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, there are separate networks or different pressure levels. If the pressure drops below the required value, several consumers can be affected simultaneously – depending on the system linkage, this can lead to a line standstill. At the same time, compressed air generation is a significant energy consumer in the plant. The load profile, pressure level, and control strategy therefore have a direct impact on availability and operating costs. We design industrial compressors and compressed air treatment for OEM and supplier plants so that both fit together perfectly.
Requirements for Compressed Air Supply in Automotive Production
Designing compressed air stations for press shops, body shops, and assembly
Control strategy based on load profile instead of nominal power
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 occur. A coordinated system solution can map such profiles: the speed-controlled screw compressors of the STRONG series are oil-injected, with direct drive and permanent magnet motors. Within their control range, they adjust the amount of air produced to the actual demand and can reduce idling phases. For a predictable, constant base load, fixed-speed machines such as the FOCUS series are suitable.
The most sensible distribution is determined by the measured load profile – not by a comparison of nominal power ratings. Two machines with the same kW rating can differ significantly in delivery volume, pressure class, and control behavior. We have summarized what matters when making a comparison in our article on the actual costs of an industrial compressor.
Two-stage compression for high base loads
With a high, permanently required volume flow, the specific power – the electricity demand per cubic meter of compressed air produced – becomes a major cost factor. The STRONG 2S series uses two-stage compression with intercooling. Compared to comparable single-stage compression, energy savings of more than 10% are possible. How much of this is achieved in operation depends on the load profile, the pressure level, and the installation conditions.
Reduce energy costs and utilize waste heat
Over its service life, compressed air generation usually causes significantly higher costs than the initial purchase. The decisive factors are electricity consumption in the real load profile, the pressure level, and the condition of the network: leaks, pressure losses in undersized pipes, and unnecessarily high system pressure drive up the costs per cubic meter of compressed air. A measurement during operation shows where the losses actually occur.
The STRONG 2S series is optionally available with an integrated heat exchanger. This allows part of the compression heat to be used as hot water for heating or process water. Whether heat recovery is economically viable depends, among other things, on the temperature level, the heat demand, and the operating hours.
Compressed air quality differentiated by production area
Not every area requires the same compressed air quality. For clamping devices, bolting technology, and tools, treated compressed air from oil-injected compression may be sufficient, provided the purity class required at the consumer is achieved. For paint-relevant surfaces or sensitive testing processes, more extensive treatment or oil-free generation may be necessary. The key is to define the requirements for each application and coordinate treatment and distribution accordingly. This includes refrigerant dryers, appropriately sized line filters, and professional condensate drainage.
Availability, maintenance, and transparency in operation
Unplanned downtimes can cause high follow-up costs in automotive production. Therefore, redundancy, maintenance access, and spare parts availability are part of the design from the very beginning. The SCC control system displays important operating parameters and maintenance instructions. If the data is also 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 evaluated early on. 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 that records the base load, load peaks, and shift patterns. Adding up the nominal consumption of all machines usually overestimates the demand, as all consumers rarely run at the same time. Our step-by-step guide to calculating compressed air demand shows how the demand can be recorded structurally.
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 network can also enable maintenance during operation, provided the remaining machines reliably cover the current air demand.
Not automatically. With very even utilization, 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, setup times, or differently utilized lines. A measurement under real operating conditions is crucial.
Leaks cause losses around the clock, even outside of production hours. Typical locations are couplings, hoses, screw connections, and maintenance units. Regular leak detection and the shut-off of unused network sections are therefore among the most effective measures before considering additional generator capacity.
First, it should be checked whether the problem occurs locally or system-wide. Typical causes of pressure loss are leaks, undersized piping, clogged filters, unsuitable couplings or hoses, and short-term demand peaks. Increasing the pressure in the entire network does not necessarily eliminate the cause and can increase energy consumption. You can find background information on this in our article on the correct operating pressure.
Yes. We support you from demand determination and the design of compressors and compressed air treatment to the ongoing maintenance concept. The question of whether heat recovery can be used economically at the site can also be evaluated as part of the design.
Your Compressed Air Solution for the Automotive Industry
With SCC air compressors, you are choosing a European manufacturer with a strong market presence, its own subsidiaries in Germany, France, the UK, 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 takes place predominantly with experienced production partners in Asia. This allows us to combine high quality requirements 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 workdays; premium dealers receive support daily from 7 AM to 10 PM.
- Long-term security: Five-year warranty for all SCC compressors delivered from January 1, 2026 – in accordance with the valid warranty conditions.
This combination of quality, service and availability makes SCC a reliable partner for industrial companies throughout Europe.
A reliable compressed air supply starts with the load profile, not the data sheet. We analyze your demand, 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 the pressure setpoint, shift model, critical consumers, operating hours, and known pressure drops in the network is helpful. For adjacent production steps such as cutting, welding, and machine tools, you can find further information on our page on metal processing.