Manager in Compressor Division.

Atlas Copco Ireland has announced the appointment of Tom Van Gaal as Business Line Manager for its Compressor Technique Service division.

Tom Van Gaal

After four years in the role of Technical Support Specialist in the Atlas Copco Airpower factory in Belgium from 2012 to 2016, and a brief spell as operational analyst with Atlas Copco Argentina in 2014, Van Gaal occupied the post of Global Process Engineer at the service division headquarters in Antwerp (B). Tom carries an MSc degree in Mechanical Engineering and Applied Economics. With all this, he brings a broad range of academic, operational, process and product development experience and skills to the role.

Commenting on his appointment, Tom Van Gaal said: “After six years in Belgium, where I worked on ensuring the continuous improvement of our products and processes, I am very much looking forward to working directly with our customers, in Ireland. My goal is to further strengthen Atlas Copco’s aftermarket business and actively contribute to the sustainable and profitable growth of the company and that of its customers.”

Tom’s focus will be to combine the existing operational experience of the team in Dublin with Atlas Copco’s new state-of-the-art ERP and CRM solutions, in order to deliver on the company’s promise of offering reliable and innovative services, along with the aim of maintaining and increasing their customer’s productivity.

Van Gaal believes that in tandem with rapidly evolving technological developments, which have improved the efficiency and performance of Atlas Copco’ equipment, it is equally vital to maintain investments in the competence of the company’s team.

“I intend to place great emphasis on continuous training of all our staff, to live up to our customer’s expectations of having the most skilled and knowledgeable service workforce available to them, 24/7."

In his leisure time Van Gaal is an active sports enthusiast and both played and coached soccer in Belgium. He is equally keen on rock climbing, golf and snooker, and is developing an interest in GAA Irish sports and rugby. He enjoys travelling and is looking forward to exploring the beauty of the Irish countryside, not to mention his forthcoming marriage later this year.

• See also New HQ opens in Dublin's pharma district. (7/3/2018)

@AtlasCopcoUKIRE  #PAuto #Ireland  @AtlasCopcoGroup

New HQ opens in Dublin's pharma district.

Atlas Copco Ireland has officially opened its new state-of-the-art headquarters in Dublin. The building is an ample 560 m2 in size and will be the permanent new workplace for the company’s 32 local employees. The move provides a wide range of benefits, including excellent transport links, an open-plan office area to enable staff to communicate and work more effectively; as well as a large purpose-built workshop and warehouse area that ensures customer requirements are met efficiently.

Micheál McGuinness - Country Manager for 

Compressor Technique and Anna Brand,

The Swedish Ambassador to Ireland.

The grand opening of the building, which is located in the heart of West Dublin’s Pharmaceutical district, took place on 26th January and was host to The Swedish Ambassador to Ireland, Her Excellency Anna Brandt, and to Market Area Director at Business Sweden, Gustaf Bergström.

The special guests were hosted by senior spokespeople from the global Atlas Copco Group, which is the world’s leading provider of sustainable productivity solutions. This included Andrew Walker – President of the Atlas Copco Power Technique business area, Alain De Dauw - Vice President of Human Resources for the Atlas Copco Oil Free Air division and Alexander Pavlov - Former Country Manager for Atlas Copco Ireland and current General Manager for Atlas Copco Compressor Technique in the United Kingdom. This was in addition to all of the management and staff who will be situated at the office in Dublin.

The advantages to be gained from the move will play strongly into the company’s customer focussed vision, as Micheál McGuinness, Country Manager for Compressor Technique at Atlas Copco Ireland commented: “We would like to take this opportunity to thank all of our customers, past and present, for their custom over the years and look forward to welcoming them to our new head office in Dublin. Our mission is to help customers protect their investment in high quality machinery, avoid unexpected situations and increase uptime – a goal we feel we are expertly placed to fulfil even more effectively from our new premises.”

210 m2 of Atlas Copco Ireland’s Head Office is dedicated to a large workshop and warehouse area. The purpose-built workshop facility provides a safe working environment for service technicians and contains state-of-the-art power tools and lifting equipment to ensure quick turnaround times when performing maintenance and overhauls of major pieces of customer equipment; such as compressor blocks, industrial air elements and gear box assemblies.

