In modern logistics, the most critical utility isn't always the most obvious. Beyond electricity, water, and gas, a fourth utility underpins your entire operation: compressed air. It’s the unseen force driving automation, packaging, and fleet readiness. It's managed well; it’s a powerful asset. Neglected, it’s a significant source of downtime and financial drain.
In this guide, you’ll learn how to:
- Eliminate unexpected downtime through predictive monitoring
- Cut your compressed air energy costs by up to 50%
- Ensure legal compliance with PSSR 2000
- Specify the right Atlas Copco equipment for 24/7 operations
- Leverage strategic hire options during peak demand
Keep Your Logistics Chain Moving with Reliable Compressed Air
You’re entirely dependent on compressed air. A hiccup in the compressor room results in system-wide bottlenecks that can stop your logistics operation dead in its tracks.
- Automation, at speed: Pneumatic actuators keep your conveyors and sorting systems running with diverters, pushers, and robotics tooling.
- Packaging and Palletising: From case erectors to sealers, compressed air provides the consistent power to get your goods ready for dispatch.
- Fleet Maintenance: Your vehicle maintenance bay relies on compressed air to power high-torque tools, operate lifts, and maintain correct tyre inflation for fleet safety and efficiency.
Avoid Downtime with Smart Monitoring & Maintenance
Our logistics clients often find that a proactive strategy is the only way to protect against the catastrophic costs of a system failure. Preventive Maintenance: The key to reliability is a planned service schedule. Regular, scheduled maintenance ensures all filters and oils are changed regularly to help avoid the common failures that could occur if left unchecked.
- Predictive Monitoring: A new breed of condition monitoring systems, including Atlas Copco’s SMARTLINK – a cloud-based monitoring system – helps by continuously collecting real-time information on the health of your equipment. By adding Flow Monitoring for Air Compressors, you can remotely monitor equipment usage, reduce losses due to inefficiencies, and identify fault conditions before the system shuts down.
- 24/7 Emergency Response: When a failure does occur, the speed of the response is crucial. Our local service network means that trained service technicians are on site and able to quickly isolate and fix the problem before it interrupts your business.
Slash Energy Waste by Fixing Leaks and Using VSD Tech
Compressed air is often the most expensive utility in your facility. Without monitoring, you could waste 20–30% of your output and your energy budget.
The two most significant sources of waste are air leaks and inefficient controls. Conducting ultrasonic leak detection surveys pinpoints the exact location of costly leaks. Understanding how VSD air compressors reduce energy waste shows how this technology can cut energy consumption by up to 50% by matching motor speed to real-time demand. Most facilities see a full return on investment for these upgrades within months.
Ensure Legal Compliance with PSSR 2000
In the UK, the Pressure Systems Safety Regulations 2000 (PSSR) are a legal requirement, not a guideline. Non-compliance poses a significant risk with the potential for substantial fines and facility shutdowns.
Regulations mandate a valid Written Scheme of Examination (WSE) for your pressure vessels. We take the PSSR burden off your hands from creating the WSE to handling inspections and paperwork, ensuring you remain fully compliant.
Quick Compliance Checklist (UK Logistics Facilities)
- Valid Written Scheme of Examination (WSE) in place
- PSSR inspection log updated
- Pressure vessels registered with a Competent Person
- Maintenance history documented
- Emergency response plan in place
The Right Technology for Logistics Applications
There’s no 24/7 logistics operation without the properly engineered equipment that’s ready to work hard, day in and day out.
- Atlas Copco Rotary Screw Compressors: GA (fixed-speed) and GA VSD⁺ (Variable Speed Drive) series are workhorse designs, engineered for 100% duty cycle at stable pressure.
- Oil-Free Class 0 Compressor: Certified to the ISO 8573-1 standard, Class 0 means no detectable oil in the compressed air, which means your food, beverage, or pharmaceutical products are safe, as is your reputation.
- Complete Air Treatment & Distribution: Delivering clean, dry air is vital. The final piece is optimising compressed air distribution with AIRnet pipework, a modular solution that prevents corrosion and stops energy-wasting pressure drops.
Flexible Solutions: Compressor Hire for Peak Demand & Emergencies
Strategic equipment hire gives you crucial flexibility without the capital expense.
- Emergency Cover: If a primary compressor fails, we can deploy a temporary hire unit rapidly to keep you operational while we carry out repairs.
- Seasonal Demand: For seasonal peaks like the Q4 e-commerce rush, long-term rental contracts allow you to temporarily increase capacity, avoiding investment in equipment that would sit idle for the rest of the year.
Your Local Partner in the Peterborough Logistics Hub
Of course, we have national providers, but local support makes all the difference when every second of downtime matters. Headquartered in Peterborough, Anglian Compressors is well-positioned to serve key distribution centres across Northampton, Cambridge, and Leicester, among others.
We are located right in the centre of the UK’s distribution network to ensure the fastest possible on-site response. In one recent case, we discovered more than £12,000 in annual energy savings for a fulfilment centre right here in Peterborough. You can read more about this in our real-world logistics case study: Anglian x warehouse client.
Ready to take control of your fourth utility?
Book a free audit today and discover where you’re losing energy, risking downtime, or overspending. We’ll help you turn your compressed air system into a strategic asset.