PPS Sheffield (Pennine Pneumatic Services Ltd)

Ask the expert: PPS Sheffield’s Alan Kerr reviews the new Atlas Copco GA VSDS air compressor

PPS Sheffield (Pennine Pneumatic Services Ltd) — 27/01/2022

Alan Kerr has worked in the compressed air industry for almost 25 years and has been a member of the Pennine Pneumatic Services Ltd team since 2009. Alan has a wealth of knowledge about compressed air and Atlas Copco products in particular. He currently manages the Sheffield branch of PPS where he can indulge his passions of finding energy efficient solutions for customers and supporting upcoming engineers and apprentices.

In this article Alan gives his opinion on the newly launched Atlas Copco GA VSDS air compressor.

The new Atlas Copco GA VSDS is like my dream car – it’s got all the optional extras as standard

If I was building my dream car, I wouldn’t settle for the basic model, I’d want all the optional extras: panoramic roof, alloys, driver assist system, quality sound system, heated seats – you get the picture.

This is the approach that Atlas Copco takes with compressors – however good their previous models are, they are always looking at ways to make improvements through innovation and smart design, and the latest state-of-the-art range on the market is the GA VSDS.

When it comes to compressors, I’m not ashamed to say that I’m a bit of a geek. I’ve been in the game 26 years now and have seen different models come and go. Technological advances have made a massive contribution to how efficient and environmentally friendly they can be.

At PPS we embrace every new product that Atlas Copco releases and invest in them for the benefit of our customers, which is why we are extremely proud to be a Premier Distributor.

A great compressor – supercharged

VSD+ air compressors have been around for some years now, with up to 50% average savings on energy bills, which can be worth thousands of pounds over the course of a year.

But Atlas Copco don’t rest on their laurels, as we’ve seen with the launch of the new range of VSDS compressors. What they’ve done is taken the VSD+, already a great model, and supercharged it.

For me, Atlas Copco are leaps and bounds ahead of the competition and the new GA VSDS takes it to the next generation. Simply put, it’s Atlas Copco’s most advanced, sustainable, energy-efficient and smart rotary screw compressor, offering incredible average energy savings of 60%.

So, what’s so good about it?

Better features, better performance - the VSDS is a fantastic machine. I’ll admit to getting quite excited by it! Stronger performance, improved efficiency, optimum cooling, better oil quality preservation, improved connectivity – the list goes on.

A new Smart Temperature Control (STC) system allows the compressor to operate with optimal oil temperature, while the variable-speed cooling fan ensures it cools to peak performance. This means the quality of the air coming out of the machine and the oil within the machine are kept at the highest levels of quality, improving day-to-day running and enhancing the life of the moving parts.

Shhhhh – it’s quiet! With sound levels as low as 63dB, the VSDS is unbelievably even quieter than the VSD+ so can be installed right in the heart of your production with no noise issues. It also has the same small footprint, which is a great advantage for anywhere with limited space like smaller factories, workshops and body shops.

For the factory of the future

Another key feature is OPC UA. This stands for Open Platform Communication with Unified Architecture. This is where I get proper geeky! OPC UA is an ethernet-based language that allows different elements of a factory to easily and securely talk to each other in a common open-platform language. It cuts down on costly and time-consuming software development.

Its main use is for integration with production machinery. For example, if you’re running a machine that laminates worktops, it can talk to the compressor through this new system making it much more synchronous and autonomous with regards to how the whole production is operating.

So, there’s no need for building management systems, the air compressor can talk to monitoring equipment and the wider factory, as well as allowing remote monitoring through SMARTLINK. It really is next-generation stuff.

Better for your pocket – and the planet

Over the years, I’ve found that when we go into sites with older machinery, especially fixed speed compressors, customers can’t believe the massive energy savings offered by variable speed drive machines. Just about any industry can benefit: manufacturing, pharmaceuticals, plastic moulding, food and drink, automotive, the list goes on.

In creating the VSDS, Atlas Copco have said they are making sustainable productivity their top priority, with 60% average saving on energy consumption compared with the impressive 50% average already offered by VSD+ models.