Meanwhile, the warehouse area contains a generous amount of racking space to store equipment, together with an improved flow of parts inventory to further ensure Atlas Copco Ireland is able to provide the best possible lead and service times for customers and maintain its position as a market leader.

Atlas Copco Ireland foresees many aspects of its new headquarters that will offer benefits for both staff members and customers alike. For instance, the building’s convenient proximity to the M50 motorway will ensure that deliveries are more efficient and travel is easier for anybody visiting the company’s head office.

In addition to the external benefits of the location, the newly overhauled open plan office enables team members to fully embrace an activity based working style; which has been shown to lend itself to easier communication and increased productivity.

The opening ceremony was attended by all of the Atlas Copco management and staff 

who will be situated at the office in Dublin. (Click to enlarge)

@AtlasCopcoUKIRE #PAuto #Ireland #Sweden

Flange management!

Atlas Copco Bolt Tightening Solutions has launched an innovative flange management system. The iFMS is a modular, software-based management system designed for planning, data capture, analysis and reporting of activities related to the inspection, maintenance and testing of bolted joints and pipework.

The iFMS has been developed for operators wishing to manage assets throughout construction, commissioning, shutdown, turnarounds and routine maintenance. Packed full of features and benefits, the iFMS is intuitive to use and comes complete with a unique, intrinsically safe hand-held tablet that can be used in the field to gather and report information that is automatically uploaded to the system.

The software contains an established database of flange, connector and gasket types, as well as bolt materials and can incorporate the torque and tension tool details from any supplier. Flexible import routines allow data import from a variety of formats and applications and the system can be customized to capture any data and generate additional service line work-packs. The drawing module allows PDF-based ISOs and P&IDs to be marked up to support flange management and leak testing instructions, procedures and activities and the drawings and work-packs can be copied and edited and mark-ups can be retained to facilitate the rapid generation of packs.

System generated leak test packs are based on HSE ‘Safety requirements for pressure testing – Guidance Note GS4’ and the Flange Management Information capture and reporting is in line with the Energy Institute’s ‘Guidelines for the management of integrity of bolted joints for pressurized systems’.

With project managers in mind, the software has built in tools to monitor project progress as well as anomaly tracking and customizable reports and outputs. Real time data capture enables a detailed and accurate audit trail as well as eliminating the time and errors associated with re-keying data.

The iFMS is easily tailored to support additional service lines so can be used as a single tool to support all main business operations

In field trials, the new iFMS has been used to drive major new-build, upgrade and shutdown projects globally.

Celebrating 50 years in Ireland!

Atlas Copco Compressors in Ireland rounded off its 50th anniversary year with a celebration for current and former staff members, associates and special guests at the Guinness Storehouse in Dublin. The company’s newly-appointed Country Manager, Alexander Pavlov hosted a gala lunch and introduced a series of stories and photographs charting 50 years of growth.

Reflecting on a 12-month of programme of celebratory events and activities, Alexander Pavlov said: “The past year has been an excellent opportunity to highlight the integral role Atlas Copco Compressors has played in Ireland’s industrial community, serving major players in the manufacturing, pharmaceutical, electronics and food sectors. However, as well as looking back, it is also a time to look forward. Considerable investment has been made in Atlas Copco’s Ireland operation during the past couple of years alone and we are now building an even stronger presence, with economic indications suggesting a bright future lies ahead.”

Commemorative activities during 2015 included a staff trip to the Mondello Park racing circuit and customer receptions at major rugby and football events.

As the largest supplier of compressed air products and services in Ireland, Atlas Copco has more than 30 technical sales, service and support staff at facilities in Dublin, Cork and Lisburn, including a fully-equipped compressor engineering workshop.

A positive year of trading was assisted in the west of the country by the appointment of Galway-based C&L Industrial Ltd as a distributor for industrial air compressors and spare parts.

