Compressed air & vacuum system makeover generates energy savings

The existing compressor system upgrade project at the Windmill Lane factory was triggered by episodes of unreliability. This meant choosing between carrying out costly motor rewinds or taking the longer view and replacing the compressors
with alternatives – offering higher efficiency and dependable performance.

The compressor installation’s primary function in brick production was a 7-bar air supply to pneumatic cylinders – powering the clutches of the mixers blending essential additives
with the basic ground and milled clay processing operation, and those of the extruders. This, together with the final sandblast treatment, determined the quality, performance and appearance of the finished products.

There were similar performance and
efficiency issues with the vacuum pump system employed to remove air from the brick material before extrusion, forming and kiln firing. The operation was intermittent because of problems running cooling water through the pumps, whose
design offered only limited opportunity for corrective maintenance. 

To rectify these problem areas of his manufacturing processes, Miles Coppinger, Wienerberger’s Director of Production North, called on the services of Atlas Copco. 

Read the full article in the May issue of DPA