Salmon producer Marine Harvest VAP (UK) Ltd has achieved annual energy savings of £21,000 after Atlas Copco (www.atlascopco.com/en-uk) updated its compressed-air system with new technology.

By downsizing from a 45kW compressor to a GA rotary-screw compressor, the company has seen a 76% energy saving and a 30% reduction in service costs.

The more-compact compressor has also freed up floor space to fit a new refrigeration unit.

The company processes and packages fresh and smoked salmon, using compressed air to feed the servo mechanisms at the plant.

Brian Banks, head of engineering at Marine Harvest, said: “Without a reliable compressed-air supply, a significant proportion of the equipment in this factory would not function, so production would effectively come to a halt.

“That’s why this project was so important to us.

“Delivering downsizing while upgrading reliability was definitely a team effort, and it was reassuring to work with experienced air professionals.”

The company is part of Marine Harvest ASA, the world’s largest producer of farmed Atlantic salmon.

When the time came to consider a new maintenance and servicing contract, the company sought advice from Atlas Copco; the latter’s audit confirmed that the existing compressor was significantly oversized, relative to both current and predicted demand.