Even the motor is designed to make the best use of resources. Atlas Copco are very careful and mindful in their selection of materials and like to build in the most environmentally friendly way they can. So not only is the new technology more efficient, the machine itself is built with a minimal number of components and the motor doesn’t require any rare earth materials.

Final thoughts

Well, I could speak all day about the new VSDS and I think now is the time for it to speak for itself. The team at PPS are excited and looking forward to taking deliveries quarter one 2022 and having them in the showroom to take a closer look. If you are looking for a new compressor solution or at reducing your energy consumption and carbon footprint then the Atlas Copco VSDS is by far the best solution for you.

For friendly, honest advice and information on the VSDS or any of our products and services please contact myself or our team on:

sales@pps.co.com

01422 321772

Andy Turner’s Guide to Air Compressor Preventative Maintenance

PPS Sheffield (Pennine Pneumatic Services Ltd) — 07/07/2022

Service Manager at PPS Sheffield since 2006, Andy Turner has more than 20 years’ experience in the compressed air industry.

Trained by the manufacturers the company distributes for, he has seen enough costly breakdowns to recognise the benefits of ongoing preventative maintenance for his customers.

Here, he offers his Guide to Preventative Maintenance.

No one wants to experience downtime, with all the associated delays to production, not to mention the costs, which can run into thousands.

As someone who enjoys rally driving, I always make sure my car is maintained and prepared between events to achieve the best results on the day. But it’s surprising how many businesses are happy to leave things to chance at a major production plant.

What are the benefits of preventative maintenance?

Where to start? There are many benefits, including:

Improving the day-to-day performance of your machinery
Reducing the likelihood of costly breakdowns
Lowering your energy bills and saving on costs
Ensuring you fulfil customer orders on time
Preventing you from losing customers who have been let down

Who carries out the maintenance?

At PPS Sheffield, and our other four branches across the North, all our air compressor servicing and maintenance is carried out by experienced engineers, who have been trained by the manufacturers of the machines we supply.

They know air compressors, dyers, filters, control systems, vacuum pumps and other equipment inside out and are able to spot a problem before it causes major issues, such as machinery failure and production downtime.

What happens during preventative maintenance?

Each piece of machinery is carefully checked over and its output monitored. The kind of things we are looking for include:

A compressor that is inefficient, due to lack of maintenance or being wrongly sized in the first place.
High operating temperatures
Excessive vibration or noise
Poor air quality that could be caused by contamination (eg dust, oil, water vapour)
Filters and oil that need changing
Air and oil leaks within the unit
Leaking pipework

As well as risking breakdown, all of these issues could be increasing the cost of your energy bills and requiring your compressed air plant to work harder, reducing its lifespan.

How is preventative maintenance carried out?

We can work around your production schedule. Because this is something we do every day, we will know when we can attend during production without shutting down machinery and when we need to attend outside production hours.

Conclusion

Preventative maintenance is a no brainer. It costs less than you might think, saves you money in the long run, makes it less likely that you’ll let your customers down resulting in lost business and gives you peace of mind.

Simm Engineering Group expand bespoke pneumatic services

PPS Sheffield (Pennine Pneumatic Services Ltd) — 22/11/2018

Pneumatics – a bigger and better range

At Simm Engineering Group, we are proud of our heritage of supplying high quality air compressors, but you may not be aware that our service to customers extends to other product ranges machinery, including pneumatics, process equipment, pumps and air tools

As the capital side of our business has grown, we have developed our offer further so that we can supply customers with a full solution – starting from the compressor room and reaching out across the rest of the factory.

One supplier, one solution

The benefit to you? As well as dealing with an experienced team with extensive knowledge of compressed air and pneumatics, it means that there’s no need for you to source equipment from several different companies.

Having one supplier streamlines the process, saves you time and makes the purchase of new compressed air and pneumatics systems a whole lot easier and more cost effective.

Out with the old, in with the new

If you use pneumatics and you’re looking to replace old machinery equipment, increase production or expand your facilities, our experienced pneumatics team can help you decide on the best kit for the job in hand.

This may be a single machine item or a whole system. We can pair up your new pneumatics with an existing range of factory equipment, or we can supply you with a complete solution, from the compressed air room to the production side of your manufacturing unit.

