Good practices cut the cost of compressed air

In its first year, Air Compression Technology has already assisted a number of blue chip companies in reducing their compressed air energy and maintenance costs.

Air Compression Technology (ACT) celebrates its first anniversary this month.

Having already assisted a number of blue chip companies in reducing their compressed air energy and maintenance costs, Kevin Course, joint Managing Director, comments on the challenges facing the compressed air user and how ACT can support them in meeting these challenges.

"The economical management of compressed air has never been more important than now, in the wake of the Climate Change Levy (CCL)".

"The impact of this 'tax on energy', another cost to businesses, can be significantly lessened if good energy practices are introduced".

"There are numerous companies who still haven't taken action to reduce their compressed air energy costs".

"More importantly they are not sure how to make the energy savings".

"These companies need to be made aware of the wide-ranging positive impacts that managing their system can have on, reducing the impact of the energy tax, and also on their 'all-up' costs of running a compressed air system.

Air Compression Technology was formed as a specialist to support compressed air users in realising the efficiency that they can bring to their compressed air systems.

"By following a simple approach to energy management we have already assisted many companies in creating energy and maintenance savings related to their compressed air systems", says Course.

"Our simple approach begins with a comprehensive audit that covers all areas, which could be creating energy inefficiencies".

"The qualified and quantified areas of misuse and wastage that are creating excessive and thus unnecessary energy usage are detailed.

Course adds: "We know at this stage of the process that we are quite unique in our market".

"After the audit and report have been completed most consultants walk away".

"However, assisting the customer in implementing these changes and furthermore helping them understand how they can continually create savings to the running of their compressed air system is really where we make the difference".

"After all, energy savings do not end here".

"Remember, the demand for the compressed air will always vary as a company increases or decreases production with their demand.

Such changes affect operational efficiency, which in turn alters the system dynamics and has a direct effect on the current prescribed energy efficiency.

It has been through educating their customers on these nuances that has allowed Air Compression Technology to make a niche and really create continual improvement for their customers.

One customer, in particular, which has been able to improve on already well- established energy efficient practices, is the Cadbury Trebor Bassett Group in the UK.

Tony Spencer, the Group Energy Manager, along with Alister Jones, the Asset Care and BMS Manager, have worked closely with their group site managers with support from ACT, to realise and implement methods that continually keep the compressed air systems on the UK production sites running to an easily manageable and high efficiency standard.

Spencer comments: "ACT has supported us in taking our energy goals to the next level".

"Through further implementing a continual improvement programme ACT continues to provide a supporting role in assisting us to reach and maintain our long-term energy efficient goals.

As an independent compressed air energy specialist, Air Compression Technology now work very closely with the UK Government funded Carbon Trust group Action Energy.

Action Energy forms an integral part of the Government's climate change programme, aimed at meeting the UK's carbon reduction obligations under the Kyoto Agreement.

To assist companies in realising their energy efficiency potential, which in turn supports the UK's overall agreement to reduce carbon emissions, Action Energy offer full or part funded compressed air system assessments (subject to status) to identify and implement energy saving opportunities.

As Course comments: "Creating and maintaining energy efficiency really couldn't be easier".

"Compressed air is one of the easiest technologies within the manufacturing and process industry to achieve true energy saving opportunity - at the lowest cost".

As a registered auditor, ACT can support a business through initial assessment to delivering the tangible benefit.

Uniquely ACT specialises in providing the necessary support to the end user in this area by initially following through audits with a "real time presentation" of the findings.

After carrying out detailed audits it has proved beneficial to both parties to meet and assess the results together before finalising on the best course of action.

Most business managers and engineers know their business needs and how their business works - and surprisingly their areas of inefficiency.

However they usually do not realise how much they know until they "visualise" the detail in the presentation.

This methodology both creates awareness and the opportunity for implementing continual improvement.

The only way to ensure that efficiency is maintained is to permanently adopt some form of policing of the system.

ACT works in partnership with the end user to educate on and implement the correct procedures.

Ultimately, of course, this leads to a complete about turn where the end users are the managers of the compressed air system.

With the support of ACT the end user understands and dictates the requirement for any change and more importantly continues to observe and realise the benefit.

The challenge that compressed air users face is quite basic - use energy efficiently or face a hefty energy bill.

Although achieving this can be quite daunting it is always self-financing, and this is where Air Compression Technology comes into its own.

By using its specialist skills and knowledge the end user will be able to create almost instantaneous energy savings.

And through engaging in a continual dialogue ACT can make sure that these savings are sustainable, verifiable and continuous.

Back to top