From systems for generating, treating and distributing compressed and vacuum air, to applications in production plants and machinery, right through to contracting offerings and services, ComVac covers all aspects of vacuum and compressed-air technology.

Air is 78% nitrogen, 21% oxygen, less than 1% argon and contains gases like carbon dioxide, helium and neon. Each element supports numerous processes ranging from industrial to healthcare. To obtain these gases however, air needs to be separated into its primary components through a process called air separation.

Air can be separated through three processes:

1. Air Adsorption
2. Polymer Membrane
3. Cryogenic Distillation

Adsorption is a process in which atoms or molecules of gases or liquids adhere to the surface of another substance. The molecules accumulate creating a film on the surface of the solid absorbent, without entering its surface. It works like a drinking water filter where water is the adsorbate and the carbon cartridges that adsorb contaminants is the adsorbent.

This phenomenon is found in many natural physical, biological, and chemical systems and is widely used in industrial applications. In air separation, activated charcoal is coal heated to nearly 4000 C to release unwanted by-products, then ‘activated’ by exposing it to an oxidizing agent, usually steam or carbon dioxide at high temperatures that creates the essential micro porosity.

Compressed air is needed at almost every stage of the manufacturing process, especially in cotton textile industries and the polyester yarn industries. Right from jet weaving to texturizing, winding and dyeing non-woven textiles, wastewater treatment and other processes, air is needed everywhere.

Contact with oil (from the air compressors) can leave grease stains on fabric causing it to darken. Using oil-free compressors not only reduces the chances of rejection but also optimises production with less idle time and extended intervals between servicing.

With a mission of ‘Creating Industrial Energy Savings Through Compressed Air’, the CABP magazine aggregates and presents content on methods to optimize compressed air usage, industry news, and application profiles. The conference aimed to bridge the gap between the suppliers and users of compressed air by introducing the users to best practices. The organizers hosted a fair with multiple vendor stalls and expert breakout sessions.

ELGi displayed its products with site experts engaging customers and distributors. Breakout sessions focused on customer case studies and expert recommendations. Leslie Marshall of General Mills, a large food manufacturer, spoke about the challenges of raising awareness on the true cost of compressed air leaks within a factory.

Well, it all began with the marketing of lemon juice. In the 17th century, a company sold the drink to people in Paris. Sweetened with honey, the vendors carried it in tanks and sold it in cups while wandering the streets.

A century later, there was a revolution of sorts in the beverage industry with Joseph Priestley, the multifaceted Englishman, inventing a method of producing carbonated water. He treated chalk with sulphuric acid (then known as oil of vitriol) to generate carbon dioxide. He dissolved it in a bowl of water, which he found to have a pleasant taste. Priestley’s apparatus was refined by others finally making it feasible to produce carbonated water in large quantities. Soon, juices, spices and other flavours were added to it.

In 1899, a glass blowing machine that was used to produce bottles was invented. This device allowed production of bottles (previously hand blown) to increase greatly. Cardboard cartons were invented in the 1920s and beverages started to be bottled as well. Soft drink vending machines too appeared in the same period. And later, aluminium cans came to be used. Beverages started to be bottled extensively in the early 20th century.