Demand for equipment such as the GA VSD+ range of compressors, which reduce energy consumption by as much as 50 per cent compared with their more traditional fixed-speed counterparts, suggests that efficient production is high on the agenda of industrial companies in Ireland. Additionally, the ZS range of screw blowers, which assist in aeration processes, have been well received by industrial and municipal waste water plants.

Guests at the final 50th anniversary gala of the year included Andrew Walker, former Country Manager for Atlas Copco in Ireland and current President of the Construction Technique business area. Also in attendance was Dirk Ville, General Manager of Atlas Copco Compressors in Britain, and Alex Bongaerts, the Antwerp-based Vice-President of Atlas Copco Holdings in the Benelux countries, France, Great Britain and Ireland. Other guests included employees from Edwards, the vacuum business that Atlas Copco acquired in 2013.

Appointment to strengthen compressor business in Ireland.

Alexander Pavlov has been appointed as Country Manager for Atlas Copco's Compressor Technique business in Ireland. In this new role, he will continue the implementation of an aggressive strategy to strengthen the position of Atlas Copco as a market leader in Ireland.

Alexander Pavlov

Pavlov states his mission as: “To make sure we grow even stronger than the local economy in Ireland, meaning that we gain market share in the segments where we have not traditionally performed. In the last couple of years, Atlas Copco has invested a lot in the Ireland organisation, especially in the sales and marketing team. Now we have a much stronger presence in the industrial market and the economic indicators are positive.”

These last two factors, plus a number of new compressed air, industrial gas and rough vacuum products, including the recently launched GHS VSD+ vacuum pump that offers average energy savings of up to 50%, makes Atlas Copco Compressors’ Irish sales organisation well-armed to focus exclusively on growth. As Pavlov explains: “All of our products and services have one property in common, which is that they offer customers sustainable productivity. On top of that we have greatly improved our operational efficiency following the recent implementation of new state-of-the-art ERP and CRM systems.”

The aftermarket business is one of Pavlov’s main focus areas. Atlas Copco’s local organisation in Ireland has a highly experienced service team and operates advanced planning systems, which allows it to exceed customer expectations when providing service and supporting uninterrupted customer productivity and energy efficiency. “Our strategy is to convince more customers to subscribe to a service contract with Atlas Copco, which will enable them to keep maintenance costs at a stable and predictable level, avoiding any unexpected situations,” commented Pavlov.

Pavlov’s first impressions of the team in Ireland were very positive. He says, “I am very impressed with the team of 31 people we have in Ireland. We have a great mix of experienced mature colleagues and young high potentials. It's a great pleasure and honour joining such a team.”

Pavlov is a Belgian citizen. He graduated as a software engineer in St Petersburg Technical University and then worked in the Alcatel group, prior to joining Atlas Copco in Antwerp in 2003. He held the positions of Information Systems Project Manager and Product Marketing Manager, and for the last four years has been working as Regional Business Line Manager for Compressor Technique for South East Europe, based in Greece.

Outside of work, Pavlov dedicates most of his time to his family, with three sons aged between 4 and 16. He follows many sports with a particular interest in football, and also likes history, classical rock music, and playing guitar in his spare time.

Air compressors & quality air products for Ireland.

C&L Industrial Ltd, based in Galway and Dublin (IRL), has been appointed as an authorised premier distributor for Atlas Copco's range of industrial air compressors, quality air products and spare parts.

“This new appointment complements our established sales network in Ireland, through which we continue to provide valuable compressed air solutions to industrial users in the country. C&L share the same values as Atlas Copco and as such, make the ideal partner to help us take our business forward" said Sean Fairest, Atlas Copco’s Country Manager-Compressor Technique.

LtoR:Sean Fairest, Atlas Copco, 

Colum Whelan, C&L Industrial, 

Tom Dowling, Atlas Copco

C&L Industrial’s appointment as an Atlas Copco premier distributor gives the company access to the range of GX and GA rotary compressors, including variable speed drive models, SF scrolls and L range of reciprocating compressors, with the addition of N2 nitrogen generators. C&L will also distribute Atlas Copco’s comprehensive range of air purification accessories, including dryers, filters and oil-water separators, as well as genuine Atlas Copco spare parts.

