Automotive Industry
Compressors for the Automotive Industry – Stable Compressed Air for OEM and Tier 1 Production
In many automotive plants, a central compressed air station supplies several production areas. In others, separate networks or different pressure levels exist. If the pressure drops below the required value, several consumers can be affected simultaneously – depending on the system’s interconnections, this can even lead to a line standstill. At the same time, compressed air generation is a significant energy consumer in the plant. Therefore, the load profile, pressure level, and control strategy directly impact availability and operating costs. We design industrial compressors and compressed air treatment systems for OEM and supplier plants to ensure both aspects are optimally matched.
Requirements for Compressed Air Supply in Automotive Production
Designing a compressed air station for press shops, body construction, and assembly
Control strategy based on load profile instead of nominal power
The air demand in an automotive plant is rarely constant. Depending on the system, cycle time, and degree of automation, different base loads and load peaks arise. A coordinated compound solution can map such profiles: The speed-controlled screw compressors of the STRONG series operate oil-injected, with direct drive and permanent magnet motor. Within their control range, they adapt the generated air volume to the actual demand and can reduce idle phases. For a predictable, constant base load, machines with fixed speed, such as the FOCUS series, are suitable.
The sensible division is determined by the measured load profile – not by a comparison of nominal power ratings. Two machines with the same kW specification can differ significantly in delivery volume, pressure class, and control behaviour. We have summarised what matters when making comparisons in our article on the actual costs of an industrial compressor.
Two-stage compression for high base loads
For a high, continuously required volume flow, the specific power – the power consumption per cubic metre of compressed air generated – becomes a significant cost factor. The STRONG 2S series compresses in two stages with intercooling. Compared to a comparable single-stage compression, energy savings of more than 10% are possible. How much of this is realised in operation depends on the load profile, the pressure level, and the installation conditions.
Reduce energy costs and utilise waste heat
Compressed air generation usually incurs significantly higher costs over its lifespan than the initial purchase. Key factors are power consumption in the actual load profile, the pressure level, and the condition of the network: leaks, pressure losses in undersized lines, and unnecessarily high system pressure drive up the costs per cubic metre of compressed air. An operational measurement reveals where losses actually occur.
The STRONG 2S series is optionally available with an integrated heat exchanger. This allows a portion of the compression heat to be used as hot water for heating or domestic hot water. Whether heat recovery is economically viable depends, among other things, on the temperature level, heat demand, and operating hours.
Differentiated compressed air quality per production area
Not every area requires the same compressed air quality. For clamping devices, screw technology, and tools, treated compressed air from oil-injected compression may suffice, provided the required purity class at the consumer is achieved. For paint-relevant surfaces or sensitive testing processes, further treatment or oil-free generation may be necessary. It is crucial to define the requirements for each application and to coordinate treatment and distribution accordingly. This includes refrigerant dryers, appropriately sized line filters, and professional condensate drainage.
Availability, Maintenance, and Operational Transparency
Unplanned downtimes in automotive production can cause high consequential costs. Therefore, redundancy, maintenance access, and spare parts availability must be considered from the outset in the design. The SCC control system displays important operating parameters and maintenance instructions. If the data also needs to be available in a control room or on mobile devices, this is possible with appropriate additional software. This allows deviations to be detected and assessed early. We support ongoing operations with a suitable maintenance concept.
Where Compressed Air is Used in Automotive Production
Areas of application in OEM and supplier plants
Which industrial compressors are suitable for the automotive industry?
Our solutions for OEM and supplier plants
Frequently Asked Questions about Compressed Air in the Automotive Industry
The basis is a measurement over a representative period, which records base load, load peaks, and shift patterns. Adding the nominal consumption of all machines usually overestimates the demand, as rarely all consumers run simultaneously. Our step-by-step guide to calculating compressed air demand shows how demand can be systematically recorded.
This depends on the load profile and the required redundancy. Often, one machine covers the base load, while a speed-controlled unit compensates for fluctuations. A combination can also enable maintenance during ongoing operation, provided the remaining machines reliably cover the current air demand.
Not automatically. With very uniform utilisation, a fixed-speed machine in base load operation can be the more economical choice. Speed control is particularly useful where demand fluctuates – for example, due to cycle changes, set-up times, or lines with varying loads. A measurement under real operating conditions is crucial.
Leaks cause losses around the clock, even outside production hours. Typical locations are couplings, hoses, fittings, and maintenance units. Regular leak detection and shutting off unused network sections are therefore among the most effective measures before considering additional generation capacity.
First, it should be checked whether the problem is local or system-wide. Typical causes of pressure losses include leaks, undersized pipelines, clogged filters, unsuitable couplings or hoses, and short-term demand peaks. Increasing the pressure throughout the network does not necessarily eliminate the cause and can increase energy consumption. You can find more background information in our article on the correct operating pressure.
Yes. We support you from demand assessment and the design of compressors and compressed air treatment to the ongoing maintenance concept. The question of whether heat recovery can be economically utilised at your site can also be evaluated as part of the design process.
Your Compressed Air Solution for the Automotive Industry
With SCC air compressors, you choose a European manufacturer with a strong market presence, its own branches in Germany, France, Great Britain, Spain, and Italy – and a Europe-wide service network with over 460 dealers.
- Highest quality according to European standards: All products are manufactured according to EU standards and tested in Germany.
- Attractive price-performance ratio: Production primarily takes place with experienced manufacturing partners in Asia. This allows us to combine high quality standards with competitive prices.
- Fast availability: Large warehouses in Germany, Great Britain, Italy, and Spain ensure short delivery times.
- Competent service: Personal contacts are available on weekdays; Premium dealers receive support daily from 7 am to 10 pm.
- Long-term security: Five-year warranty for all SCC compressors delivered from 01.01.2026 – in accordance with the valid warranty conditions.
This combination of quality, service, and availability makes SCC a reliable partner for industrial companies across Europe.
A reliable compressed air supply begins with the load profile, not the data sheet. We analyse your requirements, recommend suitable industrial compressors for OEM and supplier plants, and support you from design and compressed air treatment to maintenance. For an initial assessment, information on target pressure, shift model, critical consumers, operating hours, and known pressure drops in the network is helpful. For adjacent manufacturing steps such as cutting, welding, and machine tools, you can find further information on our page about metal processing.