Air Compressor Manufacturers
The development of compressed air has had an enormous impact on manufacturing and industrial processes throughout the world since the first compressors began to emerge in the 1920s. From nail guns to spray paint machines, an endless variety of modern tools now use air compressors to increase their accuracy, power, and productivity. In fact, few industries are exempt from the technology if they hope to remain competitive. Some of the most popular applications include medical and laboratory testing, automotive service and repair, general construction, and commercial offices.
Within these unique environments, air compressors are used for everything from building schools and subways to extracting minerals deep within the earth – not to mention providing an extensive range of critical medical and dental care.
Air compressors offer a variety of horsepower (hp), capacity (cfm), and working pressure (psi). Yet within this myriad of options, they tend to fall into two general categories:
- Stationary: Of the two, stationary compressors tend to provide the most power, installed into a fixed position and hardwired into the location’s power grid.
- Portable: These models are powered by electricity, battery, or gas and vary greatly in terms of size. Some are small enough to be moved around the shop by hand. Others are mounted to a trailer, enabling them to be towed from location to location 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 even industrial applications where strict guidelines must be followed to ensure a 100% pure stream of air that’s free of moisture and contaminates.
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 tend to 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 air compressors and reciprocating air compressors since the 1920s. They are unique in that nearly 40% of their rotary screw sales are considered “custom” orders, tailoring the controls, accessories, and air treatment options to a variety of personalized requirements.
- Ingersoll Rand: Known for the reliability and low maintenance requirements associated with their air compressors, Ingersoll Rand’s product lines tend to lean toward compressors designed for large-scale industrial processes. But that’s not to say they don’t offer some extremely robust smaller models for general construction as well.
- Campbell Hausfeld: The granddaddy of the lot, Campbell Hausfeld’s company history dates all the way back to 1836. They are also a division of Berkshire Hathaway, a corporation that owns a number of highly recognizable tool manufacturers. With both rotary screw and reciprocating models available, their air compressors are designed primarily for the automotive service industry.
- Atlas Copco: Atlas Copco is by far the largest of these six manufacturers. They maintain more than 100 offices and 14 manufacturing sites that support over 4,600 employees in the United States alone. Most of their products, each holding specific ISO certifications, are designed to be incorporated into large industrial or manufacturing processes. Of the six companies listed here, Atlas Copco also provides the most powerful air compressors (by far), with models producing up to 3500 hp and 24720 cfm.
