The impact of the Covid economy on the compressed air market has left its mark. The ability of importers like Artic Driers to import equipment was severely affected due to massively increased air freight costs, along with a slowdown at docks due to reduced staff levels. “This situation will not change for many months,” says Artic Driers International CEO, Allen Cockfield.
Artic is an essential service supplier, so its operations have continued at a reduced capacity. To compensate, Artic has developed Pro Bono, a totally locally made low dewpoint air dryer rig for breathing air systems, that can be used in a Covid emergency hospital unit.
“The project was challenging but interesting, especially the design of a variety of filter casings to be built locally for these sets.” adds Cockfield. “It was a logical progression from what we have been doing quietly for the last 12 months. Artic has built a large number of low dewpoint heatless adsorption air dryers of different sizes for a range of clients in widely different industries.”
Due to the Covid-related transport and freight restraints, the new SA series of dryers has only now been officially released. The range will provide clients with shorter lead times than imported units. The units are less expensive, and most importantly they use local materials, labour and suppliers. Ranging from 3 to 42 m3/min at pressures up to 15 bar, the SA series will suit the needs of the majority of Artic’s clients. The smaller modular HDD series dryers less than 3 m3/min will continue to be imported from Malaysia.
The SA series of dryers is conservatively designed and based on 30 years of Artic Driers experience. Long contact times and larger than normal desiccant loads mean that the dryer can provide -40⁰C PDP compressed air for a manufacturing plant or a medical facility with ease. Heavy-duty design and construction, along with simple controls, have been deliberately included to ensure reliability and ease of maintenance on site.
The IP45 panel has a simple adjustable timer sequence. The control panel timing sequences can be changed easily on site if needed. Another feature is the use of an optional dewpoint probe to display drying performance in the straight timer mode, or the dryer can be controlled by the same probe and the timing cycles can be prolonged, thereby reducing compressed air purge losses.
These features do not result in a high cost of ownership. Prices are competitive and well balanced. “This fact is borne out by the number of dryers currently in the build programme for clients,” concludes Cockfield.
Siemens launches SIMATIC AX WinCC Unified Elements
Pneumatic systems & components Other technologies
New engineering tool speeds automation application development, reducing the time required to bring industrial projects to market and empowering automation engineers to build, manage version control, and deploy visualisation engineering projects
Read more...High-performance linear guides igus
Pneumatic systems & components
igus continues its quest to replace traditional lubricated linear guides with its drylin polymer technology, which improves machine reliability. The absence of lubrication means it contributes to safer, cleaner operation with no risk of contamination.
Read more...Air compressor secures premium meat company’s legacy
Pneumatic systems & components
A tailored ELGi compressed air solution from Integrated Air Solutions is helping Tulisa Meat Market protect six decades of quality and consistency in its premium meat production.
Read more...Alternative fuels for cutting, brazing, soldering and heating
Pneumatic systems & components
Bolt and Engineering Distributors, as an authorised distributor for the Harris Products Group, is helping South African industries transition from acetylene to safer, more cost-effective alternative fuels for cutting, brazing, soldering and heating applications.
Read more...Integrated Air Solutions opens Pinetown branch
Pneumatic systems & components
Integrated Air Solutions has opened a branch in Pinetown, bringing world-class diesel and electric air compressor services closer to customers in KwaZulu-Natal.
Read more...How to clean compressed air effectively
Pneumatic systems & components
ISO-Reliability Partners has taken another step in bringing to market highly effective solutions to combat contamination in all its forms. The locally designed and patented Air Wizard inline water trap is proudly manufactured in South Africa. It has been SABS tested for the separation of water, oily fluids, rust and solid particulates from pneumatic compressed air or gas lines.
Read more...Compressed air piping design Artic Driers International
Editor's Choice Pneumatic systems & components
When designing a compressed air pipeline, remember that size matters. The internal size of the pipe, along with the pressure and air volume, determine the velocity of the compressed air in the pipeline.
Read more...Top questions about pressure gauges SA Gauge
Editor's Choice Pneumatic systems & components
Some questions never go out of date, and in our industry, a few have been asked for decades. At SA Gauge, we hear them every week. Here are the ten questions we hear most often, and the practical answers that can save time, money and frustration.
While every effort has been made to ensure the accuracy of the information contained herein, the publisher and its agents cannot be held responsible for any errors contained, or any loss incurred as a result. Articles published do not necessarily reflect the views of the publishers. The editor reserves the right to alter or cut copy. Articles submitted are deemed to have been cleared for publication. Advertisements and company contact details are published as provided by the advertiser. Technews Publishing (Pty) Ltd cannot be held responsible for the accuracy or veracity of supplied material.
printer friendly version