Tag: Air Knife

Utilizing EXAIR Accessories

Published on by jasonkirbyLeave a comment
Accessories

At EXAIR, we take great pride in our Intelligent Compressed Air Products, which are renowned for their efficiency and minimal maintenance requirements, thanks to their design featuring few or no moving parts. While we often highlight these advantages, we also do not want to overlook the importance of the accompanying accessories that enhance our products’ performance. These accessories play a crucial role in ensuring our compressed air solutions maintain their low maintenance and reduced noise levels, further solidifying their compliance with OSHA safety standards.

Compressed air filters and regulators are among the most essential accessories we offer, and we highly recommend their use with all our products, as well as with other brands. The Filter Separator effectively eliminates water, dirt, and rust from your compressed air system, while the 5-micron filter element prevents contaminants from clogging or damaging connected equipment. For more precise and additional filtration, an Oil Removal Filter should be installed downstream of the Filter Separator; it utilizes a 0.03-micron element to remove oil and solid particles. Our Pressure Regulators allow you to set the desired operating pressure, and we advise maintaining the minimum pressure necessary for optimal performance. This not only conserves air but also fine-tunes the efficiency of EXAIR products in various applications.

Good engineering practice calls for point of use filtration and moisture removal, such as that provided by EXAIR Filter Separators.
The Thermostat’s leads (left) are spliced into the Solenoid Valve’s ‘hot’ lead (bottom right), which essentially acts as the automatic temperature controlled ‘on/off’ switch for the Cabinet Cooler System. NEMA 4/4X versions include mounting hardware (top right).

We offer specialized accessories designed to enhance the performance of some of our products. For instance, our Line Vacs are complemented by the Line Vac Hose, while our Cabinet Coolers can be paired with Thermostats and Solenoid Valves. Additionally, we recommend Mufflers for optimal use with our Vortex Tubes. When it comes to our Air Knives, we provide several excellent options. The Universal Air Knife Mounting System offers a straightforward and dependable solution for mounting. For applications requiring longer knives or independent control of airflow sections, our Coupling Bracket Kits are ideal. Lastly, our Air Knife Plumbing Kits simplify the plumbing process for Air Knives exceeding 24 inches in length.

For those looking to connect Intelligent Compressed Air Products, we offer a range of compressed air hoses and fittings designed to enhance the convenience of installation. Coiled Hoses are an excellent match for our Safety Air Guns, providing greater mobility during operation. Additionally, our Compressed Air Hoses are frequently utilized with our Industrial Housekeeping products, ensuring that both the drum and dolly have the necessary reach for effective use.

Model 9256 6″ Stay Set Hose

If you are looking for an effective solution to mount or position your Air Nozzles, consider our Magnetic Bases, Stay Set Hoses, and Swivel Fittings, which can be combined to create a comprehensive setup.

If you have questions about our accessories, 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 Announces Brand Refresh and Commitment to Service and Innovation

Published on by Jason FoxLeave a comment

EXAIR, a leader in engineering solutions, today announced the launch of a new brand identity as it enters its next chapter of growth. With this fresh approach, EXAIR has a clear perspective and a focus on what’s ahead. The commitment to forward momentum is backed by years of serving this industry and the promise to continue providing the best compressed air solutions on the market. The new look reflects the same innovation and attention to detail that have defined our approach to engineering and product design since our inception.

For 43 years, EXAIR has built its reputation on engineering excellence, product reliability, and long-term customer partnerships. The new identity reflects the company’s continued investment in innovation and forward-looking strategy, while reinforcing our foundation.

That commitment remains unchanged. The logo is new. EXAIR standards are not. The refreshed brand signals continued growth, expanded capabilities, and a long-term commitment to serving industrial customers with the same quality and responsiveness that built the company’s legacy.

            From Kirk Edwards, President of EXAIR: “I, for one, have been staring at the current EXAIR logo for 26 years – it represents where we came from and the hard work it took to get here. We have gained a lot of trust through performance, reliability, and our customer relationships under that logo. That trust earned will remain because it is, after all, the result of our people, customers, and commitment to doing things the right way. This brand refresh represents our strong and successful past while embracing new customer demands, emerging markets, and changing industries.”

The refreshed brand identity aligns with EXAIR’s forward trajectory and commitment to engineering solutions that deliver measurable outcomes. Customers and partners can expect the same approachable expertise and dependable support that have defined EXAIR’s reputation, now paired with a visual and messaging framework that reflects momentum and innovation. EXAIR will begin implementing the new identity across digital platforms, marketing materials, and product packaging in the coming months and will debut the branding publicly at the upcoming Grainger Trade Show. For more information, visitEXAIR.com or contact the applications engineering team for support and product guidance.

Replacing a Drilled Pipe for a Rubber Sheet Manufacturer

Published on by John BallLeave a comment

We received a call about an application to remove water from the surface of rubber sheets.  The reason for the call was because they were using a drilled pipe. It was loud and not removing an adequate amount of water.  (Reference the photo below).  EXAIR comes across this quite a bit.  A drilled pipe has turbulent flow which causes loud noises, ineffective blowing, and wastes compressed air.  With our Super Air Knives, we can create a stronger force as the airstream is laminar.  With the laminar flow, they are also quiet.  For example, our Super Air Knives have a noise level of only 71 dBA at 80 PSIG.  Also, since all of the air volume is traveling in the same direction, the liquid water will flow away from the airstream. 

