Starting a new company? If you are in any industry requiring physical work to be completed, from construction to manufacturing, to cleaning, and many others in between, then there’s a whole host of equipment you’re going to need.
That’s why brick-and-mortar businesses are so much more expensive to start than other types of businesses. But regardless of what industry you are in, you will probably need an air compressor.
The uses for air compressors are far more complex than filling tires with air. These are some of the most crucial pieces of equipment for many different types of businesses.
Wondering if you need to invest in a quality air compressor? Keep reading to discover some of the most common uses for a compressor, according to these top five industries.
Most Common Uses of Air Compressors by Industry
Wondering about a specific application of air compressor? Here are five industries that wouldn’t last a day without the use of various types of air compressor units.
Table of Contents
1. Construction
When the average person pictures an air compressor, they might envision an odd machine in their garage, that their dad uses to pump bikes and car tires. But the second most common picture of an air compressor is on a construction site.
Construction crews around the world rely on the use of air compressors every single day. And they are especially important when working on a new site.
Air compressors can power pneumatic tools. That means tools that function thanks to compressed air rather than electricity. The most common tool used with an air compressor is a nail gun, which requires pressurized air to launch nails with enough power to penetrate the wood.
But other types of tools can operate on-air as well. If a construction site is still without power, because the electric lines have yet to be installed, workers will likely use diesel-powered air compressors to power the tools needed to begin a construction project.
For smaller crews and contractors, the most common type of air compressor used in construction is the portable compressor that can fit in the back of a truck. But for larger operations, tow behind air compressors are much more reliable for big jobs.
2. Automotive
In every automotive manufacturing facility, and in every consumer-oriented auto shop, air compressors can be found. These are the type of tools that you can use for many different things all in one day.
For starters, compressors can be used to fill tires with air, a crucial task yet a very common one in any automotive facility. But they can also be used to power pneumatic tools and machinery meant for fixing cars, manufacturing cars, cleaning and detailing cars.
When cleaning and detailing cars, especially the really grimy parts underneath, the use of a power washer is often required. And the way that these spray water at high pressure is thanks to the functionality of air compressors.
3. Agricultural
Agricultural operations are big. There’s a lot that needs to be planted, water, sprayed, and harvested. And these massive fields are often managed by very small teams of people with highly productive equipment.
One of the most productive pieces of equipment on the farm is, you guessed it, the air compressor.
Air compressors are often integrated into larger pieces of machinery, such as tractors, sprayers, pumps, and harvesting equipment. The pressurized air makes short work of each different task, allowing just one person to effectively manage a much larger area.
Pesticide and water sprayers utilize compressed air to spray farther and cover more crops at a single time. And on the dairy farm, compressed air is used on cow milking machinery to make short work of that task as well.
Greenhouses also need to be well-ventilated in order to maintain healthy air for plant growth. Pressurized air is used to make the ventilation process more effective since the air in these environments doesn’t naturally move.
4. Scuba Diving
Scuba diving, as a sport, and as a method of research, exists solely thanks to compressed air. Scuba divers are able to carry tanks of air on their back as they dive below the surface.
But it’s specifically compressed air in these tanks that allow for longer, deeper, and safer dives. The tanks used while scuba diving is simply refilled each day using air compressors.
So without air compressors that can instantly generate tons of pressurized air, this form of recreation wouldn’t exist.
5. Brewing
Brewing quality beer is a complicated process. There are many steps that go into producing the perfect bottle, can, or drought.
One of the most important steps is to ensure the right amount of CO2 and nitrogen-infused in the beer when brewing, storing, and canning the beer. And to make this happen, air compressors are used in breweries all across the world.
Can you imagine popping a beer and not having the delicious, crispy carbonation? This might be one of the most important air compressor applications in industry history.
Finding the Right Air Compressor for You
As you can see, there are many uses of air compressors that go far beyond the construction site. This list barely scratches the surface.
If you need an air compressor, then you’ll have to decide what size is needed to handle your largest application. It’s better to have a compressor that is a bit too big rather than a bit too small.
Looking for more information like this? You can find other helpful articles on our blog today.
