’s especially important to consider as the purchase price is only a fraction of the overall cost — over the years — of your machine.

Purchase price

The initial cost of the compressor can vary greatly. Larger manufacturers may use more expensive equipment to reduce reliability issues and increase productivity. Getting the right machine for your environment is crucial – the durability needed, correct horsepower, etc. (The right vendor will never give you more horsepower than needed.)

Compressor parts and service

Getting a brand that’s known for its reliability is a good start. Some brands are definitely more durable than others. These high-performance machines will cost you less, generally, in parts and service.

But service is an important component, especially getting service in a timely manner. Vendors who are available 24/7, 365 days a year that you can rely on when you need them is crucial. You also want certified technicians who are experienced with your compressor, no matter the brand.

The most expensive issue comes from not servicing your compressor at all. It can cause additional wear and tear on your compressor, increasing operating costs (more parts and service). Worse, it can also potentially shut down your facility, halting production. (We’ve seen this happen!)

Energy costs

It’s no secret that industrial air compressors consume a lot of energy. Many modern compressors are highly efficient and will produce much more air for less money. Kaeser, for example, is known for its high performance. Considering energy is the largest cost, this should be a primary focus when purchasing a new compressed air system.

The right vendor will help you find ways to save money, even if you’re purchasing the most expensive brand.

Additional factors

Additional factors include load/unload cycle time, air leak losses, non-production operation, system pressure set points, and individual components that can make a difference in the cost of your compressor’s operation.

Elevated is there for the lifecycle of your compressor

Elevated has certified technicians available 24/7. Parts are in stock. We offer ultrasonic leak detections, air audits, and scheduled maintenance to save you time and money. In other words, we work to eliminate any downtime. Let us make recommendations on your compressed air system or service needed.

Custom-engineered air compressor solutions

Written by Tami Matthews on January 3, 2020. Posted in Compressed Air, Compressed Air, Compressed air systems. Leave a Comment

Custom-engineered solutions are designed for the most demanding installations and harshest of environments. These complete systems are exceptionally reliable, simple to maintain, and have superior energy efficiency, no matter what the installation limitations may be. Space, weather, and accessibility constraints are eliminated with reduced construction, installation, and operating costs.

These custom-engineered solutions are completely turnkey, reducing onsite planning and installation costs, which save you time since there is no need to build a new compressor room or add onto an existing building. They can even be built to be moved from one site to another. Every component is selected with your installation and location in mind.

Plan and design

Whether you call it planning, designing, or even engineering, we start by partnering with you to determine what you need. We’ll ask a series of questions based on your environment to start spec-ing out the best solutions, including your enclosure or skid configuration. We’ll use that information to begin designing the necessary wiring, and power distribution to a single service connection.

Then, we add thermostatically controlled inlet louvers and exhaust ducting as well as supplemental heating as needed for reliable operation nearly anywhere on the planet. Based on your system requirement, we select the right compressors to meet your pressure and flow needs and mount them to the floor with vibration isolators. Air treatment comes next and includes dryers, filters, receiver tanks, and condensate management. We have options for every grade of compressed air quality from the shop to the instrument to oil-free and even breathing air.

Prepare and deliver

After that, we run piping throughout the package to a single connection that ties the entire system directly to your plant. To efficiently control air output and remotely monitor the system for preventative maintenance, planning, and troubleshooting we install Kaeser’s Sigma Air Manager 4.0. (SAM 4.0) also constantly measures and reports energy consumption. Your system will give you complete access for maintenance and repair.

Finally, we deliver your customized air system to you.

Don’t worry about site preparation, just provide a level surface capable of holding the weight of the system. Whether you need compressed air, blower, or vacuum systems give us your spec and we’ll deliver a complete system faster than you can budget, plan, permit, and build a new building or expand an existing facility.

Elevate works to design these custom-engineered solutions

We have experts who help design these custom-engineered solutions, working with Kaeser to get them to your location whether you’re in South Carolina, Ohio, or Michigan. We also provide services (such as preventive maintenance and emergency repairs) as well as traditional compressed air systems. When it comes to compressed air systems, we do it all.

common compressed air maintenance mistakes

7 common air compressor maintenance mistakes

Written by Tami Matthews on December 2, 2019. Posted in Air compressors, Compressed Air, Compressed Air, Featured. Leave a Comment

When it comes to your business, compressed air represents a significant operating cost. Between the compressor, system, installation, and maintenance, your compressed air system can cost tens of thousands or hundreds of thousands of dollars (depending on the size of your facility). But did you know you may be wasting money through common air compressor maintenance mistakes?

Mistake 1: not purchasing a cost-efficient, easy-to-maintain machine

A lot of factors go into the entire cost of compressed air systems, not just the initial price of the compressor. These factors include the lifespan of the compressor, maintenance costs, frequency of maintenance, and energy usage. These costs will far outweigh the price of the compressor, so it’s important to purchase a high-quality and reliable compressor that is easy to maintain.