C&L was founded in 1998 as a compressor sales, service and repair organisation by Managing Director Colum Whelan, who heads a strong family-orientated team of four senior sales specialists and employs a staff of eight, comprising service engineers and administration personnel that have been in the compressed air business for most of their careers.

According to Colum Whelan the company has built on that foundation and with access to Atlas Copco’s technical knowledge and support, plus the Industrial Air range of compressors, ancillaries, service plans and parts, now represents one of the leading compressed air houses in the Republic of Ireland: “C&L’s continued growth stems from our focus on customer efficiency and productivity. Our aim is to help them achieve these results through improved performance and equipment reliability as well as reduced installation, running and maintenance costs.”

The total service support available from C&L Industrial includes design, installation, consultancy, compressed air equipment servicing, repairs, maintenance, on-site workshop facility, hire schemes and energy management, together with audits and testing of compressed air systems.

Energy recovery units!

Atlas Copco has announced a complete re-design of the stand-alone, retrofit energy recovery units for its GA compressors. The new ER range now offers improved performance and a smaller footprint.

As much as 94% of the electrical energy used by industrial compressors is converted into heat and lost through radiation in the compression process. The remaining 6% is converted into compressed air heat losses. The new ER units recover up to 94% of this thermal energy to heat water up to 90°C for a number of process and domestic applications such as showers or central heating.

The ability for application industries to generate pre-heated water via Atlas Copco’s ER energy recovery systems helps reduce the costs of traditional energy sources and minimise the environmental impact of their CO2 emissions.

Development of the new ER concept was driven by market needs. The more compact design recognises the space limitations of point-of-use sites and compressor rooms. There is also a broader selection of models, including twin cooler versions, and optional provision for an energy savings counter. The units are designed to deliver the best possible performance at a competitive price and, depending on system conditions, a full return on investment is often achievable within 12 months.

The fully pre-assembled, plug-and-play range comprises three single cooler models: ER S1, S2 and S3 and two twin-cooler versions, ER S4 and S5, specifically designed for optimum oil pressure and flow through the unit. All of the Atlas Copco ER units’ mechanical parts are pre-mounted within the canopy to reduce commissioning time, simplify maintenance and to minimise the risk of incorrect connections.

The ER heat exchangers are now vertically configured to reduce unit footprints; compared with previous models, the single cooler version’s floor space dimensions are now reduced by 66% and those of the twin-cooler model by 33%. The units are offered with the option of complete, corrosion-free stainless steel construction, for applications where water purity is critical, or as a lower-priced stainless steel plate, copper brazed alternative, which provides a lower price alternative for non-critical water applications.

All ER units are provided with temperature sensors for ER water inlet and outlet temperature levels, these conditions can be displayed on the compressor Elektronikon controller or the ER unit energy saving counter, if fitted. Additionally, the SMARTLINK remote monitoring system allows users to continuously monitor and analyse these and other compressor conditions via an online portal. This feature allows easy creation of energy saving reports for ISO50001, ISO14001 and ESOS accreditation.

A 3m connection kit is supplied as standard while extension kits of up to 6m are available as an option. In addition, there is an energy counter module – factory-fitted or available as field sales kit – that monitors energy saving data.

Product marketing engineer to focus on wastewater treatment!

Atlas Copco Compressors has announced the appointment of Adriana Restrepo as Product Marketing Engineer for Low Pressure within its Oil-Free Air division in Britain. Commenting on her new role, Adriana said: “My goal is to apply my technical knowledge to help expand Atlas Copco’s share of the blower market in the UK. I’m looking forward to promoting our energy efficient ZS blowers within the water and wastewater industry and I also see opportunities to raise awareness among industrial companies of how this innovative technology can be used in other applications such as pneumatic conveying. It’s exciting to be able to come to market with a low pressure blower offering that offers tangible process improvements and energy savings to a wide variety of customers.”

Adriana Restrepo

Adriana began her engineering career as a supply chain operations intern with Procter & Gamble in Italy, before a period as an operations analyst for Accenture in Colombia. Her next career move saw Adriana progress from project management through to applications engineering and, finally, product marketing engineering, with Texas-based Houston Service Industries (HSi), a leading manufacturer of centrifugal turbo blowers and control systems, which was acquired by Atlas Copco in 2012.

