Sullair invests in portables business

Sullair, which is now part of private equity owned Accudyne Industries, is investing heavily in its portable compressor business and is again targeting export markets, although a move into small portables for Western Europe is likely to wait until 2015.

The company showed two new compressors at Conexpo: the new Tier 4 Interim 1600 family and also a remanufactured unit to illustrate the company’s new REMAN programme.

Carrie-Ann Flank, vice president and general manager of Sullair’s portable compressors business, told IRN; “We’re increasing our research and development budget by 50% over last year, it’s a big investment.”

Although North American markets remain an important part of its business Sullair is also targeting export markets, including the Middle East and Russia, where its large compressors are finding applications in the oil and gas sector.

In support of the export push, Euan McCulloch, the company’s sales director, is soon to relocate to Sullair’s European corporate office in Sunderland, UK.

The company closed its portables factory in France in 2010 and Mr McCulloch says they will move back into the European market when the time is right; “We want to re-establish ourselves in Europe. That doesn’t happen overnight – we have to recapture our channel partners.” Small portables are unlikely to be available for Europe until 2015.

The company is also expanding its range of Tier 4 interim compressors, with 900 and 1150 models to follow the new 1600 platform later this year. Tier 4 Final units will be available by the end of the year. Ms Flank said Sullair would not be a “made in the US” manufacturer.

Meanwhile, the REMAN programme is designed not just to give customers a lower cost way of improving their fleets, but Sullair will exchange out machines immediately, giving rental companies an equivalent remanufactured compressor when they ship their own units to Sullair.