Compressors at Liberty Steel’s Rotherham site

Liberty Steel Group, a fully integrated steel producer, has appointed CMC, a provider of compressor control, performance and monitoring solutions, to install Airmatics, a cloud-based solution that provides data, analytics and insights for individual compressors through to entire compressed air systems, in real time, via an easy-to-use graphical interface, at the UK’s flagship Speciality Steels site in Rotherham.

The move will support Liberty Steel Group’s carbon-neutral ambitions by reducing the amount of air compressor-related carbon emissions by up to 30%.

Capable of managing an infinite number of locally interconnected fixed speed or variable output air compressors, regardless of their age and manufacturer, Airmatics will now help Liberty Steel manage its entire fleet of Sullair TS20-200 compressors, which are used to produce 100,000 tonnes of high-grade steel each year.

Liberty Steel Group’s decision to install the Cloud-based solution is also expected to cut the firm’s annual air compressor energy bill, which currently stands at £250,000, by up to £75,000.

Andy Thompson, department engineer at Liberty Steel Group, said: “On a site that typically produces 2,000 tonnes of steel each week for the aerospace, oil and gas, and industrial engineering sectors, we tend to use large volumes of compressed air.

“Until now, we have been sending air out without fully understanding its efficacy or knowing how or where leaks were happening.

“Now, via Airmatics, we can not only access forensic levels of data relating to each of our assets, but also understand exactly how our air is being used and how we can further reduce our carbon footprint.”

Graham Coats, CMC sales director, said: “Manufacturers are not only increasingly turning towards solutions that provide them with a 360° view of their compressed air assets, but they are also looking to make their assets work as efficiently as possible.

“In a world where energy and carbon reduction is paramount, Liberty Steel Group is now equipped with the tools to help it reduce carbon emissions, decrease its energy bills and increase the longevity of its compressed air assets by ensuring that they run optimally during every second that they are in operation.”