The problem lies with the running cost or energy consumption of an old compressor, matched against the cost of a new one that has all the latest energy-saving features.
The savings that a company can make by updating its compressor are considerable and Thorite, the UK distributor of compressed air products and systems, is proficient at showing factory owners just how significant these savings can be.
Towards the end of last year, Thorite key account manager, Steve Bradbury, visited Selby based Service Timber Ltd and offered to data-log their two aging fixed speed compressors; an 11kW Hydrovane and a 15kW HPC model.
Service Timber is one of the largest timber component suppliers in the North of England with a wide range of customers who rely on a dependable supply of high-grade timber and the two compressors are used to power all the timber preparation equipment and are in almost constant use.
By data-logging Service Timber's air compressors, Bradbury quickly established their air demand profile, showing that by replacing the two existing compressors with one new variable speed compressor, considerable savings could be made.
Quite how much was amazing. A new 30 kW Hydrovane variable speed rotary vane type compressor was installed last November and is set to save Service Timber over £2000 per year.
