Switch to Direct Drive Air Compressor System Increases Production Time by 30-40%.
Improved reliability during 12-hour shifts keeps woodworking tools humming to increase production of doors, moldings, stair parts and more.
(PRWEB) May 24, 2005 -- When the challenge for any successful manufacturer is
keeping up with demand, all industrial equipment must operate at maximum
potential in order to capitalize fully on sales opportunities. For this reason,
plant engineers and operations managers within the burgeoning wood-products
industry are increasingly turning to direct-drive electric air
compressors to power their tools for longer durations with greater
reliability.
Such is the case for Bayer Built Woodworks, Inc. of
Belgrade, Minnesota a 2-step manufacturer and distributor of millwork, selling
to almost 900 building-product retailers in six states. The company's wood
offerings include pre-hung interior and exterior doors, wood moldings, stair
parts, architectural columns and shelving, as well as storage and entry
systems.
"Our building processes are automated, and we have an air
compressor on each of four separate production lines to supply the air cylinders
that position woodworking tools such as routers and saws" says Cory Bayer,
maintenance team leader. "We also use air to power our staplers and nail guns,
and we have a 40-horsepower compressor that runs the paint spray guns and air
sanders in the pre-finish shop."
Yet, this high demand for air finally
overtaxed the factory's existing compressors.
"We used to use regular
piston compressors when our volume was less, so it didn't matter that they could
only run 60-70% of the time," recalls Bayer. "But as our business grew we needed
an air
compressor system that would run all the time, for up to 12 hours a day. So
we switched over to the Sullivan-Palatek screw-type compressors because they are
more heavy duty and reliable enough to run the long hours that we
needed."
Sullivan-Palatek, of Michigan City, Indiana, manufacturers a
line of direct-drive rotary-screw air compressor systems that allow woodworking
industries to profit from greater reliability and energy savings in their
pressurized-air operations. The increased reliability of this design stems from
the use of larger air-end assemblies, which results in slower turning rotors
that yield extended service life and higher pressure using lower horsepower.
Extra efficiency results from use of a direct-drive rotary screw that eliminates
unnecessary moving parts such as belts, gears and pulleys—thus reducing the
parasitic losses attributed to belts (4-8% loss) and gears (3-5%).
“I
can't remember when we've ever had a Sullivan-Palatek unit break down," notes
Bayer. "I would definitely recommend the use of these direct drive compressors
to other woodworking operations."
Established in 1984, Sullivan-Palatek
manufactures industrial equipment such as electric and diesel driven high
performance rotary screw air compressors, along with a
complete line of accessory items that include air dryers, filters, remediation
systems and construction air tools.
# # #
Source : http://www.prweb.com/releases/2005/5/prweb243988.htm