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Portable air compressors play an important role in mining, infrastructure and construction applications. The mining application specifically is a segment of paramount importance, looking at the amount of aggregates, which is required for infrastructure and construction projects. All the infrastructure and construction projects start with excavations where portable compressors are required and then the entire work chain starts. These compressors are primarily used to generate compressed air, which finds a wide variety of applications including paint spraying, cleaning, and powering pneumatic tools and actuators in manufacturing, oil and gas, electronics, energy and power generation, mining, and construction industries to name a few.

Speaking on the current market for portable compressors in India, Tony Van Herbruggen, General Manager, Power Technique, Atlas Copco India, had this to say: 鈥�The construction sector has been again impacted by the onset of the second wave of the Covid-19 pandemic. Construction sector in India is very important as it contributes to around 60 per cent of the total investments; so it needs to come back strongly to support the economy revival. While demand has slowed down, we expect a better recovery in the coming months as during the second wave, construction activity in some sectors was permitted to continue.鈥�

Compressed air is also used in oil and gas, and mining sectors for drilling activities as well as for cleaning the drilling equipment such as pipes and drill bits. Continuous deposition of bitumen, tar, and mud in oil rig machinery need to be cleaned by sand blasting with abrasives sprayed with high velocity compressed air. This will significantly improve the portable air compressors demand over the coming years.

Compressors for varied conditions

The product range comprises lightweight handy air compressors along with huge wheel or utility-mounted air compressors used in mining and quarrying activities and are also used in almost all manufacturing activities across the globe. They are extensively utilised in industries where compressed air demand is within multiple locations in the plant site. Potential economic development initiatives after the pandemic outbreak including strengthening of industrial sectors will significantly contribute towards portable air compressor industry growth over the forecast timeframe.

Availability of compressors offering multiple fuel options that provide a varied range of supply pressure is likely to augment the portable air compressors industry growth. However, the high initial purchase costs, operational costs, and maintenance costs hamper the market growth during the forecast time span. Therefore, rental business possess a massive threat to the industry.

Portable air compressors with advanced design features that reduce maintenance cost and have lower environmental hazards are also gaining popularity in recent years. Recent developments of high-capacity compressors offering better performance and versatility will drive the market size over the study timeframe.

Adds Herbruggen, 鈥�We have the products to match with our upgraded portfolio and technologically-advanced portable air compressors and waterwell compressors, which will continue to support key applications in infrastructure, mining and construction projects.鈥�

鈥淥ur electric range of portable air compressors deliver no emissions and low sound levels. With no fuel usage, there are no emissions while the hood type canopy of the Atlas Copco electric compressors is designed to ensure low sound levels on site, making them ideal for usage within city limits. We also now offer a new E-Air range of electric driven mobile compressors from 90 KW to 132 KW which are more energy efficient machines,鈥� said Herbruggen.

Rajesh Premchandran, Director 鈥� ISAAME (India, South Asia, Africa and Middle-East), Elgi Equipments, said, 鈥淚n December 2019, the energy-efficient, electric powered trolley mounted portable air compressor, the ELGi PG 90E -12.5 together with the diesel powered, trolley mounted portable air compressor, the ELGi PG 500-185, were launched at EXCON 2019 in Bangalore. These models are ideally suitable for blue metal quarries and in granite and marble mining for hydraulic and pneumatic crawler applications.鈥�

He added, 鈥淥ur compressors are normally built to withstand extreme hot and cold weather conditions. In addition, our portable compressors are fitted with pre-cleaners which help to counter dusty conditions and increase the efficiency and life of the compressor.鈥�

Braving the pandemic

The Covid-induced lockdown starting March-end had literally paralysed the industry throughout the months of April and May. From June when the unlocking process started, it was really tough for the industry to cope with the conditions, however, most production facilities opened and started working in a staggered manner with minimum workforce and according to the requirement. With the projects in construction slowly picking up, the demand also will start picking up slowly. Meanwhile, mining activities are mostly going on so that there will be almost a steady requirement of machinery during this period. The compressor manufacturers are now active in the business.

Said Premchandran, 鈥淒uring this pandemic, we have embraced the latest technologies and tools to continue our engagement with our customers. Virtual platforms help us to stay connected with the customers and provide the sales and service support they need at any part of the world.

While most of our customer requirements are addressed over virtual platforms, few of our customers require physical visits. Our sales and service teams are trained to follow the safety guidelines and are supported with adequate personal protective equipment to stay safe during their official travel and customer visits. In our production units, all our shop floor employees are given appropriate personal protective equipment (PPE) such as face masks, goggles, gloves, aprons as well as appropriate disinfecting agents such as sanitisers and hand wash liquids. With the safety measures in place and strict adherence to safety guidelines, our production lines are busy delivering products that are reaching out to our customers across various industrial verticals in the world.鈥�

Market to bounce back

The construction and infrastructure segment today requires more innovation in all areas of core infrastructure such as roads, metro rail, expressway, airports and expansion on existing highways. Herbruggen says, 鈥淓xpectations from the Indian market will continue to focus on infrastructure projects by offering products that meet our customer鈥檚 needs and ensures them long-term benefits. India is a growing economy and looking at the overall infrastructure requirements coming up, we expect this healthy trend to continue in the coming years as well.鈥