A typical week in the life of an Atlas Copco distributor: Anglian Compressors
Maybe, as Harold Wilson once said, ‘a week is a long time in politics’, but if we take the average seven days in the life of a compressed air distributor, it’s probably not long enough. As far as is known, no distributor ever died of boredom, and that’s simply because of the nature of the calling. It’s about being on duty 24/7, 365 days of the year, and the sheer complexity of services that have to be available.
It’s also about coping with an infinite variety of industries and applications, mastering the technologies of the latest compressor innovations, responding to the vagaries of the logistics and engineering tasks involved, and, ultimately, running a healthy business within the financial constraints of a near-recession economy.
The challenge can be a physical one – delivering a compressor with only a grassy incline access to the site, or having to crane a unit into a tight space after the factory roof has been removed – or it may require a financial involvement, such as presenting a convincing case for a customer’s equipment replacement to sceptical management.
Compressed air is not lightly dubbed ‘the fourth utility’. It is a vital ingredient in production processes across industry, commerce and public sector organisations and, as such, it may be thought by those outside of the business that selling essential compressed air equipment to industry is an easy task for a distributor.
That scenario is far removed from reality. It is a busy life for a compressor distributor. Here, Richard Hewitt, Sales Director, tells us about a typical week for him and the team from Anglian Compressors, Atlas Copco’s distributor in the East Anglian region.
Monday – “Visited an aerospace customer to price up pipework alterations. A new CNC machine is being installed to improve the speed of component manufacturing, which requires a new air supply. The Atlas Copco AirNet pipework system was identified as the ideal solution due to its modular design, ease of installation, and leak-tight connections that improve system efficiency.”
Tuesday – “Met with an engine manufacturer to present an energy report showing the possible savings from fitting Energy Recovery Units to the GA200 and GA160 Atlas Copco compressors on-site. The customer was impressed with the 9-month payback period, which aligns with Atlas Copco’s commitment to sustainable solutions and the potential CO2 savings. An order is expected soon.”
Wednesday – “Post-installation customer care site visit to ensure a pet food producer was happy with their new GA90VSD FF compressor, equipped with an integrated dryer for optimal air quality. The machine supports the new cat food line, and the customer was particularly conscious of energy usage. The compressor’s integration with an Atlas Copco ES8 control system ensures the efficient coordination of all compressors on site, significantly reducing energy consumption.”
Thursday – “Visited the site of a warehouse and logistics company to discuss reducing air usage. An air survey was recommended to identify leaks, with the suggestion of installing air flow meters linked to their building management system (BMS). These tools will help the customer identify and address leaks in real time, preventing unnecessary energy waste.”
Friday – “Performed an energy survey and data logging at the site of a precision gear manufacturer. The results showed energy savings of over £6,000 per year with a new Variable Speed Drive compressor. Remarkably, advances in compressor technology meant the replacement could be downsized to a GA15VSD compressor with a 15 kW output, demonstrating improved efficiency and cost-effectiveness.”
Saturday – “Visited a detention centre where compressed air is needed to lift industrial-sized washing machines. The existing vane-type compressors were identified as old and inefficient. We recommended replacing them with new Atlas Copco LF piston compressors. These units offer greater reliability, reduced maintenance needs, and lower energy consumption, ensuring long-term operational efficiency.”
Sunday – “My highlight of the week! Received notification that Anglian Compressors has won the coveted Atlas Copco Distributor of the Year award for 2012. This recognition highlights our dedication to providing top-notch service and the entire team’s hard work. None of it would have been possible without our collective effort.”
From these examples it is clear there is much more to a distributor’s role than conducting sales transactions. Whether the compressed air application is as varied as agitating mud at a sluice gate, helping produce snow at an indoor ski slope or making a museum dinosaur move, it’s always an in-depth involve- meant to implement, manage and maintain the continuity of a user’s compressed air supply in the most cost-effective and energy-efficient way. Atlas Copco’s technologies, such as VSD compressors and AirNet pipework, empower distributors to provide unmatched solutions across industries.
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