Compressed Air Best Practices - May 2008 - (Page 6)

| 05/08 Compressed Air Industry AUTOMOTIVE ASSEMBLY | FROM THE EDITOR Automotive Assembly Lean manufacturing has swept across the U.S. and nowhere has it been more necessary than in vehicle manufacturing. The ever-changing circumstances and production volumes in U.S. plants has made evaluating legacy compressed air systems more important than ever. This industry is ripe for energy-saving opportunities in their compressed air systems. In our May Audit of the Month, Jim Timmersman shares with us a three-phase audit he is involved in with a automotive assembly plant. The energy savings opportunities identified sum close to $1 million per year. He outlines how he is working together with this firm to address this opportunity in three phases. The Phase 1 audit saves over $250,000 per year with a 10-month payback and 72% internal rate of return. New technology in bus/coach kneeling modules are bringing opportunities to pneumatic system experts like Paxton Augustine of Parker Hannifin. His article in this month’s edition examines ways to avoid making mistakes and having failures in these systems. Starting air compressors for centrifugals is something that has been a problem for Big 3 automotive plants in the past. Every now and then, plants find that their starting air isn’t up to the challenge and they experience down time. Hank Van Ormer provides us with a “Best Practice” article based upon his experience in Michigan solving these problems. Finally, we profile two compressor distributorships with a great deal of experience with automotive assembly factories. Power Supply Industries and Delta Industries share with us some of their techniques and experience in optimizing compressed air systems. A common thread I am observing, is the great need to better measure what is going on with compressed air systems. Measuring flow, dew point, amperage and pressure is necessary to understand your compressed air system. Measurement strategies then illuminate where all the energy saving opportunities are. It’s actually not rocket science — compressed air is just a relatively unmonitored process in most factories. In closing, I’d like to encourage the automotive assembly industry to continue addressing their compressed air systems and capitalize on the energy-saving opportunity they represent. ROD SMITH 6 www.airbestpractices.com http://www.belairtech.net http://www.airbestpractices.com

Table of Contents Feed for the Digital Edition of Compressed Air Best Practices - May 2008

Compressed Air Best Practices - May 2008 Contents From the Editor Utility-Air News The Compressed Air Audit of the Month Pneumatics Real World Best Practices Delta Industries: Doing What is Right for Customers Delta Industries: Six Truths You Need to Know about Really Putting the Customer First Power Supply Industries Resources for Energy Engineers Wall Street Watch Advertiser Index Job Market

Compressed Air Best Practices - May 2008

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