Safety in the workplace is of paramount importance, and it is widely recognized that annual safety training is a common practice among organizations. A fundamental message from these training sessions is that safety is a… More
Success! A Cabinet Cooler Story
The main production line of a high-capacity fiberglass insulation manufacturing facility faced significant challenges due to fine airborne dust and elevated ambient temperatures. This situation adversely affected the control cabinet, which contained delicate variable frequency drives (VFDs) and programmable logic controllers (PLCs), leading to recurrent thermal shutdowns.
The initial cooling system of the plant depended on standard intake fans and paper filters. However, within a matter of days, the filters became entirely obstructed by fine glass fibers and dust particles, leading to internal cabinet temperatures exceeding 115°F (46°C). In a bid to alleviate the situation, maintenance technicians often resorted to opening the cabinet doors and directing conventional floor fans at the components. Unfortunately, this temporary solution exacerbated the problem by dispersing highly conductive and abrasive dust onto the live circuit boards, significantly increasing the safety risks and jeopardizing the integrity of the components.
The engineering team, in search of a durable and maintenance-free solution, reached out to an application engineer and subsequently acquired a NEMA 4 NHP Cabinet Cooler System.
The plant staff swiftly installed the compact system within minutes by utilizing a standard electrical knockout located on the enclosure’s top. They effectively sealed the old, leaking fan vents and connected the cooler to the existing factory compressed air line using the provided automatic drain water and dirt filter separator.
The system completely transformed their operational reliability through two distinct phases of automated protection:
- Active Cooling: When the internal cabinet temperature reaches the pre-set thermostat limit, the system’s internal vortex tube transforms the compressed air into a chilled, 20°F (-7°C) airstream without using a single moving part or chemical refrigerant. This cold, clean air was distributed directly onto the hot VFDs, quickly dropping internal temperatures back down to a safe 95°F (35°C).
- Non-Hazardous Purge: Once the target temperature was met, the modified solenoid valve closed but continued to pass a minimal, continuous stream of 1 SCFM of compressed air into the cabinet. This constant airflow maintained a continuous positive pressure inside the cabinet. This positive pressure acted as an invisible shield, physically blocking the fine fiberglass dust from creeping inside through small door seams, wire conduits, or microscopic gaps.
The manufacturer successfully resolved their summer downtime issues by implementing the EXAIR NEMA 4 NHP Cabinet Cooler System. This system ensured that the cabinet remained sealed, free from dust, and maintained an optimal temperature. With no moving parts susceptible to wear, the plant was able to discontinue weekly filter cleaning, enabling maintenance teams to concentrate on ongoing production instead of managing malfunctioning electronics.
If you have questions about the Cabinet Cooler Systems, or anything regarding EXAIR and our products, please do not hesitate to reach out.
Jason Kirby
Application Engineer
Email: jasonkirby@exair.com
Twitter: @EXAIR_jk
EXAIR is Offering a Promotional Item With Purchase of a Safety Air Gun.
From August 1st to September 30th, 2026, with qualified purchases, EXAIR will be giving away a model 6013SS Stainless Steel Air Jet, a $185.00 value, with a purchase of our Safety Air Guns, including the VariBlast Precision, VariBlast Compact, Soft Grip, Heavy Duty, and TurboBlast Safety Air Guns. We are promoting the importance of safety in the workplace with the EXAIR Safety Air Guns.
Compressed air guns are one of the most commonly used pneumatic products in manufacturing plants. They are used at workstations to blow off debris and clean parts and tools. Because of the large quantities that are used in a plant, they are the most targeted by OSHA (Occupational Safety and Health Administration). The majority of the common brands of air guns fail to comply with two common violations, rule 29CFR 1910.95(a) for noise levels and rule 29CFR 1910.242(b) for dead-end pressure. The reason for this is due to the type of nozzle that comes with the compressed air gun. OSHA fines can be very expensive, and you can alleviate these penalties by purchasing an EXAIR Safety Air Gun. Safety is everyone’s responsibility: management, the HSE department (Health and Safety Engineer), supervisors, and even the operators.