She is a graduate in Production Engineering from Universidad Simon Bolivar in Venezuela, which included an exchange year at the Politecnico di Milano in Italy.

In her new role in Britain, Adriana will focus on supporting wastewater treatment process operators within the municipal and industrial markets, as well as maximising sales opportunities for Atlas Copco’s energy-efficient ZS screw blowers within pneumatic conveying applications.

Building upon Atlas Copco’s global leadership in medium and high pressure compressor technology, Adriana recognises the potential to introduce the benefits of low pressure blower technology to a tradition-bound market. “In low pressure it’s all about the process. Therefore what Atlas Copco brings to the table is expertise in a variety of different applications, innovative control systems and efficient machine technologies that ensure customers are satisfied,” she commented.

Adriana’s pastimes include a love of travelling. When not on the move, she spends her time practicing yoga, flamenco dancing and reading.

New man to lead service delivery at Atlas Copco!

Mark Keen has been appointed as Business Line Manager for Atlas Copco's Compressor Technique Service (CTS) division. In his new role, Mark will lead the delivery of the company’s service proposition, which is designed to ensure customers gain the best possible performance from their air compressor systems over the long term.

Mark Keen

He said: “My mission is to develop a division that is held up as the role model for successful customer-centric organisations. I have always had a focus on developing strong customer relationships and moving from equipment sales to service has given me a fantastic opportunity to build on that. What is vital is that we gain the customer’s confidence and offer ongoing support, not just at the point of purchase but for many years afterwards to ensure our equipment continues to perform safely, reliably and efficiently.”

In his new role, Mark will also seek to raise awareness among customers of the fact that, in addition to its broad offering of service contracts and genuine spare parts, Atlas Copco Compressors’ service proposition includes a wide range of value-adding products, including AIRnet pipework, energy recovery systems, and monitoring and control products such as SmartLink and AIRScan.

More than nine years after joining Atlas Copco, he brings a wealth of experience and knowledge to his new role, leading a division that is integral to the company’s commitment to its customers. A former apprentice with a string of engineering qualifications under his belt, he joined Atlas Copco initially as a Sales Engineer in the Industrial Air division, before joining Compressor Technique Service as Sales & Marketing Manager two years ago. His promotion sees him take responsibility for a large team and he is aiming to develop those staff members to create a sustainable model for continued success.

Mark, who values optimism and enthusiasm as important personal traits, is a married father of two with a keen interest in football.

In his new role, he succeeds the former Business Line Manager for Compressor Technique Service, Sean Fairest, who, as reported last month, has been appointed as Country Manager for Atlas Copco in Ireland.

New man to lead lead compressor growth strategy for Ireland!

Atlas Copco Compressors has announced the appointment of Seán Fairest as Country Manager for Compressor Technique in Ireland. In this new role, he will spearhead a strategy to strengthen the position of Atlas Copco as a market leader in Ireland by helping his team of almost 30 staff engage more closely with customers.

Seán Fairest

He said: “My mission is to help the team in Ireland develop and grow over the coming years. All the economic indicators are strong and we have some fantastic products and services that will deliver sustainable productivity for our customers. We are very positive about our future and we are committed to investment in order to further strengthen our position in Ireland.”

A focus of his new role will be to ensure that customers are benefitting fully from Atlas Copco’s service offering to maintain the safe, efficient and effective operation of their equipment over the long term. “One thing that I am already shocked to see is that we have customers in Ireland who are prepared to gamble with their production and product quality by working with unauthorised service partners and non-genuine spare parts. As someone who has grown up in the service business, I understand the risks involved with such decisions and will work tirelessly to help the users of our equipment understand these risks and make the best informed decisions for their business.”

He aims to help his team “cover every blade of grass through every channel” to provide customers with the products and services they need to capitalise on the improving economic climate in Ireland. “Ireland is poised to take off and it is our job to make sure we are in the right place to provide our customers with the products and services they need to make the most of the good times ahead.”

