Atlas Copco Power Technique, in collaboration with long-standing distributor, Airlif Compressors & Pumps, once again delivered an economical compressed air solution to a foremost opencast mine customer in Mpumalanga. The Atlas Copco U110PACE has been specially engineered for smooth and secure integration onto a utility vehicle. Setting the benchmark in innovation, flexibility and mobility and featuring a compact footprint and intuitive software, this robust machine is designed to meet several compressed air requirements on mine and construction sites.

Airlif Compressors was founded as a family business in 1997 in Witbank, Mpumalanga, with the initial purpose of supplying the local coal mining community with an affordable alternative for flameproof underground air compressor repairs. Two years later, the company was approached by Atlas Copco Industrial South Africa to market their range of industrial air products. Airlif Compressors has since grown from strength to strength. With the support of more than 30 staff members, it is today a leading Level 2 B-BBEE supplier to prominent mines and companies in the Mpumalanga region. “We are proud of being consistently amongst the top three distributors for Atlas Copco in South Africa and we received the ‘Distributor of the Year’ 2009/2010 award,” says Airlif Compressors Sales Representative, FC Basson.

Basson explains that Airlif Compressors supplied the U110PACE to the service vehicle manufacturer who was responsible for mounting the unit on to a refurbished Water Bowser. “In accordance with the mine customer’s requirements, the water tank has been converted into a complete service unit.” He points out that this particular configuration is currently only being used in the mining sector, predominantly on open cast mines.

Basson describes the U110PACE as a very handy piece of equipment that contributes to more efficient processes on the mine site, subsequently increasing uptime and productivity for the end-user. “The unit seamlessly meets various compressed air requirements across multiple locations on opencast mines. In addition to the pumping of oil, diesel and grease, the compressor also provides air for a variety of applications in the field such as powering pneumatic tools for repairing equipment, pumping tyres and cleaning work areas,”

“In addition to its compact size and robustness, the machine’s innovative PACE (Pressure Adjusted through Cognitive Electronics) technology is also most impressive,” states Basson. “As different pneumatic tools require different loads, the smart PACE software allows operators to access the electric engine to control pressure and flow settings. This essentially means that the U110PACE is able to do the job of two compressors to meet several different compressed air requirements, delivering substantial CAPEX savings and a rapid return on investment.”

“This unit fits the requirement perfectly; we always have enough air and when we need to adjust the pressure, we can do so thanks to the PACE controller. In a nutshell, we get to choose our pressure rating as we see fit and where the application demands it!”

The U110PACE is part of Atlas Copco’s 8 Series Utility portable compressor range which is renowned for its a state-of-the art light-weight, compact, box-shaped design, subsequently making it easy to move, lift and mount these compressors onto service vehicles and utility trucks. “Using a mobile compressor, end-users are able to seamlessly move between sites and conveniently have access to compressed air for applications even in remote and difficult-to-reach areas,” notes Power Technique Sales Manager, Pamela Finniss. “Moreover, with a 10% smaller footprint on average compared to other machines, the U110PACE is extremely fuel efficient and boasts a short approximate one hour service time. In addition to reduced downtime, end-users also benefit from lower transport costs.”

“We have supplied several U110PACE machines to Airlif Compressors over the years which have been mounted on to a variety of vehicles,” continues Finniss, adding that this is the first U110PACE to be mounted on this type of utility truck. “The Airlif Compressors team’s years of experience has gained the company in-depth knowledge of customers’ individual requirements. Having earned a reputation as a trusted supplier in the mining industry, Airlif Compressors is a valuable distributor for Atlas Copco, delivering an excellent product with multiple applications.”

Basson confirms that they are extremely satisfied with both the quality of the products and the service delivery that they receive from Atlas Copco. “They gave us their full cooperation throughout this project including the provision of the appropriate and necessary training on the U110PACE, its features and software. The Atlas Copco team is always available and ready to provide us with assistance.” On the topic of maintenance, Basson says that this is taken care of by the customer who base their service programme on data supplied by Airlif Compressors on the U110PACE’s number of operating hours. 

Owing to its the innovative and unique features, the  U110PACE continuous to open up new markets for Atlas Copco and Airlif Compressors, positioning the two companies as leading partners in the portable air compressor space.