The following is taken from the article, Buying Tips: Air Compressors, published in BodyShop Business magazine’s October issue. The article features contributions from a variety of air compressor manufacturers, including Atlas Copco. Here are some of our suggestions for what to look when purchasing an air compressor for a collision repair facility.
Oil-free air is a smart option for achieving a high-quality finish.
When purchasing a new air compressor for your collision repair facility, consider whether the compressor delivers100 percent oil-free compressed air. The presence of oil in compressed air prevents the adhesion of the paint to the car surface and causes beading, which can negatively affect the quality of the finish, resulting in fisheyes and other imperfections. Only ISO 8573-1-certified class zero oil-free compressors provide clean, 100 percent oil-free air, virtually eliminating any risk of oil contamination.
Silicones in water-based paints result in imperfections.
The use of water-based paints continues to increase for spray painting applications. Unfortunately, water-based paints are extremely sensitive to the presence of silicones. Silicones in the assembly lubricating oils will migrate into the compressed air stream, creating imperfections in the paint finish. Filters that are designed to guarantee 100 percent silicone-free air greatly reduce the risk of craters and other imperfections from forming in the finish.
Isn’t oil-free air more expensive?
Oil-free air isn’t more expensive if you look at the total life cycle cost of the compressor. Oil-free air technology can reduce expenditures by eliminating the need for expensive filter replacements; cutting maintenance costs and the costs of treating oily condensate; and eliminating unnecessary energy costs resulting from filter pressure drops. And, because oil-free air completely eliminates the risk of contamination, it also reduces the chance of production downtime and damaged products.
Though not always apparent at the time of purchase, ongoing maintenance and operational costs can be high and can contribute substantially to the overall cost of the compressor. Whatever you can do to reduce these costs from the beginning will benefit your facility in the long-run.
The Bottom Line
Look for air compressors that ensure the highest quality air possible. The benefits of working with high quality air results in increased productivity and cost savings for collision repair facilities. You can read the entire article by visiting the BodyShop Business website: Buying Tips: Air Compressors.
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