Seán can draw from almost 20 years of experience with Atlas Copco, joining the group as a Service Engineer and working his way through the organization to a more recent position as Vice President of Marketing for Compressor Technique Service at Atlas Copco’s Airpower division in Antwerp, Belgium. A qualified mechanical engineer, he has also served as Business Line Manager for the Service, Oil Free Air and Industrial Air business lines during his career with the company.

Push together piping!

Atlas Copco Compressors’ AIRnet piping system is being enhanced with the addition of the Pre Fit (PF) Series, a unique family of products that are pre-torqued for push-together assembly. The PF Series, which will be available in 20mm to 50mm sizes, does not require heavy tools and reduces installation time by up to 85 percent.

Building on the success of the existing AIRnet range, the PF Series uses the same lightweight and durable aluminium piping, together with aluminium and polymer fittings, to make installation simpler. Being five times lighter than conventional galvanised steel piping and avoiding the need to have cumbersome threading, welding and lathe machines on site for fitting, the PF Series can be installed by a single technician, reducing labour costs by as much as 20 percent.

The PF series, manufactured within Atlas Copco’s new production facility in Belgium, offers the same benefits to the end-user as the rest of the AIRnet range, being highly efficient in the way it delivers clean compressed air, as well as nitrogen gas and vacuum functions. The pipes and connections are resistant to corrosion, mechanical shocks, and thermal variations, while minimising pressure drop and leaks thanks to low-friction surfaces and seamless fittings. This ensures a longer lifespan, reduces stress upon the compressor unit itself and protects the downstream manufacturing process.

AIRnet’s low-friction surfaces and seamless fittings significantly reduce the total cost of ownership by delivering air more efficiently. For example, a 1 bar pressure drop within a piping system forces the compressor to consume 7 percent more energy.


James Houseman, Product Specialist at Atlas Copco Compressors, said: “Piping is often overlooked as a component but can have a huge influence on the efficiency, performance and lifespan of an air system. A company may have a highly efficient compressor, but its performance can be undermined without a strong system of piping. For example, a pressure drop of just one bar requires the compressor to use seven percent more energy. That’s why we urge customers to consider not just the compressor but the complete system. The new AIRnet range is designed and manufactured to remove any concerns about corrosion, leakages or loss of pressure. Yet having such an advanced solution does not mean extra work for installers; in fact, it is quite the opposite because AIRnet has unique features to speed up and simplify the installation process. There’s no need for the threading and welding machines that had to be carried around in the past. In this way, both end-users and installers can benefit from the new AIRnet range.”

Installers follow a simple five-step process to assemble the PF Series: cut; debur; mark; lubricate; and push. Once the piping is connected, there are torque indicators to provide a visible assurance of accuracy and safety.

Included in the PF series are the 40mm and 50mm diameter sizes, with the 20mm and 25mm due to have PF fittings by mid-2014. The 63mm, 80mm, 100mm and proposed 158mm sizes will retain a classic fitting.

An advantage of the AIRnet range is that the classic and PF fittings are interchangeable, while the new Adaptor Union kit allows connectivity with an existing BSP/NPT threaded system. Additionally the breadth of pressures the PF series allows has been expanded, from a minimum of 0.013 bar to 16 bar, compared with 0.13 to 13 bar in the classic range. Similarly, the temperature range has been expanded in the PF series, which means the piping can be operational from -20°C to 80°C, compared with -4°C to 70°C.

The wide scope of requirements that can be met by the PF series is further extended with the availability of an optional conductivity strip for ATEX applications in hazardous environments, which is the first of its kind in the market.

To help with design and quoting for a new system, the AIRnet support tools provide calculations of pressure drop and an automated list of required products.

The reliability of the AIRnet range is backed by a 10-year guarantee.

Atlas Copco creates a Vacuum Solutions division and appoints Geert Follens as its division president

Atlas Copco Compressor Technique has established a new division: Vacuum Solutions. It will be responsible for Atlas Copco’s current vacuum business and, after the acquisition has been completed, for Edwards Group Ltd. Geert Follens, currently in charge of Industrial Air, has been appointed its division president.

