May 2014, Wilrijk, Belgium — Brucha’s factory in Michelhausen, Lower Austria, covers an area of 80,000 square meters. The plant has installed four Atlas Copco GA oil-injected screw compressors equipped with Variable Speed Drive (VSD) technology. These compressors supply the required compressed air for the company’s four production workshops, meeting production demands while achieving 25% energy savings.
Founded in 1948, Brucha specializes in the production of high-quality panels used for constructing cold rooms and freezer rooms. These panels are available in 15 different insulation thicknesses, ranging from 40 to 220 millimeters, and can be used as wall or ceiling coverings made from materials such as wood, steel, or concrete. The company’s two most important customer groups come from the meat processing and bakery industries, both of which have high demands for cold storage and refrigeration facilities.
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Variable Speed Drive (VSD) Technology Meets Fluctuating Compressed Air Demand
Compressed air plays a crucial role across Brucha’s factory facilities. The plant consists of four decentralized production workshops, spanning 80,000 square meters. The control air is mainly used for lifting, lowering, and rotating products, as well as for pneumatic valves. In 2012, Brucha installed four Atlas Copco oil-injected rotary screw compressors with VSD technology — one GA 37 VSD, two GA 45 VSD units, and one GA 55 VSD. These compressors supply compressed air according to fluctuating production requirements.
VSD compressors deliver the exact amount of compressed air needed at any given time. Their operational flexibility ensures maximum productivity while minimizing energy consumption, thereby reducing total cost of ownership.
Energy Consumption Reduced by 25%
Karl Zischkin, Production Manager at Brucha, explained:
“Our network is quite decentralized, so each production workshop has its own compressor. Previously, our compressed-air system had no speed-control capability, and most of the time it produced excess compressed air. In today’s environment, with high energy prices and growing awareness of energy efficiency, such low efficiency is unacceptable. Atlas Copco’s speed-controlled compressors can meet peak demand while reducing energy consumption by about 25%.”
For more than 60 years, Brucha has continuously invested in state-of-the-art technologies and uses highly modern production systems in its facilities. The company is also strongly committed to environmental protection. Karl Zischkin is very pleased with the energy savings achieved after installing the four GA compressors equipped with VSD technology.
About Atlas Copco
Atlas Copco is a world-leading provider of sustainable productivity solutions. The company offers innovative compressors, vacuum solutions and air treatment systems, construction and mining equipment, power tools, and assembly systems. Atlas Copco focuses on developing products and services that prioritize productivity, energy efficiency, safety, and ergonomics. Founded in 1873 and headquartered in Stockholm, Sweden, the company operates in more than 180 countries and regions. In 2013, Atlas Copco recorded revenues of SEK 84 billion (EUR 9.7 billion) and employed more than 40,000 people.
The Atlas Copco Compressor Technique business area provides industrial compressors, vacuum solutions, gas and process compressors, expanders, air and gas treatment equipment, and air management systems. With a global service network and continuous innovation, this business area delivers sustainable productivity to manufacturing, oil and gas, and processing industries. Its main R&D and production centers are located in Belgium, Germany, the United States, China, and India.
