Air Compressor Manufacturers - Top Names in the Industry

By Dylan Mazeika

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The development of compressed air has greatly impacted manufacturing and industrial processes worldwide since the first compressors emerged in the 1920s. From nail guns to spray paint machines, an endless variety of modern tools now use air compressors to enhance their accuracy, power, and productivity. Few industries can remain competitive without this technology. Some of the most popular applications include medical and laboratory testing, automotive service and repair, general construction, and commercial offices.

In these varied environments, air compressors are used for everything from building schools and subways to extracting minerals deep within the earth, as well as providing a wide array of critical medical and dental care.

Air compressors offer different horsepower (hp), capacity (cfm), and working pressure (psi). Yet, they generally fall into two main categories:

1. Stationary: Stationary compressors tend to provide the most power. They are installed in a fixed position and hardwired into the location’s power grid.
2. Portable: These models can be powered by electricity, battery, or gas and vary greatly in size. Some are small enough to be moved by hand, while others are mounted to a trailer, enabling them to be towed to various locations for on-site construction and other temporary heavy-duty tasks.

Top Air Compressor Manufacturers

Many leading manufacturers hold ISO 9001 certification, guaranteeing that all quality standards are consistently met. This is especially crucial for medical, food service, automotive, and industrial applications, where strict guidelines ensure a 100% pure stream of air that’s free of moisture and contaminants.

Companies tend to specialize in particular industries or cater to applications of a particular size. Industry leaders currently include:

• Sullair: Founded in 1968, Sullair specializes in clean and dry solutions popular among the medical industry and automotive service and repair shops. They hold ISO 9001 certification and manufacture an extensive line of powerful towable air compressors.
• Kaeser: Kaeser has been manufacturing industrial parts and equipment since 1919. They offer both stationary and portable compressors but specialize in rotary screw air compressors, providing models that incorporate a v-belt or direct drive design. They also hold ISO 9001 certification.
• Quincy: Quincy has produced rotary screw and reciprocating air compressors since the 1920s. About 40% of their rotary screw sales are custom orders, tailoring controls, accessories, and air treatment options to various specific needs.
• Ingersoll Rand: Known for the reliability and low maintenance requirements of their compressors, Ingersoll Rand’s product lines tend to cater to large-scale industrial processes but also offer robust smaller models for general construction.
• Campbell Hausfeld: The oldest of the group, Campbell Hausfeld’s history dates back to 1836. They are a division of Berkshire Hathaway, and their compressors are designed mainly for the automotive service industry. They offer both rotary screw and reciprocating models.
• Atlas Copco: Atlas Copco is the largest of these manufacturers, with over 100 offices and 14 manufacturing sites supporting more than 4,600 employees in the U.S. Their products, each with specific ISO certifications, are designed for large industrial or manufacturing processes. Atlas Copco provides the most powerful air compressors, with models producing up to 3500 hp and 24720 cfm.

Industrial Air Compressor Manufacturer & Suppliers

The pressure released by an air compressor operates at various levels:

• Low-pressure air compressors produce pressures of 150 psi or less.
• Medium-pressure air compressors produce pressures of 151 to 1000 psi.
• High-pressure air compressors deliver pressures of more than 1,000 psi.

Air compression processes can be categorized into positive displacement and dynamic displacement.

Positive Displacement

In positive displacement, air is forced into a chamber, and then the chamber’s volume is reduced to compress the air. The compressed air is then pushed out of the compression chamber into the exit system when maximum pressure is reached.

Dynamic Displacement

In dynamic displacement compressors, a rotating component gives the air kinetic energy and then compresses it. The rotating component accelerates and decelerates the air, resulting in pressurization.

Types of Industrial Compressors and How They Operate

Reciprocating Air Compressors

Reciprocating air compressors use a piston to compress and move air inside the compression chamber. They are portable and can be powered by an electric or gas engine, featuring one or more cylinders, a crankshaft, and a valve head.

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Since they have more working parts, they require frequent lubrication. The pressurized air is released through a valve into a storage tank where it is kept until needed. Reciprocating compressors deliver pressure in single-stage or two-stage formats.

Single-Stage Compressor

In a single-stage compressor, the air is only compressed once. The process involves the following steps:

• The compression cylinder draws air in.
• A piston compresses the air in a single stroke.
• The compression cylinder draws air in again.

Two-Stage Compressor

In a two-stage compressor, the process is similar to a single-stage, but the compressed air undergoes a second stroke before being stored in a tank. The double-pressurized air is then used to power powerful machinery.

Reciprocating compressors are used in various settings, including chemical factories, oil refineries, and natural gas processing. They also play a significant role in agriculture, auto shops, and refrigeration technologies. Despite being more energy-efficient, they require more maintenance compared to other compressors in the same price range.

Rotary Vane Compressors

Rotary vane compressors use a slotted rotor with blades around the rotor to direct and compress air inside the chamber. As the blades enter and exit the rotor, compression pockets are created. The air volume decreases as the rotor turns, increasing pressure. This technique is highly efficient and durable.

Rotary vane compressors are energy-efficient for various applications, including automotive and agricultural needs. They demand less energy than rotary screw counterparts while delivering a continuous energy supply.

Rolling Piston Compressors

Rolling piston compressors use a moving piston to pressurize air against a stationary vane. By dividing the rotor and the vane with the piston, which reduces the chamber's volume, ambient gasses are compressed. These compressors offer a constant flow of compressed air, operating at higher speeds than conventional reciprocating pistons. They are typically used in cooling applications with a maximum capacity of 15 kW.

Ionic Liquid Piston Compressor

Ionic liquid piston compressors use an ionic liquid piston to pressurize the air, reducing the need for bearings and seals, thus increasing efficiency. These compressors are particularly useful in applications involving highly-volatile gasses, such as hydrogen filling stations and other hydrogen-based uses.

Scroll Compressors

Scroll compressors use two interlocking spiral-shaped vanes to compress air or liquids. One vane is typically fixed, while the other orbits eccentrically, allowing air to be trapped and compressed between them before being released at the outlet port. They have high volumetric efficiency due to the decreased volume clearance between the vanes and the lack of suction valves, which otherwise cause pressure losses.

Centrifugal Compressors

Centrifugal compressors are rotational compressors that propel gasses into the cylinder, transforming them into pressurized energy using a very fast-spinning disk. They also have a diffuser, or diverging duct, that converts velocity energy into pressurized air. These compressors are used in commercial applications such as natural gas, petrochemical, and industrial refrigeration.

Diagonal Compressors

Similar to centrifugal compressors, diagonal compressors, also known as mixed-flow compressors, have an axial and radial high-velocity disk at the rotor outlet.

Choosing the Proper Industrial Air Compressor Manufacturer

To ensure a positive outcome when purchasing an industrial air compressor, it is important to compare at least five companies using our list. Each manufacturer has a business profile page that highlights their experience and capabilities, along with a contact form to directly communicate with them for more information or request a quote. Review each business's website using our proprietary website previewer to understand their specializations, then use our simple RFQ form to contact multiple companies with the same message.

Contact us to discuss your requirements for heat compressors. Our experienced sales team can help identify the best options for your needs.