The 2025 AICD board includes Dave Nosal, Bob Coppell, Jeff Brennan, Kasey Gould, Brent Pifer, Bart Frush, Chad Gooding, Dan Harrison and Mikella Reed (left to right).
The Association of Independent Compressor Distributors (AICD) held its annual trade show in Louisville, KY, April 27-29, 2025. Participating distributor members and guests enjoyed the AICD trade show, guest speakers, a golf tournament and a visit to the Louisville Slugger Museum & Factory.
“The AICD is doing well, and membership is growing,” said Bart Frush, AICD President, and Owner of B&K Compressors in La Porte City, IA.
“Overall, it’s been a great show,” said Matt Fleskes, General Manager, Portland Compressor. “This is our second year being a member. Both the speakers and vendors have been great in helping us address the challenges we face.”
“It’s always interesting to see the new vendors here. I’m also able to see how other distributors run their business differently, and at a bigger scale than how we operate in Hawaii,” said Jim Griffin, President, Starr and Company.
This report presents a sampling of the trade show exhibits (by technology, alphabetically) to share company and technology news.
Kiel Locklear of Air Production & Service, Robbie Elting of FieldServio, Chris Leonard of Air Production & Service and James Gillespie of Standpoint Technologies (left to right) at the Finale Party in the Louisville Slugger Museum & Factory.
Air Compressors
Atlas Machine & Supply is launching Atlas IQ, a brand-agnostic, smart monitoring solution for compressed air. Atlas IQ IoT sensors connect industrial equipment to mobile and web apps to deliver real-time data, historical trends, and service alerts to keep compressed air systems operating at peak efficiency.
Bret Jackson, Ben Johnson, John Brandenburg, James Goff and Danny Kent (left to right) of Atlas Machine & Supply.
Aykom Compressor displayed a 15 horsepower (hp) ATUS Series (7.5-100 hp) direct drive, oil-injected, rotary air compressor. Nitin G. Shanbhag, President, shared how the ATUS air compressor has unique features, including cartridge-type air/oil separation for easy maintenance, and stainless tubing for durability. “In addition, many air compressors are designed to push motors into their service factor range, meaning a 50 hp motor might routinely operate closer to 60 hp. While this can deliver more output temporarily, it also increases heat and power consumption, and can shorten motor lifespan due to stress on the windings,” said Shanbhag. “All our air compressors are designed to run at a 1.0 load point. In other words, a 15 hp air compressor only uses 15 hp – no overloading, no hidden energy costs, and longer-term reliability.”
Ali Ekinci, Nitin G. Shanbhag, Emre Tujumet, Aydin Dereci and Ibo Emirdag (left to right) of Alkin Compressor and Aykom Compressor.
The Bauer Compressors team discussed its complete air treatment solutions for medium- and high-pressure air compressors. The SECCANT line of adsorption compressed air dryers includes 37 models from 35-1,097 scfm for pressures ranging from 725-6,000 psig (50-414 barg), with optional integrated pressure vessel with activated carbon for oil removal. Its IHP series of high-pressure refrigerated compressed air dryers are rated for 1,450 psig (100 barg), 5,000 psig (345 barg) and 6,000 psig (414 barg) from 20-275 cfm.
Eric Phelps and Jason Pruss (left to right) with Bauer Compressors.
EL-AV Compressors appointed Cortland Privateer as Sales Manager for North America. The company also recently announced its membership in CAGI’s Rotary Positive Air Compressor section. On display was a 50 hp EL+ series air compressor with a direct-drive permanent magnet motor. The series ranges from 15-150 hp and 11-110 kW.
Courtland Privateer, Peter Abreu, Amit Mizrahi, Ronit Mizrahi and Yoel Mizrahi (left to right) of EL-AV Compressors.
ELGi displayed an oil-lubricated, fixed speed EQ series air compressor (25-60 hp, 18-45 kW) with NC intake valve; an oil-lubricated EG series air compressor (15-300 hp, 11-220 kW) available in variable and fixed-speed configurations and a portable unit. “We’re here to show our commitment to the independent distributor network,” said Scott Avey, Vice President, ELGi North America. “We’re supporting distributors with both portable and stationary units from our Charlotte and Los Angeles locations.”
Scott Avey at the ELGi booth.
ENERGAIR developed Metacentre Core, a cost-effective, robust master controller with optional cloud connectivity, designed for compressed air systems with one to six air compressors. ENERGAIR’s AIRMATICS solution, launched in 2018, is for more advanced system control, offering multi-site management tools, cloud-based monitoring and analytics for systems with more than six air compressors.
Nicolas De Deken of ENERGAIR.
