In an environment where carbon‑fiber dust moves as relentlessly as the work itself, you need a reliable air compressor. Hexcel, a global leader in advanced composite materials, needed an air solution that could outsmart the conditions around it. With an aging diesel unit on its last breath and a temporary rental filling the gap, the search began for a tougher and more dependable source of standby air.
Credit: Atlas Copco
Atlas Copco’s electric E-Air V1100 VSD compressor powering a carbon fiber manufacturing plant
Hexcel, a global producer of advanced composite materials, recently strengthened its plant’s compressed air system with a new stationary compressor. While this energy-efficient unit covered their daily production needs, their backup setup was a growing concern. The old diesel unit that once provided emergency air no longer operated, leaving them vulnerable to sudden downtime. Their main goal was ensuring a reliable and contamination-resistant backup air solution for their continuous manufacturing processes.
Uncovering the real risk during a site visit
During an on-site evaluation, it became clear how critical the situation was. Hexcel had been relying on a rented standard air compressor, a solution that was neither cost-effective nor dependable for their high-demand environment. With fine carbon‑fiber dust circulating throughout the facility, it was evident that any new compressor would need to withstand harsh airborne contaminants without sacrificing performance. In conditions like these, sealed enclosures and robust filtration are essential to keeping equipment protected and production running. After reviewing their options, Hexcel identified the electric E-Air V1100 as the ideal fit: a reliable and durable solution engineered to perform in tough, non-clean industrial environments.
Addressing contamination concerns with a sealed electric design
Over the past years, carbon-fiber particles inside the production area had entered and damaged the previous electric compressors from different suppliers. So the company was skeptical about selecting a new one. Once they understood how the E-Air V1100 is built and engineered with fully sealed components to prevent particle intrusion, they were convinced to go for an electric backup air solution again. And it turned out to be a great decision, since the compressor is working flawlessly.
The electric air compressor offered the contamination protection they needed while eliminating the operational downtime associated with diesel refueling and maintenance. The result was a more reliable and efficient solution, without local exhaust gases
A future-proof backup solution for tough industrial conditions
Today, Hexcel benefits from a robust and energy-efficient backup air system designed for tough manufacturing conditions where reliability cannot be compromised. By replacing an aging diesel unit with a sealed electric air compressor, the plant now operates with greater predictability and lower operating costs. The E-Air V1100 compressor ensures that its production remains protected, even in environments where airborne particles make high-performance compressed air a challenging requirement.