Compressed Air Applications: Where is compressed air used?

Have a look around and what do you see? What are you thinking about? Your next holiday to Queenstown maybe? You might go snowboarding with the kids or have some alone time at the Day Spa. Whatever holiday you choose, compressed air is involved in some way, without you even realising it!

What is compressed air used for?

When you think about the examples above, you might wonder how compressed air is used in these situations. In the industry, it is used in two ways: as energy and as part of a process. These two types are referred to as Energy Air and Active Air respectively.

First of all, Energy Air is used for storing and transmitting energy in order to do mechanical work. More specifically, it is used to power pneumatic production equipment, air operated lathe chucks, pressure clean parts and to convey or cool components during production.

Active air, on the other hand, is required as an active and integral part of a certain process. In this case, the air comes in contact with the product therefore the air quality is very important. The clean, dry air quality, or CDA quality for short, can be enhanced by utilising oil-free compressors and by treating the airusing one of the many quality air tools available. This type of compressed air is used in the following industries:

 

Automotive

We understand the importance of pneumatics in the automobile industry. 

Textile

Compressed air is used for spinning, weaving, knitting and several other processes.  

Railway

The maintenance of the locomotives and coaches is very crucial to ensure passenger safety and on time service. 

Food & Beverage

The compressed air for Food and Beverage industry needs to be 100% oil free. 

Recreation

From amusement parks to the hotels, several processes in their operations rely on the compressed air. 

Aerospace

For manufacturing, repairs and overhauls, the aviation industry uses compressed air as the primary energy source to power their equipment. 

Some compressed air applications

Have you been to a theme park lately? Chances are you came across some compressors without even knowing it. In roller coasters for example, they power the gates, brakes and other crucial safety features like the passenger restraint system. They are also present in the launch systems on certain rides and in the drivers that make props and animatronic figures move. Compressed air is also used for maintenance, power washers and other cleaning tools are a big help in keeping the park and its attractions looking their best.

Maybe you haven’t been in a theme park in a while, but on your way to work today, you might have seen a school bus driving by. You guessed it, compressed air has a big impact on its workings too. Initially, you might think air compressors are only used to inflate the tires. However, it doesn’t stop there. They are used in the production of these tires, the fabric on the seats and the sanding of the metal exhaust pipes. More importantly, compressed air is at the center of the bus’ safety system. A compressor is at the heart of the air brake system and suspension, it also makes sure the airbag gets deployed in the event of a crash.

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Who we are and how Ash Air can help your business!

Ash Air has been around in New Zealand since 1979, and we’ve grown into a nationwide company with international support and a reputation for quality and reliability.We look after all things compressed air for your business!

  • Reciprocating, Screw, air compressors
  • Vacuum pumps
  • Nitrogen
  • An extensive line of air treatment components

Ash Air's range of Chicago Pneumatic, Alup, Pneumatech, and Quincy compressors are used extensively around the world in industries ranging from oil and gas to food, automotive and farming, and we bring you these world class compressors here in the land of the long white cloud.Our technicians are compressed air equipment experts and are dedicated to addressing customer needs. Supported by a 13 locations nationwide, Ash Air offers one of the widest selections of compressed air equipment and parts available today in New Zealand.

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With Ash Air compressors, you can count on reliability and high performance for even the most demanding applications. We focus our efforts on the following:

  • Increasing uptime
  • Reducing unexpected repairs
  • Reducing energy consumption
  • Improving the cleanliness of compressed air


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