With EXAIR Safety Air Guns, we supply an efficient, effective, and, most importantly, safe air nozzle with all of our air guns. They are CE Compliant and exceed the OSHA sound level and dead-end pressure requirements, even above 30 PSIG (2 bar). With substandard air guns, the operators will have to listen to loud noises all day or wear hearing protection. And for the dead-end pressure, the EXAIR nozzles are engineered to not allow the operator to completely block the end of the nozzle with their hand or skin. This is very important because if the pressure exceeds 30 PSIG, air can penetrate the skin and cause an air embolism. With our design, the compressed air is able to escape, and the pressure against the skin will not exceed 30 PSIG, even with the compressed air pressure set at 100 PSIG. Safety is a major concern for all of our customers and a priority for EXAIR in manufacturing our products.
As I mentioned above, the nozzles are one of the most significant parts of making a compressed air gun safe and OSHA compliant. Combining our engineered nozzles with a quality air gun makes the EXAIR Safety Air Guns one of the best products in the market. We currently have six different styles; the VariBlast Precision, VariBlast Compact, Soft Grip, Heavy Duty, Super Blast, and TurboBlast Safety Air Guns. These Safety Air Guns are ergonomically designed to comfortably fit in your hand, and they come with quality trigger mechanisms and a durable valve assembly. The VariBlast Precision Safety Air Guns are great for tight spaces and clearing out small holes. The VariBlast Compact Safety Air Guns have a cast aluminum body for rugged use with our smaller air nozzles. The Soft Grip Safety Air Guns provide extra comfort for long, extended uses, and the Heavy Duty Safety Air Guns are rugged, heavy-duty industrial air guns with nozzles for larger forces. The Super Blast and TurboBlast Safety Air Guns use our largest nozzles for cleaning large areas quickly. In combination with the EXAIR nozzles, the Safety Air Guns can offer another important attribute; we can save you money!!! Compressed air is very expensive to make, and with our Safety Air Guns, we use less compressed air but still create a strong blowing force. We do this by entraining the free ambient air into the air stream. If you increase the mass of air at the target, it will give you a hard-hitting force to remove debris from surfaces or clean tools and holes. The amplification ratio can be as high as 25 to 1. That means that for every one part of compressed air that it uses, the EXAIR Nozzles will entrain 25 parts of free ambient air. This will add mass to the airstream to give a powerful impact. Also, the payback period for using an EXAIR Nozzle with our Safety Air Guns can be within weeks due to the savings in electrical costs from your air compressor. With EXAIR products, we were able to partner with Energy Star and power facilities. For the amount of energy saved, some power companies offer rebates for using EXAIR products.
A substandard blow-off gun is unsafe, loud, and wasteful. EXAIR Safety Air Guns can help improve these situations. They are OSHA compliant, very safe, and very quiet. They use less compressed air, which saves you money. And with a variety of different nozzles, they can better fit your application to decrease downtime. In the U.S., EXAIR offers a 30-day unconditional guarantee on our cataloged items so you can try them out. You can see for yourself how effective these compressed air guns can be. And for a short while, you can receive a promotional gift. If you need help matching the best Safety Air Gun to your application, you can contact an Application Engineer. Remember, safety is everyone’s responsibility.
John Ball
Application Engineer
Email: johnball@exair.com
Twitter: @EXAIR_jb
Video Blog: Air Amplifier Entrainment Great for Fume Exhaustion
EXAIR‘s Air Amplifiers are a great option for cooling and drying applications. In this video blog I demonstrate how effective they are at fume exhaustion as well:
If you would like to discuss whether an Air Amplifer would be right for your application, please give me a call!
Al Wooffitt
Application Engineer
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The Value of Precision
Why EXAIR Delivers More Than “Cheap” Alternatives Ever Can
The Overlooked Opportunity in Compressed Air Efficiency
In the compressed air industry, most efficiency initiatives focus on the production side of the system. Significant resources are invested in improving compressor efficiency, upgrading controls, managing pressure drops, and recovering heat. At the same time, leak detection and repair programs have rightly gained momentum as a powerful way to eliminate waste.
