Salad grower slashes energy by 50%

When the St Albans-based firm upgraded its packaging line, it decided to replace the compressor system with a unit that not only met the higher pressure demand but also provided optimum energy efficiency and helped to minimise the company’s carbon footprint.

This new rotary screw compressor is powered by the firm’s in-house designed interior permanent magnet motor. Instead of the normal horizontal design, the compressor has an upright, vertical, low footprint layout, which is designed to save floor and work space while improving maintenance access, even when the unit is placed against a wall.

Atlas Copco’s GA variable speed drive plus (VSD+) technology automatically adjusts the compressor’s motor speed to match the air supply to the air demand. VSD operation combined with the innovative design of the iPM permanent magnet motor, and the new, more efficient fan motor, results in an average energy saving of 50% and an average reduction of 37% in the lifecycle cost of a conventional fixed-speed compressor.

As Matthew Simon, Glinwell’s technical manager explains: “With this combined operation, we are experiencing a 50% increase in energy efficiency.”​

Contact: Atlas Copco​