05/21/2026
The Best Practices 2026 EXPO & Conference is expanding its lineup in Indianapolis with the new Compressed Air Treasure Hunt Workshop. This three-hour session will take place Tuesday, Oct. 13 from 8 to 11 a.m. and attendees will earn three PDH credits. Pre-registration is required.
The Compressed Air Treasure Hunt Workshop will provide five impactful, demand-side Treasure Hunt projects designed to reduce flow and pressure, uncovering energy savings opportunities. It strongly supports the U.S. Department of Energy Better Plants’ Treasure Hunt training.
The Compressed Air Treasure Hunt Workshop will provide five high-impact, low-cost projects to save energy.
The workshop provides hands-on experience with fully operational table-top compressed air labs with pneumatic circuits. Participants will be able to experiment with how these projects affect flow and pressure as well as view demonstrations of new technologies.
“This workshop was designed for plants wanting to reduce demand for compressed air beyond the occasional compressed air leak audit,” said Roderick M. Smith, Publisher, Best Practices Magazines & EXPO. “Attendees will leave with five impactful Treasure Hunt projects they can implement quickly to achieve significant energy savings.”
Treasure Hunt Projects
- Project #1: 24/7 Leak Detection Auditing
Plants have the opportunity to reduce compressed air flow by 20-25% by establishing 24/7 leak detection auditing with flow meters. - Project #2: Reduce Blow-off/Drying Air
Blow-off/drying air is used to physically remove water, debris or residue from parts and surfaces using compressed air. By eliminating misapplications of compressed air and implementing engineered nozzles or air knives and blowers, 50-90% compressed air flow reductions are common. - Project #3: Upgrade Vacuum Venturis
Venturi vacuum is commonly used on pick-and-place robots, vacuum cup lifting systems, small material transfer units and label applicators. By upgrading to newer, more efficient models, 50-90% compressed air flow reductions are possible. - Project #4: Reduce Flow at Baghouses/Dust Collectors
Baghouses/dust collectors require a high volume of compressed air, meaning there’s significant savings potential. Opportunities center on upgrading valve technologies using less compressed air and don’t fire when idle. Compressed air storage is also a consideration, which is often overlooked. - Project #5: Reduce System Pressure to 70 psi
Fix the FRL (Filter, Regulator, Lubricator) – FRLs can create pressure loss when the filter is obstructed and are the home of 50% of compressed air leaks. Plants should also identify equipment requiring high psi, and determine if a machine can be modified by retrofitting pneumatic cylinders or actuators, or, if higher pressure is required, add a booster and storage as appropriate.
To view the full workshop agenda, click here.
Industry experts leading the workshop include John Bilsky MWS, CCAS, Facilities Maintenance, Gentex; Jon Jensen, Energy Efficiency Group Manager, SMC Corporation of America, and Josh Wamser, Lead Auditor, The Analysts.
Secure Super Early Bird rates when you book by June 30. Contact Kimberly Hill for group discounts at [email protected]. Register at https://cabpexpo.com/registration-2026.
The Compressed Air Treasure Hunt Workshop is sponsored by SMC Corporation of America.
About Best Practices 2026 EXPO & Conference
The Best Practices 2026 EXPO & Conference is the leading North American event focused on sustainable, safe and reliable on-site utilities powering automation. The event takes place Oct. 13-15, 2026, at the Indiana Convention Center in Indianapolis. Attendees come from engineering firms, manufacturing plants and equipment companies responsible for specifying, purchasing, operating, selling and maintaining on-site utility equipment in industrial compressed air, nitrogen, blower/vacuum and HVAC/process cooling systems. https://cabpexpo.com
