Compressed air filters: Cost-effective replacement

The company says that an increasing number of companies – rather than paying for expensive and often low-efficiency OEM filters – are turning to alternative elements which, according to Hi-line, frequently provide an ‘upgrade’ on competitor solutions at less cost.

Hi-line says that its alternative range of flow elements can cost circa 60-70% less than those available from compressor manufacturers. When considering there could be four elements on one system, it says the saving can be significant.

The alternative elements produced by Hi-line provide an exact match with the size and connection specifications of the originals and are said to offer at least the performance of the original, although in many cases Hi-line says they actually provide higher performance because the company upgrades the technology. For instance, Hi-line uses pleated filter media rather than wrapped, explaining that it offers four times the cross-sectional area of standard elements.

The larger cross-sectional area provides a number of important advantages, including lower pressure drop, which in turn saves energy as the compressor does not have to work as hard to force air through the filter. Further benefits include higher contamination-holding capacity, longer service life and greater flow characteristics – all for less financial outlay.

Hi-line alternative filter elements with ‘pleated’ media allow the original housing to give users the high-performance, low-cost filtration features enjoyed by Hi-line filter elements. However, Hi-line can supply its own die-cast aluminium filter housings, which are subject to alu-chrome treatment on both external and internal surfaces, and finished (externally) with a tough epoxy baked-on paint in compressed air blue (RAL 5015). These treatments provide long-term protection, even when subject to the harshest of conditions.

The company stocks alternative elements worth a total of more than £1 million at its Midlands factory, ensuring circa 167,000 filter elements/cartridges are available for next-day delivery and installation. The Hi-line sales team takes advantage of fully computerised cross-referencing software to ensure the swift turnaround of enquiries for same-day despatch. 

For further information: www.hilineindustries.com