Whether you’re taking a sip of cool craft beer, tucking into a microwave meal or applying your morning makeup, the chances are you won’t put much thought into the production processes that make these consumer staples possible. For example, you may not know it, but compressed air and gas systems play an important role in the creation of a range of popular products. Here we take a look at three unexpected ways businesses are using compressed air technology.
- Making meals and creating craft beers
From microwave meals to boxes of chocolates and bags of salad, a range of foods are manufactured with the help of compressed air and gas solutions. These systems can be harnessed to perform a range of precision tasks, such as shaping and cutting foods, cleaning containers and preserving produce through gas shielding. Companies can now take advantage of sophisticated systems to ensure that the purity, dryness and quality of the gases they use is correct. Compressed air experts Air Equipment note that air compressors and air treatment equipment can be fitted with a range of monitors and features designed to control contaminants like oil, moisture and other particulates.
It’s also now common for craft breweries to harness the power of these solutions to help them create consistently high-quality beers. Brewers are using compressed air systems for a range of applications, including pushing liquids through pipes and tanks, aerating water, yeast or wort, and purging carbon dioxide from tanks before they are cleaned.
- Printing in 3D
We’ve come a long way since the first printing press was invented in the 15th century. Now, high-tech 3D printers are being used around the world to create an array of intricate products, and materials ranging from plastics and clay to chocolate can be shaped using these devices. Air compressors often play an important role in the 3D printing process. For example, materials can be extruded from refillable syringes using pressure delivered by air compressors. Because they are capable of providing consistent and precise levels of pressure, these systems can be ideal for this form of printing.
- Manufacturing makeup
Next time you reach for your favourite foundation or best blush, spare a thought for the complex manufacturing processes that make these cosmetics possible. The multibillion pound cosmetics industry is a major user of compressed air and gas systems. These solutions can be used to perform a range of tasks throughout the production and packaging process, from filling containers with products to applying labels. Using carefully controlled compressed air and gases helps manufacturers to ensure that everything from the consistency and durability of their cosmetics to their hygiene and safety is spot on.
As these examples show, air compressors can be used in a host of interesting ways and they play a crucial role in creating an eclectic range of products.
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