Mistake 2: air leaks

Air leaks, whether you’re ignoring it or don’t know it, can cost you thousands. Your compressed air system will work overtime to keep up with demand, increasing wear and tear on your compressor as well as energy costs. Ensure you do not have air leaks by performing routine leak audits.

Mistake 3: infrequent inspections

Your compressor receives scheduled maintenance, but maintenance may not cover everything that happens to your compressor. Wear and tear, dirt, and broader maintenance needs may be causing your compressor to run longer to meet air demand. (Your expert service technicians should be recommending how often your compressor needs maintenance and other audits based on your environment and runtime.)

By performing inspections, variables such as temperature, humidity, dust, and wear and tear on your compressor will be managed which will improve efficiency.

Mistake 4: compressed air pipe

Certain piping materials can promote contamination, leaks, and pressure drops. Regardless of the material, the pipe will eventually need to be cleaned of debris and eventually replaced. Failure to clear this debris can lead to inefficiencies and additional issues for air tools and your compressor. SmartPipe+ by Kaeser does not promote contamination which increases the lifespan of the piping and system.

Mistake 5: air demand

It is very common for companies to overestimate or underestimate air demand. Often times this underestimation leads to needing new equipment. By performing a demand analysis you’ll able to identify the exact amount of air you need even across different departments. If your equipment has already been purchased and is not meeting demand, oftentimes you do not need to replace your compressor. Upgrading tank size and reducing inefficiencies with an air management system will provide additional air at a lower cost, helping you meet the required demand.

Mistake 6: training staff

At some facilities, machine operators are less experienced and less knowledgeable of the compressed air system than management. Providing additional training to operators will help provide more air at a lower price, help spot maintenance issues before they arise and reduce stress on your compressor.

Mistake 7: data collection

Being able to spot issues early will prevent issues from becoming worse, downtime repairing the machine, and time spent figuring out what went wrong in the first place. Collecting data on your compressed air system with help identify future issues. Once again having well-trained staff and collecting data will help identify potential issues before they get worse.

Elevated doesn’t make maintenance mistakes

Getting Elevated service means you won’t have these common mistakes. Instead, our team of experts will do everything necessary to keep your compressed air system running at peak efficiency. Our team is certified and can train your personnel as well as deliver just about any data you need. Plus, we work with energy companies to save you money. For an air demand analysis (ADA), ultrasonic leak audit, SmartPipe+ information, or maintenance, contact our team. We’d love to help!

Compressed air uses

Written by Tami Matthews on October 19, 2019. Posted in Air compressors, Compressed Air, Compressed air systems, Industrial, Manufacturing, Metalworking, Signage, Woodworking. Leave a Comment

Compressed air is important to many different industries and greatly impacts business. Industries that use compressed air include food and beverage, medical, pharmaceutical, manufacturing, aerospace, amusement parks, HVAC, construction, road and highway work, breweries, energy sectors, dry cleaning, ski resorts, woodworking, automotive, railways, and many others. Without air, many of these industries couldn’t produce safe or satisfying products!

Air – the fourth utility

The popularity of air compressors is largely due to the flexibility of compressed air. Compressed air is so common that it is often considered the fourth utility right after water, electricity, and natural gas. It can be involved in anything and everything because of such a wide range of uses comes to a need for variety.

Different compressor requirements for every business

Not all companies, even within the same industry, have the same needs when it comes to compressed air. Companies need varying sizes and powers. Each business has varying budgets and legal requirements, too. No matter what the horsepower or budget, Elevated Industrial Solutions specializes in providing what you need while reducing energy costs, and effortlessly integrating into your current system.

Why Kaeser Compressors?

If you’re not familiar with Kaeser, the company is considered the gold standard in compressed air. Kaeser has been engineering solutions since 1919, starting with gears for automobiles. They expanded quickly, creating their first compressor in 1948. Since then, the company has grown and expanded to just about every continent. Today, they’ve innovated add-ons and features, such as the Kaeser Sigma Control 2 which enables you to control your entire compressed air system.

Although they may be more expensive in upfront costs, no doubt you’ll save money over the life of your compressor. Typically, these compressors require less significant maintenance to keep them up and running. They’re more efficient, too. It’s why Kaeser machines are considered to have great ROI (return on investment).

Elevated can help get you the right compressor

Elevated Industrial Solutions has supplied Michigan and Ohio with compressed air systems for more than 34 years. Our sales engineers, technicians, and installation experts are certified. We’ll never sell you more power than you need and will always look for ways to save you money on energy. Our goal is to make you more efficient and effective.

Plus, we can provide industrial supplies, coating and finishing equipment, and precision tools for your industrial, construction, or manufacturing company.