As the economy has improved, the demand for manufactured goods has increased. For one Connecticut-based precision manufacturing company, a better economy means more planes in the sky and a higher demand for their products. This contract machining company serves the aerospace industry by producing precision components, such as parts for fuel and environmental control assemblies, to OEM specifications.
The Need for Variable Speed Drive Technology
Because production runs can vary from 10 pieces to 10,000, the company’s compressed air needs also vary according to the kind of products the company is manufacturing. With variable speed drive (VSD) technology, compressed air output adjusts automatically to match the air demand, and sets itself on standby when demand drops off. For this manufacturing company, VSD technology means no one has to be at the facility to monitor the machines during overnight jobs.
When the company moved from a 15,000 to 40,000 sq.-ft. facility to expand operations, they decided to take a closer look at their compressed air system for energy efficiency upgrades. They selected an Atlas Copco GA 30 VSD FF, a 40 horsepower variable speed drive rotary screw compressor that includes includes a refrigerated air dryer and a compressed air filter integrated into one compact cabinet. Because the compressor is so quiet, the machine was installed directly on the shop floor.
Energy Rebate Saves 40 Percent on Capital Investment
The investment in new compressed air technology offered benefits beyond eliminating the need for a separate compressor room. The new compressor requires less maintenance and is much more energy efficient than the older machine, reducing the overall lifecycle cost of the investment. To help with the initial capital cost, an energy efficiency rebate from Connecticut Light and Power saved the company about 40 percent.
Other energy efficiency projects included more efficient lighting, energy recovery (a process that captures the heat byproduct from compressed air and reuses it in other plant applications) and a modular compressed air piping system that can be easily reconfigured as the company’s manufacturing needs change.
With the compressed air system at the ready, this New England-based manufacturing company is confident they can meet the ever-growing needs of their customers in the aerospace industry for years to come.
Start Saving Energy Today
It’s easy to get started on the pathway to energy savings through utility company rebates. Contact us by filling out the Request a Quote form and an Atlas Copco representative will help you identify your potential savings.
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