In this episode of Beyond Compression, we explore how site conditions like temperature, humidity, elevation, cooling water, and demand profile influence compressor design, efficiency, and long-term operating costs. We also discuss why compressors designed around actual operating conditions perform more efficiently, operate more reliably, and provide better long-term value than standardized designs.

From aerodynamic stage design to control strategies and system coordination, this episode explains how compressor performance is engineered rather than selected.

In this episode, you’ll learn:

• How real-world operating conditions affect compressor performance and efficiency
• How design and controls work together to improve reliability and energy use
• Why application-specific compressor design leads to better long-term performance

If your compressors weren’t designed around your actual operating conditions, your system may not be operating as efficiently as it could.

👉 Learn more about custom aerodynamic compressor design by reading our blog https://www.fs-elliott.com/blog/custom-aerodynamics-centrifugal-compressors or listening to Episode 4 of the Beyond Compression podcast.

Follow FS-Elliott on LinkedIn and Facebook for more insights from our engineering and service teams, and join us as we explore smarter, cleaner, more reliable compressed air systems.

Compressed air powers nearly every industrial facility, but it’s often one of the most underestimated operating costs.

In this episode of Beyond Compression, we explore why compressed air costs more than most organizations realize and how system-level inefficiencies quietly drive energy, maintenance, and reliability expenses over time.

Through a real-world case study, we share how a compressed air audit uncovered hidden costs across excess pressure, leakage, and inefficient loading. With data in hand, the facility prioritized targeted improvements that reduced operating expense and strengthened system reliability.

In this episode, you’ll learn:

• Why most compressed air costs occur after installation
• How small pressure and control decisions compound into a major energy expense
• What system audits reveal that daily operation often hides
• How monitoring and data improve efficiency and uptime
• Why compressed air should be managed as a system, not just equipment

If compressed air feels like a fixed cost, this episode shows how much control you actually have.

👉 Download our white paper to learn more: https://www.fs-curtis.fs-elliott.com/hidden-costs-air-compressor-operation

Follow FS-Elliott on LinkedIn and Facebook for more insights from our engineering and service teams, and join us as we explore smarter, cleaner, more reliable compressed air systems.

OEM and Non-OEM parts may look the same—but do they really perform the same?

In this episode of Beyond Compression, host Pam Wasielewski sits down with Dave Sleeman, a seasoned service expert, to break down one of the most common—and costly—assumptions in industrial maintenance: that OEM and non-OEM parts are interchangeable.

From reverse engineering and material selection to micron ratings, tolerances, and long-term performance, this conversation pulls back the curtain on what manufacturers see that others don’t. Dave shares real-world field experience, including a case where a seemingly harmless non-OEM air filter led to reduced efficiency, vibration alarms, impeller damage, and nearly $50,000 in unplanned costs.

In this episode, you’ll learn:

• Why “looks the same” doesn’t mean “performs the same.”
• What’s lost when parts are reverse-engineered without original design data
• How non-OEM components contribute to early-life failures
• The hidden costs of downtime, efficiency loss, and secondary damage
• What OEM parts protect beyond performance—warranty, safety, and compliance

If you’ve ever considered saving a few dollars on replacement parts, this episode explains why the real cost often shows up later.

👉 Full case study:
https://www.fs-elliott.com/blog/oem-vs-non-oem-parts-explained-what-manufacturers-see-that-others-dont

Follow FS-Elliott on LinkedIn and Facebook for more insights from our engineering and service teams, and join us as we explore smarter, cleaner, more reliable compressed air systems.