Compressed air leaves the compressor carrying heat, moisture and contamination that can affect tools, machinery, coatings and production processes. The treatment system should be selected around the actual application, not treated as an afterthought after the compressor has already been chosen.
Pneumatix Total Air Stations package a refrigerated dryer and inline filtration with the PM10 or PM20 compressor and receiver. Pneumatix Base Mounts are compressor-only, allowing the receiver, dryer and filtration to be selected separately around the site and process.
What air treatment is intended to control
Air treatment can reduce downstream moisture, liquid water, particulate contamination and oil aerosol. The required result depends on the equipment using the air. A general mechanical workshop, a spray-finishing process and a sensitive production machine may each need a different treatment arrangement even when the compressor output is similar.
The correct treatment train considers the compressor, receiver, dryer, filtration, condensate drains, pipework and point-of-use requirements together. Adding a filter without considering pressure drop, flow capacity or service condition can create a restriction without delivering the intended air quality.
The order of the receiver, dryer, filters and drains depends on the selected equipment. The complete treatment sequence is covered in the compressed-air system guide.
Total Air Station or separately selected treatment?
Total Air Stations
PM10 and PM20 Total Air Stations are suited to customers who want the compressor, receiver and main treatment components combined in a coordinated package. They simplify footprint planning and reduce the number of major components that need to be positioned independently.
Base Mounts
PM10, PM20 and PM30 Base Mounts make more sense where the site already has storage, needs a larger or separately positioned receiver, requires a different dryer size, or needs filtration selected around a more demanding process.
Selection factors that change dryer and filter duty
- actual compressor airflow
- operating pressure
- ambient temperature
- air inlet temperature to the dryer
- required downstream air quality
- pressure drop through treatment equipment
- peak and average demand
- pipework layout and distance
- condensate load and drain arrangement
- future compressor or process expansion
Plan for service access and replacement
Dryers, filters and drains require ongoing service. The installation should leave enough access to replace elements, clean heat exchangers, inspect drains and isolate individual components. A compact layout is useful only when it remains practical to maintain.
Where applicable, Pneumatix packages are arranged so major packaged sections can be replaced as assemblies by suitably qualified technicians. That serviceability objective should be preserved in the final site layout.
Applications that may need more specific treatment
Mechanical workshops
control moisture and contamination for tools and workshop equipment.
Tyre and service centres
support inflation, tyre equipment and general workshop air.
Fabrication and CNC
protect machinery, pneumatic controls and production processes.
Spray finishing
assess moisture, oil aerosol, particulate and pressure stability against the coating process.
General industrial
select treatment around process sensitivity and operating conditions.
Frequently asked questions
Does every Pneumatix compressor include a dryer and filters?
No. PM10 and PM20 Total Air Stations include an integrated receiver-mounted treatment package. PM10, PM20 and PM30 Base Mounts are compressor-only and require the receiver, dryer and filtration to be selected separately.
Can a dryer be selected from horsepower alone?
No. Dryer selection should account for actual airflow, pressure, ambient conditions, inlet temperature and the required downstream air quality.
Do all paint applications need the same filtration?
No. Spray equipment, coating systems and finish requirements can differ. The air-treatment specification should be confirmed for the particular process.
Will filters reduce pressure?
Every treatment component can contribute some pressure drop. Correct sizing, clean elements and a suitable system layout help keep that loss controlled.
Plan the treatment system with the compressor
Tell Pneumatix or your dealer what the compressed air will be used for, the required pressure and what equipment is already installed. The compressor, receiver, dryer and filtration can then be considered as one system.