The rubber sheet was 1200 mm wide, and I recommended a model 110248 48” (1,219 mm) Aluminum Super Air Knife Kit.  The kit includes the Super Air Knife, a filter, a regulator, and a shim set.  The filter removes the debris and water from the compressed air line to optimize the performance of the air knife as well as keep your product clean.  The regulator is used to make the “fine” adjustment to the blowing force while the shim set is used as the “coarse” adjustment.  Now they could reduce the inlet pressure to not overuse the compressed air and to get the proper removal of water from the sheet.  And with the 40:1 amplification ratio, the Super Air Knife will bring in 40 parts of ambient air to every part of compressed air, saving them a lot of money. 

After installation, the customer contacted me again and mentioned that they thought the performance would be better.  They sent me a photo of the setup.  (Reference below).  I noticed that they mounted the Super Air Knife as they did with the drilled pipe.  They had the Super Air Knife blowing perpendicular to the surface, which is not optimal.  I sent them the following setup points to help. 

Contact time is effectively the space in which the target is located within the airstream.  The longer the contact time, the more effective the Air Knife is at removing contamination (water in this case).   When customers install EXAIR Super Air Knives, they can have a tendency to install them incorrectly, reducing their performance capability.  In the photo above, you can see that the Super Air Knife is at 90 degrees to the surface of target travel, reducing contact time to a minimal value.  The following suggestions are how we would advise customers to mount our equipment to get the most effectiveness within their operation.

  1. Angle – EXAIR machines a chamfer on the cap of the Super Air Knife as a starting point.  You want to have the chamfer parallel with the target line.  This will create an air flow angle at about 45 degrees.  This angle will increase the contact area and contact time, which is very beneficial for removing debris and/or heat. (Note: this would indicate that the cap is mounted nearest to the surface being treated. 
  2. Distance — For optimum performance, the Air Knife should be between 3” (76mm) to 12” (305mm) from the target.  If the Super Air Knife is too close, the amplification ratio cannot propagate and the force is reduced.  If you are too far from the target surface, the air pattern will start to change, causing the velocity and force to decrease, resulting in less effective blowing action. 
  3. Counter-Flow — The direction of the air flow should be blowing against the target surface movement, in what we term a counter-flow direction.  Example: if the target parts are moving from left to right on a conveyor, you want the Air Knife to blow from right to left.  This will allow the contamination to be blown back away from the cleaned surfaces into the direction it came from, and it will increase the impact force to remove contamination, i.e. a head-on collision vs. a rear-end collision.

With these few simple steps, this customer was able to maximize the performance of their EXAIR Super Air Knife.  The sheets were dried through improved technology, efficiency, and correct positioning.  If you are still using antiquated products for blow-off, and you wish to improve your process with quiet, safe, and efficient products, an Application Engineer at EXAIR can assist you. 

John Ball
Application Engineer
Email: johnball@exair.com
Twitter: @EXAIR_jb

Founder’s Day 2026

Published on by Kirk EdwardsLeave a comment

Today, we paused our operations and took a moment to celebrate a legacy that goes beyond the products we build. February 22nd (or the nearest business day) marks Founder’s Day at EXAIR—a day dedicated to the memory of our founder, Roy Sweeney, on what would have been his 92nd birthday.

Roy founded EXAIR in 1983, leading us with a steady hand and an innovative spirit for 33 years. While he has been gone for nearly ten years, his presence is still felt in our hallways. For those of us who had the privilege of working side-by-side with him, he wasn’t just a leader; he was a mentor who redefined success. To Roy, achievement wasn’t measured by growth charts, but by the depth of one’s service to others.

In honor of Roy and his wife, Jackie, we treat this day as a renewal of our commitment to the world beyond our walls. The Sweeneys were pillars of the Cincinnati community, tirelessly supporting social causes and teaching us that a company’s greatest output should be kindness.

Living the Legacy of Service

We believe that to truly honor the past, we must be active participants in a better future. To turn Roy’s altruistic values into action, we are proud to highlight our Employee Volunteer Program. This initiative empowers every full-time employee to volunteer with an organization of their choice during the work week—with full pay from EXAIR.

Whether it is feeding the hungry, mentoring youth, or supporting local shelters, we want our team to follow their hearts. By providing the time and resources to research these opportunities, we aim to be a catalyst for change in the lives of those who need it most.

A Celebration of Community

Our Founder’s Day tradition includes:

  • Reflecting on our Roots: A company-wide meeting to recognize Roy’s generosity and the spark that started it all.
  • Honoring a Veteran: As a veteran himself, Roy held a deep respect for those who serve. We continue to honor that bond by providing lunch from Mission BBQ, who supports our military and first responders.
  • Investing in Others: We are proud to direct donations to local organizations that provide vital lifelines to our neighbors.

This year we have selected these organizations, who help our local communities, to receive donations as part of our Founder’s Day celebration:

DAV
Supporting disabled American veterans and their families.

Freestore Foodbank
Supplies 33 million meals per year to those in need and living in greater Cincinnati.

Lighthouse Youth and Family Services
Supporting their Safe and Supported program for LGBTQ youth.

Cincinnati Works
Partners with all willing and capable people living in poverty to assist them in advancing to economic self-sufficiency through employment.

Wave Pool
Wave Pool is a contemporary art fulfillment center where experimental art connects the community and creates change.

Bethany House
Helps homeless and at-risk families with solutions to achieve housing stability and long-term self-sufficiency.

Roy, happy birthday and thanks for the influence you continue to have in our lives. We remember everything you and Jackie have done for this company and for countless others. Today, we pledge to keep looking outside ourselves, reaching out our hands, and working collectively to improve the world around us.

Happy Founder’s Day 2026 from the entire EXAIR family.

Kirk Edwards, President
EXAIR LLC