FS-Curtis discussed the recent launch of its Toledo Tools rotary screw air compressors. Available in 19 models (5-50 hp), the series is rated for 18.4-212.2 cfm at 125 psi (8.6 barg), and 13.4-160.6 cfm at 175 psi (12.1 barg). Its Ultrapak option includes a tank-mounted air compressor, particulate pre-filter, refrigerated compressed air dryer and coalescing oil-removal filter.
Adam Briscoe and Kyle Trandum (left to right) of FS-Curtis.
The FS-Elliott team shared updates about the P650, the latest entry in the Polaris centrifugal air compressor series offering customization, cost effectiveness and compactness. The P650 is rated for 700-2,000 hp for 5,000-10,140 cfm up to 145 psig (10.0 barg). It’s designed for reliability with AGMA 13 standard gearing and a bull gear shaft-driven main oil pump. The controller includes patented control modes such as ambient compensation control, integrated compressor control, pressure band optimization and auto dual.
Mark McCarthy and Kevin Walker (left to right) of FS-Elliott.
The GlobalVac & Air team shared its Mobile Engineered Solutions and Lab & Medical Scroll Compressor Systems series. Mobile Engineered Solutions specifications include weather-proof containers (-40°F to 115°F, -40°C to 47°C) with 12-gauge corrugated steel walls, one-inch urethane foam insulation, an ambient temperature sensor and thermostatically controlled dampers.
Bob Littman, Brett Looney, Elizabeth Fleming and Scott Ripatrazone (left to right) of GlobalVac & Air.
Hertz Kompressoren displayed its IMPETUS series oil-injected two-stage variable speed drive (VSD) rotary screw air compressors. This line ranges from 30-430 hp and is equipped with IE5 motors in 30-100 hp units, and IE4 motors in 125-430 hp units. Matt Nolte joined Hertz as Sales Director.
Matt Nolte of Hertz Kompressoren with a 50 hp IMPETUS air compressor.
Kaishan Compressor USA is nearing completion of an $11 million expansion at its Loxley, AL, facility, aimed at strengthening localized assembly, production and warehousing. The company is also preparing to launch its Kaishan Centrifugal Oil-Free (KCOF) series, while expanding the range of its Kaishan Rotary Oil-Free series (KROF), currently 125–200 hp, with smaller and greater horsepower models. On the personnel front, Rob Grizzle and James Freligh have been appointed as Regional Sales Managers, and Weston Benton marked one year as Vacuum & Low Pressure Channel Manager. Additionally, Shawn Wood joined the team in a sales and marketing role.
J Howard, James Freligh, Weston Benton, Shawn Wood, Brandon Dial, Chris Downs and Rob Grizzle (left to right) of Kaishan Compressor USA.
Camillo Villalobos, Vice President and General Manager, shared several new products from Ozen Air Technology. Visitors saw OPS+ Series (11-50 hp) direct drive and variable speed air compressors on display. Also displayed was the OMG Series nitrogen generator with integrated desiccant dryer and inlet-outlet filtration. Next, the OPS MP Series (15-60 hp) achieves pressures up to 290 psig (20.0 barg). Ozen is also launching the U Series of fixed speed (50-200 hp, 37-160 kW) air compressors with a lifetime airend warranty.
Mike Zacharko, Trey Weeks, Bryan Andersen and Camilo Villalobos (left to right) of Ozen Air Technology.
Chuck Westhofen and Jeffrey Swearingen have been appointed as Rental Business Development Managers at Sauer Compressors USA. The company recently opened a satellite facility in Cache Valley, UT, to extend its market reach and serve as a rental and engineering hub. The company has several job openings, according to Crystal Wilson, Marketing Manager.
Sean Dempsey, Jeff Swearingen, Crystal Wilson, Adam Shoemaker and John Temple (left to right) with Sauer Compressors USA.
South-Tek Systems is launching a suite of air compressors, dryers and filters. The company now offers single-stage, two-stage, fixed speed, variable speed and direct drive boosters and tank-mounted air compressors.
Keelan Ails of South-Tek Systems with Brian Quade of Leland Brewing Company (left to right).
Sullivan-Palatek integrated new rotor and airend designs into its SP13 series (40-60 hp) and SP25 series (200-350 hp) of rotary screw air compressors for enhanced efficiency. The SP25 inlet valve has a high-flow, low-loss design. Sump ports were redesigned to mitigate pressure drop. Its latest portable air compressor – with a 74 hp diesel engine – was redesigned to achieve 300 cfm (a 40 cfm improvement).
Bruce McFee, Larry Colley, Rob Mitchell, Austin Wilkins, Brice Schultz, Bob Groendyke, Grant Hebert and Scott Seibert (left to right) of Sullivan-Palatek.
Tamsan-USA displayed its F series rotary screw air compressors and shared that new tank mounted units are launching in the summer of 2025. Aaron Massey, Systems Specialist, said Tamsan-USA units are “Designed by technicians for technicians.” The company appointed Lisa Lewis as General Manager in March 2025.
