Waterford Crystal Chooses ELGi Compressors for Efficient and Reliable Compressed Air System

By OEM Update Editorial April 13, 2023 3:43 pm IST

The luxury crystal glassware manufacturer from Waterford in Ireland selected the ELGi EG Series oil-lubricated screw air compressor to modernise its high-precision engraving operations.
Waterford Crystal needed to replace its existing compressor and commissioned Airtec Compressors Ltd.. Airtec Compressors, the air service partners for Waterford Crystal for over a decade, conducted a detailed site study and recommended installing a new ELGi EG22V (variable speed) -installed in April 2021. 
 The Irish manufacturer of fine luxury crystal chose the EG Series EG22V from ELGi Compressors Europe to modernise the compressed air system at its plant in Waterford, Ireland. The manufacturer required reliability and energy efficiency from its new lead compressor. It will provide 24/7 operations for a large proportion of their industrial machinery and high-precision engraving tools, highlighting skilled craft.

ELGi said, “We are proud that an ELGi unit is at the heart of operations of Waterford Crystal – a world-renowned luxury crystal producer – supporting the creation of beautiful crystal pieces through its reliability and energy efficiency. At ELGi, our vision is to be ‘Always Better,’ Our EG Series embodies this approach with innovative technology options that help our customers be more efficient, lower life cycle costs and reduce the environmental footprint. The EG Series stands out for its patented technologies, high efficiency, and ten-year market-leading warranty on the airend.”
Tony Elsted, Engineering and Maintenance Manager at Waterford Crystal said, “The main reasons for purchasing the ELGi machine were its market-leading 10-year airend warranty and the efficiency improvements it offered. The ELGi EG22V is our new lead compressor and has been operating seamlessly at our factory for over a year. Since installing the EG22V we have seen a large reduction in our energy consumption versus our older compressor. Despite the increased cost of electricity, the compressor has given us a payback in less than two years.”
The EG Series compressor range’s design enables operations at extreme temperatures – from cold to hot and from dry to extremely humid conditions. This leads to improved reliability of the compressed air system. ELGi’s high-efficient airends are equipped with in-house developed η-V profile rotors, with the 4/5 lobe combination, designed to run at low rotor speeds. This unique design reduces pressure losses and, together with the OSBIC (Oil separation by impact and centrifugal action), 3-stage separation provides best-in-class energy efficiency.
Airtec Compressors is ELGi’s Channel Partner in Ireland for a solution since 2020. Tony Elsted from Waterford Crystal states, “Airtec Compressors have been our compressed air service partner for over ten years. Their expertise, knowledge, and recommendation have improved the efficiency of our compressed air system, and they have exceeded our expectations.”