Geert Follens

“We have defined vacuum as a strategic growth area for Atlas Copco and with this new division we have created a good structure from which to successfully develop the business after the Edwards acquisition,” said Stephan Kuhn, President of the Compressor Technique business area. "I am pleased to have Geert Follens, who has a proven record in running different businesses with different challenges, on board as division president. He has been leading the Edwards acquisition team and has already a solid knowledge of the vacuum business.”

The Vacuum Solutions division will initially be in charge of Atlas Copco’s current vacuum business; for the whole value chain from product development, sourcing, and production, to sales and service. When the acquisition of Edwards is completed, the company will be included in the new division. Vacuum Solutions will be based in Crawley (GB).

Geert Follens joined Atlas Copco in 1995 as purchasing manager in the Industrial Air division. His responsibilities were later extended to include production in the capacity of flow manager. In 2000 he became general manager of the customer centre Atlas Copco Compressors Ltd., Great Britain. In 2004 he was appointed division president for the Portable Energy division and in 2012 he became division president for the Industrial Air division. Both divisions are based in Belgium. Geert Follens holds a Master of Science in Electrical Engineering and Power Generation from the University of Leuven, Belgium.

Data monitoring programme for compressors

Atlas Copco has launched SmartLink, a new data monitoring programme for compressors that intelligently gathers, compares and analyses data to help compressed air users increase maintenance and service efficiency. Making smart use of connectivity, data monitoring and business intelligence, Atlas Copco helps customers to get a better view of their maintenance needs, maintain production uptime and improve, wherever possible, their operating costs by minimising energy consumption.

Until now, the service of compressors and compressor rooms was either based on regularity (ie organisations with service contracts in place that ensure planned visits from a service technician) or was conducted on a reactive basis (an unforeseen problem requiring an immediate intervention). According to Atlas Copco this doesn’t need to be the case anymore: The SmartLink data monitoring program enables the monitoring of productivity on a 24/7 basis.

SmartLink provides businesses with a complete insight of their compressed air production. It helps to predict potential problems (and thus anticipate them); and shows how and where production can be optimised and energy can be saved.

There are three different options available: SmartLink Service which enables the user to easily schedule maintenance visits as they have an overview of machine data and the time left before a service is due. The service log book is always just one click away and the online link with Atlas Copco allows them to request and receive quotes for spare parts or additional services quickly.

The second option SmartLink Uptime allows the end user to be informed by email or SMS message if there is a problem with their compressed air production. Based on this information the necessary actions can be taken to avoid the risk of a breakdown. It is possible to visit the website at any time and see the actual warning/shutdown status of the machines as well as a history of previous notifications.

Finally, SmartLink Energy enables the continuous monitoring and analysis of the energy
efficiency of a compressor room. The user defines the performance indicators (such as air pressure) and the benchmarks and immediate improvements can be made when needed. The results can be used for energy monitoring according to ISO50001

Over the coming years it is Atlas Copco’s ambition to integrate SmartLink into air production installations worldwide and help customers benefit from the insight it offers.

SmartLink is an easy to install, efficient to consult, and simple to tailor data monitoring program. Data is gathered, compared, and analysed efficiently and when needed, warnings are sent out in order to prevent downtime. This data enables local service organisations to plan and prepare their interventions. As a result service efficiency increases, time is gained and money is saved.

Compressors keep pace

When Michell Instruments needed to upgrade its compressed air supply to meet expanded capacity at its factory in Ely (GB), it required a supplier capable of providing highly reliable and efficient technology. For this reason they chose to install oil-free compressor and dryer solutions from Atlas Copco.

Michell - Easidew calibration system

With over 30 years’ experience, Michell Instruments designs and manufactures a wide range of transmitters, instruments and systems capable of measuring Dew-point, humidity and oxygen in a variety of applications and industries that includes power generation, process, oil and gas and, significantly, compressed air.

Its production and calibration processes are critically dependent upon a continuous and reliable supply of quality compressed air and over the past ten years, as the company’s production and calibration facility has expanded, Atlas Copco has matched this growth and production demand with oil-free compressor solutions that offer increased capacity and technical sophistication.