Our full range of pneumatics

At Simm we work with all of the major brands – such as Festo, Norgren, SMC, Atlas Copco and Parker. We are also an authorised Camozzi Distributor. The products we supply include:

Pneumatics
Process valves
Pumps
Air tools
Tubing
Fittings
Connectors
Cylinders

From single item sales and consignment stock to supply agreements and rebate schemes, we can find the best solution for your needs, whether you work in food production, product manufacture, construction or any other industry where pneumatics are used on a daily basis.

A specialist pneumatics team

Our growing pneumatics team includes engineers and salespeople with many years’ experience in the field.

Pneumatics are known for their reliability – and so is our workforce. Why not take a quick look at some of our Case Studies to get an idea of our approach – and how we help businesses just like yours.

For more information on our pneumatics and compressed air ranges, contact sales@simmengineeringgroup.co.uk or call 0114 244 0764

A Guide to Vacuum System Care

PPS Sheffield (Pennine Pneumatic Services Ltd) — 27/10/2020

Did you know that you might be able to get better performance from your vacuum care system? Here are some helpful tips.

Many companies rely on vacuum technology, whether from a single pump or a complete system. At Simm Engineering Group, we have engineers skilled in vacuum technology who can help you find the most effective options.

The first step is a site visit so that we can look at your set up and help you decide what you need for your specific applications. You can then choose from the range of services we provide, such as commissioning and installation.

The following tips will help you make the most of any system…

1. Cooling off:

Motors generate heat, which can be damaging. To keep your vacuum pump at the correct temperature, it should be cooled either by fresh air or by a fan.
During the warmer months, the viscosity of your oil will be reduced, which can affect the ability of the pump to pull its full vacuum – and consequently its performance.

2. A change is as good as a rest:

The best way to care for your vacuum pump is to ensure that the oil is inspected around once a week and changed regularly. This is the bare minimum you should do to keep the pump well maintained.

Make sure you’re familiar with the manufacturer’s recommendations of how often you should change the oil in your vacuum pump, based on usage, while at the same time being aware of the need to adjust this if your machinery is running 24 hours, seven days a week.

A good idea is to create an oil maintenance schedule, which should be kept somewhere conspicuous to remind you to follow it.

3. Flexibility is key:

The type of application may well dictate how often you should change the oil. This can vary significantly between different applications, so make sure you adjust your maintenance schedule accordingly.

Extending the length of time that the oil is used may be a false economy if it’s not clean enough to perform its job of lubricating the vacuum pump. Oil protects the system and ensures the pump runs safely – dirty or broken-down oil will not be as effective and will reduce the life of the pump.

4. Start on the right foot:

Purchasing a new vacuum pump or upgrading your current system is not something to rush into. Take your time, consult with a specialist and make sure you get it right from the start.

The components you choose for your application can make a significant difference to how effectively it runs. Over-specification can be a waste of money and under-specification can affect the performance and efficiency of your system, reducing its life and costing you more in the long run.

If you’re considering upgrading or replacing your vacuum system, we’d be happy to offer some free advice about the options available to you. Contact our expert team here.

(Image Atlas Copco)

PPS pledge support for the new BCAS 10% Taskforce

PPS Sheffield (Pennine Pneumatic Services Ltd) — 27/04/2022

The British Compressed Air Society (BCAS) is the only UK technical trade association open to manufacturers, distributors and end users of compressors, vacuum pumps, pneumatic tools and allied products.

BCAS recently launched the 10% Taskforce, a call for UK businesses to take simple steps to cut their compressed air energy usage figure by 10 per cent. The campaign has the potential to save a combined £147.5 million in wasted electricity costs, and has ambitious targets to save over 411,000 tonnes of CO2 – the equivalent of taking 317,000 cars off the road.

Compressed air is known as the fourth utility and accounts for as much as 30% of a factory’s energy consumption, so cutting the amount of energy you use brings massive savings. While many manufacturers may think that reducing energy requires significant investment in new equipment, the 10% Taskforce encourages them to look at small, incremental steps to decrease their overall energy consumption.

“At PPS, we have over 30 years of experience in advising our customers with solutions that help them save money and reduce their carbon footprint. The 10% Taskforce aligns with our mission, and we’re looking forward to getting involved with the campaign, providing working examples and practical tips.

