Rob,
I have no knowledge of the units listed in you OP: however, I can give a big "thumbs-up" to Kaeser on their quality.
I have a SM-10 that has been (for the most part) trouble free.
Outside of a drive belt, and some maintenance parts, the little unit has been running non stop for a few years now.
The only warning I can offer on Kaeser is that parts are not stocked locally, they ship from a central location.
That sucks when you HAVE to be up and running again ASAP.
Doug.
My Kaiser has hours on it now. I have had Kaiser service it three times. 100% reliable so far.
The service guy tells me there are a few smaller units like mine here in the valley with over 100k hours, and no issues other than maintenance.
My first Kaiser experience was a larger unit an old employer of mine picked up at an auction. It was older, I think about 20 years (7ish years ago).
It had 170,000 hours on it. He did spend about $ having it brought up to snuff. But, Kaiser had records of the machine.
It came out of a local Boeing joint, and was still running the original air-end, and motor.
I used to run a 50hp Quincy in another shop, it was a solid machine.
Atlas Copco bought out Quincy- I would compare the cost of the service parts, and check the availability of seal kits for the airend. I had to replace the airend on my GX5 because Atlas Copco would not sell me a seal kit. Almost $3k because I couldn't get a shaft seal.
I wouldn't take their word on it either- I would want to know the part number and price.
My next compressor will be a Kaeser or Ingersoll. Atlas Copco quoted me $62 for an O-Ring that I got from McMaster for about 50 cents.
I used to run a 50hp Quincy in another shop, it was a solid machine.
Atlas Copco bought out Quincy- I would compare the cost of the service parts, and check the availability of seal kits for the airend. I had to replace the airend on my GX5 because Atlas Copco would not sell me a seal kit. Almost $3k because I couldn't get a shaft seal.
I wouldn't take their word on it either- I would want to know the part number and price.
My next compressor will be a Kaeser or Ingersoll. Atlas Copco quoted me $62 for an O-Ring that I got from McMaster for about 50 cents.
I am personal friends with three people that own 10hp Ingersoll screw compressors. One guy owns two of them. All three have had more that their share of issues.
The guy with two seems like the Ingersoll guy lives at his shop. One had to buy another compressor during a stupid warranty battle to get running again.
That Ingersoll is still sitting on the top of his pallet rack, dead, after he finally told them to piss-off (at about 6 months old).
Give you one guess what color his new compressor is.
I have no experience with them yet but have been eying a Mattei rotary vane for awhile. Pricing is similar to screw but when it does come time to rebuild airend alot cheaper than the screws. As they say the vanes wear in not out. Have talked to local tech that says has seen them with over 100k hours on original parts, but same as screw they do need regular maintenance (oil/ filter) to make either last that long.
The Kaiser's I looked at were very nice but they seem to charge a pretty heavy premium for their namesake. All I know for sure is I am really getting tired of listening to my current piston compressor.
The Kaiser's I looked at were very nice but they seem to charge a pretty heavy premium for their namesake. All I know for sure is I am really getting tired of listening to my current piston compressor.
How is less than free a heavy premium? I know, joking,
kinda.
Yea, up front, its a bit steep. I paid about $4.5k for my SX5, and parked it on my existing tank, and used my existing dryer.
And, it works just titties! You don't have to pony up for the air-tower with built in tank and dryer.
But, seriously, I am sure it has saved me enough on the monthly bill to pay for itself already!
"pay me now, or pay me later" kind of thing. I was broke when I needed it, so I financed it. The payment was $104/mo.
If a guy running a shop can't swing $104/mo he has bigger problems. I would pay double that just for the peace and quiet!
......But, seriously, I am sure it has saved me enough on the monthly bill to pay for itself already!
If your air demand fluctuates much, the cost savings from using a variable speed screw compressor over a modulated screw compressor is pretty significant.
Some utilities will also have "rebate" programs for industrial users that switch to energy saving equipment. This can help with the initial investment and shorten the ROI.
The plant I retired from installed a 100HP Quincy variable speed, cycling refrigerant dryer, and another gallon receiver. Between the rebate and energy savings, the payback was ~7 months.
Kaeser vs Quincy? Coin flip IMO. I have had great experience with Quincy and heard all good about Kaeser. Had OK experiences with Atlas Copco and Powerex. Not very happy with a 15hp Ingersoll.
If your air demand fluctuates much, the cost savings from using a variable speed screw compressor over a modulated screw compressor is pretty significant.
Some utilities will also have "rebate" programs for industrial users that switch to energy saving equipment. This can help with the initial investment and shorten the ROI.
The plant I retired from installed a 100HP Quincy variable speed, cycling refrigerant dryer, and another gallon receiver. Between the rebate and energy savings, the payback was ~7 months.
Kaeser vs Quincy? Coin flip IMO. I have had great experience with Quincy and heard all good about Kaeser. Had OK experiences with Atlas Copco and Powerex. Not very happy with a 15hp Ingersoll.
We started with a 90 gallon ingrrsoll rand 2cyl 220v compressor. Still works. Took lots of abuse. 3 mills, a few lathes and a big pneumatic controlled saw. That plus the air leaks and it ran more then it was off. One night someone forgot to turn the main air valve off before going home. It blew a line, ran all night long. Let it cool, fixed the line and it kept on going. We’ve done a few head gaskets, a set of reeds and changed the oil twice in ten years.
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I am personal friends with three people that own 10hp Ingersoll screw compressors. One guy owns two of them. All three have had more that their share of issues.
The guy with two seems like the Ingersoll guy lives at his shop. One had to buy another compressor during a stupid warranty battle to get running again.
That Ingersoll is still sitting on the top of his pallet rack, dead, after he finally told them to piss-off (at about 6 months old).
Give you one guess what color his new compressor is.
Yeah, it's a mixed bag like everything else.
A buddy of mine has 2 Ingersoll 10hp screws. One is older, does not have the integrated airend. That one has about 40K hours with minimal service. The other one is a new one, has about 2K hours. He said the new one was overheating, so he was running it with the panel open and had a fan blowing on it. That interrupts the airflow within the enclosure, so the oil cooler doesn't do it's job. I closed it back up and watched it run, but I haven't talked to him to see if it overheated.
I tried to find a Kaeser dealer in Portland, and couldn't find anyone. I got the address of the Northwest regional sales manager and emailed him but never got a response. I was all ready to write a check for a new Kaeser, but if they're not interested in selling one...
I have so much $$$ sunk into my Atlas Copco that I have to just run it till it dies. Then I will try again with Kaeser.
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