DAVIDSON, N.C., March 19, 2013 – Ingersoll Rand, a world leader in creating and sustaining safe, comfortable and efficient environments, is the winner of the prestigious 2012 Plant Engineering Product of the Year Award. The Ingersoll Rand R-Series Contact-Cooled Rotary Screw Air Compressor claimed the grand award by receiving the most overall votes from Plant Engineering readers. The Ingersoll Rand Heat of Compression (HOC) dryer also earned a gold award in the compressed air category.

“This year’s finalists stretch across all areas where a plant manager’s influence is felt and his knowledge is required,” said Bob Vavra, editor of Plant Engineering. “From motors and drives to maintenance and lighting, the things a plant manager must specify and purchase perform very different functions. They all have one common element: they must help him or her do the job better, smarter, safely and more efficiently. That has been the hallmark of the Plant Engineering Product of the Year program for the past 25 years.”

The Product of the Year award winners are determined by popular vote. Plant Engineering subscribers cast votes for 116 finalists from October to December 2012.

“Many industry leaders rely on Plant Engineering as a trustworthy third-party resource for product information, best practices and industry news. It is an honor to accept the Product of the Year Award from their loyal readers — many of whom are our customers,” said Tracy Guilford, marketing communications manager at Ingersoll Rand. “We’re pleased to know Ingersoll Rand products are helping them increase energy savings, productivity and sustainability.”

R-Series Air Compressors Increase Operating Efficiency

Ingersoll Rand continuously innovates to manufacture efficient, reliable compressed air solutions. The Ingersoll Rand R-Series Compressor features an integrated Total Air System (TAS) that combines the dryer and filtration systems into a single package. This eliminates air leaks in the piping between units and results in better flow efficiency. The R-Series product line includes a variable-speed drive (VSD) option to increase the efficiency of variable-demand applications. The VSD compressor is equipped with a hybrid permanent magnet motor — the highest-efficiency motor available from Ingersoll Rand — to increase energy savings.

The compressor features V-Shield™ technology, which ensures that the compressor’s piping system is composed of stainless steel pipes, metal-flex hoses and elastomeric face seals to prevent leaks. It is manufactured with a sequential cooling system for added operating efficiency. Independently mounted coolers reduce thermal stress, decrease discharge temperatures and lower the energy required to remove condensation in downstream air treatment. As a result, the compressor produces drier air more cost effectively.

The TAS, VSD and V-Shield technologies are coupled with a Web-enabled Xe-Series controller. The Xe-Series control system allows plant managers to remotely access vital compressor data via the Internet on any PC, tablet or Web-enabled smartphone. Plant managers can also program the Xe-Series controller to send automatic email notifications if trips or warnings occur to ensure quicker response times.

HOC Dryers Produce Clean, Dry Air More Cost Effectively

The gold award-winning Ingersoll Rand HOC dryer provides a greener approach to compressed air treatment. The HOC dryers recycle the heat naturally generated during the compression process to produce clean, dry air at a fraction of the cost of traditional desiccant dryers. This high-tech, low-energy solution is more cost effective to operate than desiccant dryers without compromising productivity and efficiency.

Ingersoll Rand received engraved Product of the Year awards at a dinner banquet held at the Hotel Sofitel Chicago Water Tower in Chicago on March 18. To learn more about the Ingersoll Rand R-Series air compressors and HOC dryers, visit ingersollrandproducts.com.