“It’s all about the marginal gains – yes, capital investment for machinery upgrades brings energy savings but you have to look at the big picture and change your mindset to see that all the small changes you can make will quickly add up to a big difference. There has never been a more critical time for a campaign to highlight this” commented Matt O’Connor, PPS Operations Director.

A word from Vanda Jones, BCAS Executive Director

“Using figures from the recent UK Energy-related products policy study, conducted by ICF in May 2021, we have calculated the combined energy usage for the mid-point of all industrial compressor technologies over their lifetime at 11.71 TWh. Based on the current UK average non-domestic electrical unit cost of £0.1249/kWh , the figures are substantial – equating to £1.475 billion being spent by UK companies to generate the compressed air their businesses rely on.

“Add to this the fact that over 30 per cent of this energy is being wasted through inefficient practices – equivalent to £485.43 million in wasted electricity spend – and there is much that businesses can do to cut this figure significantly.

“Our new 10% Taskforce is designed to help businesses save money and make a positive difference to the environment. We encourage everyone in the industry to get involved. Alongside a dedicated white paper, which details the energy-saving potential and some of the simple steps that can be implemented, we will also be showcasing some of the best examples of energy-saving compressed air programmes through our website and social media.”

Are you looking to save energy? Here’s where you can start…

Free energy audit - Our free energy audits and site surveys include assessing your existing systems, taking detailed readings and analysing the results to advise you on the optimum solutions. Energy audits often result in major cost and CO2 savings and improve the efficiency of your production.

Find out more >>>

Leak detection survey - In addition to an energy audit, a leak detection survey is one of the best energy saving measures you can take. Air leaks are one of the major sources of wasted energy in industry . In a typical system, engineers will find around 70 – 100 leaks, representing leak rates of anything from 30% to 60%.

Find out more >>>

Service & maintenance contract - Investing in an air compressor service contract can help to ensure your system remains efficient, and can help you enjoy 3.5% more production uptime than those without one. We have a range of packages that can be tailored to meet your specific site needs.

Find out more >>>

More information

Download the BCAS 10% Taskforce dedicated whitepaper >>>

Five basic air compressor maintenance tips

PPS Sheffield (Pennine Pneumatic Services Ltd) — 24/01/2019

Compressed air is referred to as the 4th utility and accounts for as much as 30% of a factorys energy consumption. Preventative maintenance can help to keep your compressed air system running smoothly and avoid downtime. Here are our five basic air compressor maintenance tips to help keep your production running smoothly…

Read the manufacturers user manual – More often than not, the air compressor manual is overlooked. This manual contains essential information on the limitations of your air compressor and safety guidelines.
Clean the air intake filter regularly – Your air compressor has to work harder to intake the air if the intake filter element is heavily contaminated. Its compression capacity is affected adversely and you will get less air delivered per kW. Ensure that the intake filter of your compressor is clean at all times, more so if you’re operating it in a dirty or dusty environment.
Drain the tanks of condensate regularly – The receiver/tank will accumulate moisture from the air being compressed, more so if you’re operating it a humid environment. More condensate inside the receiver means less storage capacity. Install an automatic no-loss drain, this will ensure this is never overlooked
Clean heat exchangers – The heat exchangers work to reduce the operating temperature of the air compressor. By keeping the operating temperatures down, the compressors are able to function at their optimum. However, if the heat exchangers are dirty, they won’t be able to do their job well, thus hindering the compressor’s performance and reducing its life span.
Service your air compressor – When using a lubricated air compressor, it’s important that the oil level is checked daily. Other parts on the air compressor require periodic servicing (oil change, oil filter, air filter, oil separator, belts/drive coupling) all require changing to keep the air compressor running at its optimum level and to avoid breakdowns.

If you have any further queries regarding air compressor maintenance don’t hesitate to get in touch with our knowledgeable team.

Data logging leads to £15,098 annual savings for Paragon Carpet Tiles

PPS Sheffield (Pennine Pneumatic Services Ltd) — 31/07/2019

Company: Paragon Carpet Tiles is a UK manufacturer of carpet tiles and entrance matting based in Wath-upon-Dearne, Rotherham, South Yorkshire.