These efforts are essential—and they should absolutely continue.
However, there is a third major opportunity for efficiency that is frequently overlooked:
the products used at the point of use.
In many facilities, compressed air is consumed by open pipes, improvised blow-offs, improperly sized nozzles, or low-cost devices that were never engineered for efficiency. Some compressed air advisors focus exclusively on eliminating compressed air applications entirely. While that approach has its place, it ignores an important reality:
Compressed air is an extremely valuable, flexible, and effective utility when it is used correctly.
The real opportunity is not just to produce compressed air more efficiently or stop leaks—it is to use compressed air more intelligently where it actually does the work.
This is where engineered compressed air products come into play.
Manufacturers like EXAIR demonstrate that compressed air does not have to be inherently wasteful. Through precision engineering, optimized air entrainment, and application‑specific design, EXAIR products dramatically reduce air consumption while improving performance, safety, and reliability.
The result is a smarter compressed air strategy—one that recognizes that efficient point‑of‑use products are just as important as efficient compressors and proactive leak management.
Precision That Pays You Back
When evaluating compressed air products, it’s easy to focus on purchase price alone. But in real-world industrial environments, the actual cost isn’t what you pay upfront, it’s what you pay to operate, maintain, and replace that product over time.
That’s where EXAIR stands apart.
EXAIR products are engineered to deliver measurable energy savings, safer operation, and long-term reliability, helping customers lower operating costs while improving productivity and compliance.
Save Energy. Reduce Operating Costs.
Compressed air is one of the most expensive utilities in any plant. Even small inefficiencies at the point of use can result in thousands of dollars in wasted electricity each year.
What makes EXAIR different:
EXAIR air nozzles and air amplifiers are precision‑engineered to maximize air entrainment while minimizing compressed air consumption. Compared to open pipes or low‑cost alternatives with crude internal geometry, EXAIR products can typically reduce air usage by 30–50%.
What this means for the customer:
- Lower energy costs
- Reduced compressor run time and maintenance
- Fast, measurable ROI—often in months
A nozzle that costs less today may silently waste far more tomorrow.
Built‑In Safety. Built‑In Compliance.
Safety is not optional—and non‑compliant compressed air devices introduce risk for both employees and the organization.
What makes EXAIR different:
EXAIR products are engineered to meet OSHA requirements for noise levels and dead‑end pressure, reducing the risk of injury and eliminating compliance concerns that often accompany low‑cost imports.
What this means for our customers:
- Lower workplace risk
- Easier EHS audits
- Confidence that safety has been designed into the solution—not added later
With EXAIR, safety is part of the product, not a compromise.
Reliability That Protects Uptime
Downtime is expensive. Failures caused by clogging, worn components, or inconsistent manufacturing often show up at the worst possible moment.
What makes EXAIR different:
Many EXAIR products—including Vortex Tubes and Air Knives—are designed with no moving parts. No bearings to fail. No internal mechanisms to wear out. Just consistent, repeatable performance.
What this means for the customer:
- Maximum uptime
- Minimal maintenance
- Long service life, even in harsh environments
Install it once. Depend on it for years.
More Than a Product—An Engineering Partner
Low-cost compressed air products often come with little more than a tracking number. When performance issues arise, the support ends at delivery.
What makes EXAIR different:
Every EXAIR solution is supported by experienced Application Engineers who help ensure the product is properly selected, sized, and applied.
What this means for our customers:
- Faster implementation
- Optimized performance
- Reduced trial‑and‑error costs
You are not just buying a compressed air product, you are gaining our expertise in solving the very problems that plague manufacturing processes.
The EXAIR Value Proposition
When customers choose EXAIR, they gain:
- Lower energy consumption
- Improved safety and compliance
- Proven durability and reliability
- Expert application support
All of this delivers the lowest total cost of ownership—not just the lowest purchase price.
Before choosing a cheaper alternative, the real question is:
- What is the cost of wasted compressed air over time?
- What is the cost of downtime?
- What is the risk of non‑compliant equipment?
EXAIR is precision engineering that pays for itself.
Neal Raker, Application Engineering Manager
nealraker@exair.com