Nathan Medlin and Aaron Massey (left to right) of Tamsan-USA.
Compressed Air Purification, Piping and Instrumentation
Altec AIR displayed its HBS series single tower heat regenerative compressed air dryer. The company’s desiccant compressed air dryer offerings now include heatless dryers up to 5,000 scfm, low dew point heatless compressed air dryers, heat regenerative compressed air dryers and external blower purge compressed air dryers up to 6,000 scfm single tower, as well as point-of-use dryers ranging from 0.4-50 scfm.
Jeff Ewers and Chris Foster (left to right) of Altec AIR.
BEKO Technologies launched the METPOINT VFS TI and METPOINT VFS TM volumetric flow meters for compressed air and nitrogen. The TM comes pre-installed in a pipe length, so sensor alignment isn’t necessary. The TI is an insertion version with switchable line laser assists for exact sensor alignment. Its two-inch LCD provides volume flow, flow rate, consumption and temperature readings.
Jason Hobbs of BEKO Technologies.
CS INSTRUMENTS USA displayed its LeakCam 600, equipped with 64 ultrasonic MEMS microphones, a five-inch HD display and a 13-megapixel camera for clear, detailed visualizations. The company broke ground on its new headquarters for the Americas in South Carolina. The facility will feature an experience and training center, calibration lab and expanded warehouse.
RJ Bennett, Martin Zeller and Enrico Capetanis (left to right) of CS INSTRUMENTS USA.
Hankison displayed its industrial process chillers and PHDM series heatless modular desiccant air dryers. PHDM dryers are rated for 3-177 scfm at 100 psi (6.9 barg) and are designed with non-lubricated soft-seated control valves, heavy-duty mufflers and front-mounted control panels. The air-cooled industrial process chillers have options between rotary or scroll refrigerant compressors, copper coaxial or stainless-steel brazed plate evaporators, thermostatic or electronic expansion valves and a standard microchannel condenser.
David Strogis, Andrew Kubrich, Terry Skiba and James Lewek (left to right) of Hankison.
Kingston Valves announced its CE certification for its check valves in the European market. Regional Sales Manager Theresa Hinkler shared other new offerings, including KHV ASME hard seat safety valves for high temperature applications, and KPU piloted unloader valves (a combination of pilot and discharge valves).
Theresa Hinkler and Madison Lester (left to right) of Kingston Valves.
KSI Technologies unveiled KONTREC oil-water separators rated for 75-1,000 cfm for mineral lubricants (Standard type), synthetic lubricants and emulsions (K-Type). Features include a compact space-saving design, a test drain and four condensate inlets.
Holger and Mirko Krebs (left to right) of KSI Technologies.
This fall, Unipipe Solutions will launch UnipipeSS 316L stainless steel piping with nine diameters from ¾-inch (18mm)–4-inch (108mm). Operating temperatures range from -40°F to 284°F (-40°C to 140°C) and maximum operating pressures are -29.5 inHg for vacuum and 232 psi for compressed air. Sales Manager Joe Burke said Unipipe offers guaranteed 48-hour lead times.
Joe Koerig and Joe Burke (left to right) of Unipipe.
ZEKS is launching products to accommodate lower-GWP refrigerant requirements. According to ZEKS Commercial Leader Chris Ursillo, ZEKS launched 10-250 cfm HeatSink cycling refrigerated compressed air dryers with R-513A. Next, HeatSink cycling refrigerated compressed air dryers from 300-800 cfm will be introduced with additional features.
Thorstein Holt with Holtec Gas Systems in Saint Charles, MO, shared it is conducting tests on different carbon molecular sieve types and butterfly valves to maximize the life of the unit. Holtec celebrated 25 years in December 2024.
Thorstein Holt of Holtec Gas Systems with Mark Beauchamp, Al Gallo, Chris Ursillo and Chris Nelen (left to right) of ZEKS Compressed Air Solutions.
Conference
The AICD conference had an engaging agenda aimed at helping independent air compressor sales and service companies improve their businesses. Presentations and speakers included:
- “The AI Gameplan: Practical Strategies and Game-Changing Tools,” by consultant and ex-Google executive Steve Lerch
- “The Pause & Pivot Method” by entrepreneur and “The Apprentice” winner Bill Rancic
- “Complacency Kills: Combat’s Most Important Lessons Applied to the Business World,” by former Navy SEAL Kevin Lacz
- “Create Sales. Be Order Makers, Not Order Takers,” by CEO and motivational speaker Jeremiah Wilson.
“I’m so grateful for our members and vendors that support the AICD. Every year gets better and better,” said Kasey Gould, AICD Administrator.
Mark your calendars for next year’s show, April 19-21, 2026 at the Rosen Center in Orlando, FL.
For more information, contact Kasey Gould, AICD Administrator, at [email protected] or visit https://www.aicd.org.
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