Compressor buying guide: which compressor do you need?
Find the right compressor installation in two steps
There is a suitable compressor for every application. It is important to choose an installation that matches your air consumption, working pressure and power supply. We offer different types of installations for a wide range of purposes: from workshop compressors to industrial compressed air systems and specialised solutions such as laser cutting.
Choosing the right compressor is essential for a reliable and efficient compressed air system. To help you make the best choice, we have listed the most important factors for you.
Step 1: Determine the required air output
The most important factor when choosing a compressor is the amount of air your installation needs. Although this can be expressed in different ways, we mainly use l/min (litres per minute) to indicate capacity.
Once you know the consumption of your machines, you can easily determine the required capacity. Do you have values in another unit, such as m³/hour or l/sec? You can easily convert them using our online calculator.
→ [Use our calculator!]
Please note: do not buy an oversized compressor!
A common mistake is choosing a compressor with too much capacity. Especially with screw compressors, overcapacity is not always beneficial. The machine must regularly reach operating temperature so that moisture in the oil can evaporate. With a consistently low load, you risk:
- Moisture build-up in the oil
- Reduced lubrication and increased wear
- Malfunctions in the long term
As a rule of thumb, we recommend choosing a compressor capacity that is no more than around 50% above your actual air consumption.
Step 2: Choose the right working pressure
In addition to capacity, the working pressure (bar) is also decisive. For most workshops, pneumatic tools and industrial applications, a 10 bar compressor is more than sufficient. That is why most screw compressors are supplied as standard with a maximum final pressure of 10 bar.
When should you choose 16 or 20 bar?
In specific cases, a higher pressure is required:
- 16 bar is often used in the transport sector or in specific industrial installations where extra pressure is required for the process.
- 20 bar is almost exclusively used for specialised applications, such as laser cutting with compressed air. In modern fibre lasers, compressed air serves as an efficient alternative to nitrogen, requiring high and stable pressure.
Need advice on choosing the right compressor?
Not sure which capacity or working pressure your situation requires? We are happy to help you calculate your air demand and select the ideal compressor installation. Together, we will make sure you get a solution that perfectly matches your business operations.