As Graham Daines, Michell’s Calibration Laboratory Manager explains: “The compressed air is used to supply the Dew point calibration systems we use. These systems vary in design, but basically perform the same function of mixing varying amounts of moisture into very dry air (-100 °C Dew point) to give a range of Dew points from -100 to +90 °C. The systems perform Dew points calibrations under our UKAS accreditation and all traceable Dew point calibrations on manufactured instruments and sensors.”

The UKAS calibrations are low volume, typically less than 10 units per week, but the production calibration systems are high volume, at the rate of more than 250 units per week. As the number of systems in the production and development departments has increased over the years, and with the latest high volume systems using 100 litres of air per minute, there has been a corresponding need to increase the air supply.

The most recent addition of an Atlas Copco oil-free ZT22 compressor and two CD dryers, supplied and installed by Peterborough-based Anglian Compressors and Equipment Ltd, underlines the fact that air quality is vital to the calibration procedures. As Graham Daines confirms: “The calibration systems use pressure swing dryers to achieve the -100 °C Dew point air and require the air supplying them to be dry and oil free. We cannot risk contaminating the calibration systems or the sensors we calibrate. This is why we have never considered oil lubricated compressors with oil filtration.”

Continuity of supply is equally important, that is why the company has set up a system of compressors and dryers to ensure continuity in the unlikely event of a breakdown or when scheduled equipment servicing is required.

Previously there were two existing dryers plus three piston compressors, installed by Anglian Compressors, but this system was upgraded when the company moved from Cambridge to its new Ely factory in 2007. An Atlas Copco SF-15 scroll compressor was installed with one of the existing dryers. This enabled Michell to maintain the calibrations system in Cambridge and transfer the others one at a time to Ely, ensuring that each was fully operational at the site before moving the next one. When the move was complete, the set up comprised the SF-15 with two dryers (one for backup), with the two piston units working together as backup for the SF-15, should it be required.

The factory then underwent a substantial expansion programme during 2011 to meet global demand − a 20,000sq.ft extension that would enable the company to double its production output through additional calibration systems.

The air supply was already very close to its limit so, in July 2011, an Atlas Copco ZT-22 oil-free compressor was installed together with two CD70+ dryers (again, one for backup) with the scroll compressor and the two piston units working together as backup for the ZT machine during service periods. Anglian Compressors were able to install the ZT-22 and the Atlas Copco dryers plus all the compressed air system’s pipework without any interruption to the essential air supply.

Graham Daines commented favourably on the essential synergy between his company’s technical needs and the support of his Atlas Copco distributor: “Anglian Compressors has always appreciated the importance of our air supply and respond ASAP to any problems we have.”

New general manager for Ireland & Britain

Atlas Copco Compressors, a market leading provider of innovative compressed air solutions, has appointed a new General Manager/Director for Britain and Ireland. Dirk Villé joins the team from his current position as General Manager/Director of Compressor Technique for Atlas Copco in Austria.

Dirk started his career with the Atlas Copco Group in 1994 as a Designer and Project Leader for Engineering Portable Compressors and Commodity & Investment units. In 2001 he was appointed manager of Atlas Copco’s Global Engineering Centre in India. In 2003 Dirk returned to Atlas Copco Airpower N.V. as a Product Manager for Large Portable Compressors. In 2006 he took up the position of Business Line Manager for Portable Air for Atlas Copco in South-Africa. Since 2009 Dirk has acted as General Manager/Director for Compressor Technique and Holding for Atlas Copco in Austria. His operational responsibility was extended to Slovenia, Croatia, Bosnia and Herzegovina in early 2012.

In addition to his extensive industry experience, Dirk is a certified civil engineer with an engineering degree in Electromechanics from the Katholieke University in Leuven, Belgium, and also holds a Postgraduate Degree in Business Administration from Université de Louvain-la-Neuve in Belgium.

Dirk is to begin his new role on 1 June 2013. During the interim period, Alex Bongaerts, Vice President Finance & Administration / Holding will perform the role of acting GM/D for Atlas Copco Compressors in the region.