CompAir, recently acquired from Invensys by a group of investors, has
resurrected its well respected Hydrovane brand with an innovative new
compressor range that will have instant appeal to end-user and OEM alike.
The new range is the result of a 'clean sheet' design project, and its
development involved customer focus groups, distributor forums and a
close assessment of competitors' products. As Hydrovane divisional
managing director, Duncan Scott explained to DPA, this was never going to
be a 'me too' product. It had to offer innovative features that clearly
set it aside from the competition, be designed for a global market, yet
be realistically priced.
The essential difference is the orientation of the rotary vane compressor
and direct drive assembly - now turned on its side from the conventional
horizontal, to a vertical configuration, and offering a footprint less
than half that of previous products. The design team achieved a
significant reduction (30%) in component count and a construction that is
easily and rapidly assembled - factors that no doubt contribute to the
product's generous five-year warranty.
The 14 models in the range cover motor powers from 4 to 7.5kW and these
are attractively housed in acoustically insulated, combination steel and
ABS enclosures for the end user. 'Chassis' versions and sub-assemblies
can be supplied to OEMs wishing to integrate the product into their own
machines and take advantage of the compressor's reduced weight and
footprint.
Other features include a noise level of just 66-67dBA (at one metre);
clean air output (down to 2ppm impurities); optional separate air
dryer/filter unit (which sits neatly beneath the compressor module);
O-ring seals instead of gaskets, reducing the potential for oil leaks;
efficient inverter control for the 7.5kW model, and easy servicing access
across the range.