Colin Mander, MD of CompAir took up his role as president of the British Compressed Air Society in November 2010. Since then he has been focusing on a number of industry concerns – in particular, the increasing importance of energy reduction and the use of genuine spare parts. Here, he discusses the reasons behind the campaigns and how they are helping to improve efficiencies for compressed air users Energy – always on the agenda It is no surprise that energy reduction continues to be the key driver behind the majority of compressed air system improvements. Whether it’s investing in the latest, high-efficiency compressor technology, upgrading existing machines with a new controller or more effective filtration, installing a heat exchanger or simply carrying out an air audit on an existing network, energy concerns have become the norm.
There are, of course, certain legislative requirements that mean many manufacturers have an obligation to improve their carbon footprint, by investing in new, energy-efficient technologies.
At BCAS, we work closely with the Carbon Trust, helping our members and their customers understand the legislation and the grants or tax incentives available to help fund the installation of new compressors.
BCAS members are able to support manufacturers at every stage of this process, from the initial consultation, through to detailed audits covering air demand, supply and point of use, to establish the best compressed air system for the application.
Our members can also compile predictive energy savings and payback periods from any planned equipment investments and can then go on to assist users in the best way to fund any upgrades, which can often require little or no capital outlay. Many customers are keen to retain their existing compressors and BCAS members can also work with them to improve the efficiency of their network, looking at areas such as the site’s compressed air requirements, including air pressure, power consumption and flow rates.
Spare parts – a genuine concern While energy may be the top consideration, users are equally concerned about compressor maintenance and want to ensure that equipment is serviced properly and performing well.
As a result, many end users are demanding genuine manufacturers’ parts, recognising that non-genuine or ‘pirate’ parts can, over time, have a negative impact on compressor efficiency.
Non-genuine spares and lubricants are generally a cheaper alternative to the manufacturer’s original parts and, when cost is an issue, can appear to be a good purchase. However, they can be made of inferior materials and in the worst cases, can fail shortly after the running-in stage.
As well as a shorter operational life and the associated issues of compressor downtime, the wrong spare part can, in some cases, cause real damage to the compressor, ultimately meaning the machine can fail completely. This won’t just result in an expensive repair bill, but will affect productivity with unscheduled machine downtime.
We are finding that more and more end users are looking for the security and expertise that comes with using a BCAS member. Through our AirSAFE registration scheme, customers are able to read reviews about our members from their industry peers and find a recommended compressed air distributor local to their business.
The system enables customers to make an informed decision on which compressed air supplier to select, based not just on locality or price, but on important factors such as reliability of service, technical expertise, helpfulness and environmental diligence.