Compressed Air Systems for Manufacturing Plants
A manufacturing plant that draws air for most of the shift needs a rotary screw compressor, not a larger piston machine. This page explains how to read your demand, which screw size fits, and what else the system needs to hold pressure steady.
Continuous versus intermittent demand
Intermittent demand means the compressor runs in bursts: a tool is used, pressure drops, the machine refills the tank and stops. Piston compressors are built for that pattern and rest between cycles.
Continuous demand means something is drawing air almost all the time — packaging lines, pneumatic actuators, blow-off, conveying, instrument air. A piston machine on that duty never gets its rest period, runs hot and wears quickly. A rotary screw compressor is designed to stay loaded, which is why it is the right answer for production.
Choosing the screw size
Add up the airflow of everything that can run at the same time, add an allowance for leakage and for the line you will add next year, and match that to a model. All our screw compressors work at 10 bar.
The rest of the system
Air receiver tank
Storage absorbs short peaks so the compressor is not chasing every pressure dip. It is the cheapest way to stabilise a plant network, and tanks run from 50 to 10,000 litres.
Dryer
Warm compressed air carries water. As it cools in the pipework that water drops out into your tools and product. A refrigeration dryer removes it before it reaches the line.
Filtration
Line filters take out particulate and oil aerosol. Anything touching finishing, instruments or packaging needs them.
Ambient heat
A compressor room in a Saudi summer needs real ventilation. Hot intake air reduces output and pushes the machine towards high-temperature trips; plan the airflow through the room, not just into the machine.
Maintenance planning
Budget filters, separator and oil changes against running hours from the start. Unplanned downtime on a production line costs far more than the parts.
Screw compressor selection for plant duty
| Model | Power | Free air delivery at 10 bar | Typical plant duty |
|---|---|---|---|
| AirVini 20 HP | 15 kW | ~85 CFM (2.5 m³/min) | Small fabrication, single line |
| AirVini 30 HP | 22 kW | ~125 CFM (3.6 m³/min) | Production line with pneumatic tooling |
| AirVini 50 HP | 37 kW | ~212 CFM (6.0 m³/min) | Mid-size plant, several stations |
| AirVini 100 HP | 75 kW | ~430 CFM (13 m³/min) | Continuous multi-shift plant |
Specify a plant system
Send your simultaneous airflow, shift hours and site city, and we will quote the compressor, tank, dryer and filtration together.
Plant air questions
Should a factory use a screw or a piston compressor?
Use a rotary screw compressor where air is drawn continuously through the shift. Piston compressors suit intermittent demand where the machine can rest between cycles.
What working pressure do your screw compressors deliver?
10 bar working pressure across the screw range.
How much airflow does a 50 HP screw compressor deliver?
The 50 HP model is 37 kW and delivers 6.0 m³/min, approximately 212 CFM, at 10 bar.
Do I still need a receiver tank with a screw compressor?
Yes in most plants. Storage absorbs short peaks, holds pressure steady across the network and reduces load changes on the compressor.