Part of the National Floorcoverings Group Ltd, Paragon was founded in 1997 and today is one of the UK’s leading manufacturers of BREEAM A+ rated carpet tiles. The company prides itself on offering fresh design for contemporary workplaces, while promoting UK manufacturing.

Project date: May 2018 – July 2019

Project overview:Replacement of three fixed-speed air compressors with an Atlas Copco GA26 VSD+FF variable speed drive machine, plus an Atlas Copco OSC95 oil/water separator, an Atlas Copco LV1000L galvanised vertical air receiver and an Atlas Copco DD130+ general purpose coalescing filter.

What was needed: The company was running three fixed-speed air compressors – two in the Latex department and one in the Tiles department, all of which were starting to age. Paragon is committed to eco-friendly initiatives and Mick Beckitt had been asked to look into options for improving energy efficiency, including upgrading existing machinery.

What we did: A site visit was arranged to survey the current compressed air system and discuss options. We carried out a seven-day energy audit and found that there was potential for reducing energy use by 108,636 kWh per annum, which translated into savings of £13,590 on the company’s annual energy bills.

After going through our proposals, the company ordered a state-of-the-art Atlas Copco GA26 VSD+FF variable speed drive air compressor to replace the three fixed-speed machines (just keeping one as an emergency back up).

In addition Paragon ordered an Atlas Copco OSC95 oil/water separator, an Atlas Copco LV1000L galvanised vertical air receiver and an Atlas Copco DD130+ general purpose coalescing filter.

“My only query was the amount of potential savings flagged up, as it was such a high figure it was hard to believe,” says Mick Beckitt. “I was taken to visit another customer’s site in Rotherham and that convinced me as they had done their own data logging that confirmed the costs. It was quite shocking to find out how much we could save and once we saw that, the only option was to go ahead.”

Why Simm Engineering Group?: A member of our sales team dropped off some literature at the site and Paragon’s Production Manager Mick Beckitt got in touch the same day to request a visit.

“The point about energy efficiency and savings had been raised on a BSI audit,” explains Mick Beckitt.”

Key benefits: A follow-up data logging exercise showed the energy and cost savings would be even higher than projected:

120,687 kWH and £15,098 per annum (based on a trial where the compressor was left running and the system was pressurised to mimic the original energy audit conditions).

As well as enjoying energy savings that have reduced costs and the company’s carbon footprint, the new air compressor is more reliable and enhances productivity.

“There’s a timer on the new compressor, which opens up the options and makes it more flexible to work with. We have made improvements by looking at whether we need to run the compressor at weekends, and if so, we can run it on the timer. It’s also a lot quieter running, that’s another benefit.”

Another happy customer:

“I was very impressed with the whole package; everything ran smoothly from first conversations to the quotation and installation. The people I dealt with were friendly and experienced, and everything brought up in discussions gave me confidence in the process. I’d certainly be happy to recommend the company to others and we’re now buying spares from your pneumatics department as well.”
Mick Beckitt, Production Manager

Simm Engineering Group supports the National Fluid Power Centre to develop new compressed air training course

PPS Sheffield (Pennine Pneumatic Services Ltd) — 28/11/2019

Simm Engineering Group have recently embarked on a program of support for The National Fluid Power Centre (NFPC) in Worksop. As part of the NFPC Advisory and Strategic Planning Group, Simm will work with the experienced NFPC Training Engineers to develop training focused on compressed air engineering.

Demand for compressed air in manufacturing is so high it is widely referred to as the 4th utility after electricity, gas and water. Up to 30% of a factory’s energy consumption goes into the production of compressed air. So, for technicians, maintenance engineers and facilities managers working in manufacturing, knowledge of how to maintain an effective and efficient compressed air system can be crucial to their business.

As an Atlas Copco Authorised Distributor, Simm have secured the donation of a state of the art, energy efficient Atlas Copco GA7VSD+ air compressor. This donation will be used to create a showpiece for compressed air engineering at the NFPC. The full installation will use Transair pipework from Parker, a firm who already have a long-standing advisory relationship with the NFPC.

“We’ve only ever dealt with what’s beyond the FRL (Filter, Regulator, Lubricator) unit. As we strive to build an effective and efficient work force for the UK, we need to incorporate compressed air generation into our integrated systems engineering approach.

