Compressors, few shops of any kind, go without one, but why do they matter so much for paint work? 

While a compressor, on some level, is a relatively basic piece of equipment for your setup (fundamentally, all it does is, well, compress air, after all), it is also arguably one of, if not the most, vital central piece to your entire Booth's setup. For those who have struggled with poor quality or deteriorating air compressors, this might be painfully obvious, but for those who don’t know here's a quick rundown for today about why compressors are so vital, what to watch for when it's time to upgrade one finally, and some tips and pointers about repair and maintenance. 

A Vital Cornerstone of Paintwork 

Let's start with the basics. A good-quality, well-maintained air compressor is vital to any shop's painting, or powder coating jobs because it provides consistent, reliable airflow. This translates to a great-looking paint job and efficiency, profitability, and safety for a shop. 

• Quality: Simply put, this means happy customers who are satisfied, and impressed, with the work done. Happy customers come back and recommend your shop to their friends. 
• Efficiency and Profitability: A clean, well-maintained machine prevents shop downtime and costly reworks while ensuring quicker jobs, putting more work through the shop and more money back to the business at the end of the day. 
• Safety: A compressor in good working order helps prevent harmful overspray and fumes from building up in the workspace. This, in turn, creates a safer environment for techs overall. 

When Should You Upgrade? 

The simplest answer here is when you need to. If your current compressor is relatively new, is a high-quality brand like Kaishan, and has been and is currently being well maintained, then you won't need to upgrade it for a good while. 

However, suppose your compressor is older, not from a reputable brand, and requires frequent costly repair work beyond basic maintenance programs. In that case, it may be time to consider a new unit. 

Compressors are meant to be built tough, but not all compressors are made equal. Newer models, for example, have much better safety measures, shut-off valve functions, and even audible warning systems when they need some cleaning or maintenance. While it might be a significant investment upfront, the long-term savings a new compressor can provide your shop while increasing your efficiency will more than makeup for it. 

Repair and Maintenance Now, Peace of Mind Later

A good repair and maintenance program helps to protect the investment in equipment long-term, maintaining efficiency and profitability by preventing expensive downtimes and equipment failures that require very expensive fixes or outright replacements of parts and maybe even the entire compressor. One big concern to keep in mind with replacing parts, if your model is old enough you may struggle to even find components for it anymore. Hence why we point out the importance of the age of a unit when considering to just upgrade to a newer, more reliable model. 

From keeping up with daily, weekly, and monthly checklists to investing in a more comprehensive support package, there are many simple ways to keep that air compressor as good as new and the quality paint or powder coating jobs coming through your shop without interruptions. 

At Alberta Booth, we pride ourselves on our 60 years’ worth of expertise working with spray booth systems in Canada. We have a wealth of experience working with compressor models of a wide range and age. So, if you have any questions or concerns about your shop's air compressor, reach out to us today or visit our website to learn more about our packages and to gain some extra insight on why a program like this might be precisely what you need to keep that vital cornerstone of your business’s paintwork delivering quality now, and for the foreseeable future.