Buying or Hiring a Screw Compressor?
A screw compressor is a type of air compressor that uses a rotary positive displacement mechanism with a continuous sweeping motion. This means less vibration, less noise, and less surging of flow, which makes a screw compressor better for some applications than a piston compressor. This can benefit many companies and organisations operating in the industrial and commercial sectors, because this type of air compressor can generate high volumes of pressurised air (equally, they are less suitable for smaller applications, because of leakage in the rotors being more significant). Some of the most commonly found applications for rotary screw compressors are operating chillers, as well as air tools that need a significant amount of power.
Screw compressors therefore bring with them a variety of benefits. What is less obvious on immediate consideration is how to make the best use of them – by buying in a new air compressor, outsourcing these processes, or hiring a compressor. It can be a difficult decision for an organisation to weigh up and there are pros and cons to each approach. Here are some of the most common considerations to think over.
What are the pros and cons of buying a screw compressor?
Buying a rotary screw compressor will give an organisation the most control over process, output, operation of chillers/tools, and anything else that happens on the premises. There will be no concerns over availability of compressors and whether the right models will be available, at the right times; a screw compressor will always be available on site, when needed. This means continuous operation is possible – something that rotary screw compressors themselves allow for due to their mechanism and mode of operation, which means they can generate lots of pressurised air without breaks in operation. The most obvious con to buying a screw compressor is the initial cost. It is worth considering that it can still be beneficial in the long run, though, because hire costs will mount up over time and bringing costs in house can be easier for businesses to manage.
What are the pros and cons of hiring a screw compressor?
Hiring a screw compressor gives more flexibility because hire will always be a more short-term solution, with the organisation able to terminate the hire contract if needed. That being said, some screw compressor hire services require a minimum commitment period and may only offer long-term options. Check all terms and conditions before entering into a hire contract for any kind of rotary screw compressor. The main cons are that hiring a compressor means costs will mount up over time, when a compressor owned by the company could have been purchased instead.
In conclusion, a screw compressor can be successfully bought or hired depending on requirements. If there is the option to pay in instalment though, buying is usually the better option because it will save money in the long term. Even if there is not this option, it saves money to buy a rotary screw compressor following the initial investment.