“We have been working with Parker for some time now and on their recommendation it has been fantastic to welcome Simm on to our advisory committee. We are grateful to Simm and Atlas Copco for the donation of the GA7VSD+ Air Compressor, a first step for our expanded training”
John Savage, Director, National Fluid Power Centre

More about the NFPC

The NFPC opened in 2000 and is now the UK’s No.1 training provider for Integrated Systems Engineering, offering services to over 300 major companies both across the UK and Internationally.

With three fully equipped technical centres, backing from over 60 leading National and International Companies, ISO9001-2015 approval and as a BFPA certified CETOP Education Centre, the NFPC ensures its training services are at the forefront of industry.

More about Simm Engineering Group

A leading UK supplier of compressed air solutions, Simm was founded in Sheffield in 1941.

A division of Pennine Pneumatic Services (PPS) since 2015, Simm has established a reputation for energy-saving solutions and excellent customer service.

As an Atlas Copco Distributor, Simm supply the latest energy-efficient air compressors and vacuum pumps, along with pneumatic systems, nitrogen generators, dryers, filters, air receivers, pipework and ancillary products. Coupled with genuine 24/7 breakdown support, service contracts and hire machines; Simm are able to tailor their offering to suit all types of manufacturing customers.

Made in Yorkshire Catch up with Long-Standing Member, PPS and Celebrate their partnership with Festo

PPS Sheffield (Pennine Pneumatic Services Ltd) — 02/10/2024

Earlier this week, Made in Yorkshire's Sam Sleight visited PPS Sheffield, one of Made in Yorkshire's longest-standing members. The timing of our visit coincided with the exciting Festo Technoferium event, where representatives from Festo showcased hands-on demonstrations of the latest developments in connected technologies. This event celebrated PPS's move to become one of the most recent additions to Festo's Official Partner Network earlier in the year.

It was a fantastic opportunity to catch up with the Kim Martlew, Marketing Manager and Amaya Evans, Marketing Assistant at Pennine Pneumatics Services. We saw first-hand how PPS are continuing to embrace cutting-edge technologies and solidify their role as a key player in the supply chain for manufacturers across the UK.

Supporting UK Manufacturers Across All Industries

PPS Sheffield’s commitment to UK manufacturing extends beyond its own success. As a trusted supplier of high-quality pneumatic and hydraulic components, PPS works with manufacturers across a wide range of sectors, including automotive, aerospace, food and beverage, energy, and pharmaceuticals. Their extensive air compressor product range and technical expertise enable UK manufacturers to optimise processes, reduce downtime, and increase efficiency.

Expansion Across the North and Midlands

Since joining Made in Yorkshire, PPS has experienced significant growth. Having grown out of Brighouse, where their HQ is still located today, the company has expanded its operations with facilities now spanning Lancashire, the Midlands, West Yorkshire, South Yorkshire, the Humber, and the North East. This impressive expansion reflects PPS’s dedication to providing localised support for manufacturers across the UK, further strengthening their role as a key partner in the industry.

Looking Ahead: More Opportunities with Made in Yorkshire

Whilst on site with Kim Martlew at PPS, she shared insights into the exciting developments happening within the company. Kim and Sam discussed the upcoming opportunities at Made in Yorkshire, including their participation in various events leading up to the end of the year. Notably, PPS will be looking to join us on the highly anticipated Westminster trip, further showcasing their active involvement within the network, ahead of celebrating 10 years of partnership with Made in Yorkshire in 2025!

It’s always a pleasure to reconnect with such a dedicated member of our network. We look forward to seeing more of PPS at future events and celebrating a decade-long collaboration next year!

Simm Engineering Group changes customer facing company name

PPS Sheffield (Pennine Pneumatic Services Ltd) — 27/08/2021

From the 25^th August 2021 Simm Engineering Group will be known as Pennine Pneumatics Services Ltd in a move aiming to ease customer confusion and enhance the company’s presence across the North of England.

Pennine Pneumatic Services Ltd (PPS) acquired Simm Engineering Group in March 2015. Since then, the South Yorkshire branch has continued under its own name, but working as a division of PPS. Changing the name now was sparked by feedback from customers seeking clarity on the different company names.

The support customers receive from the South Yorkshire branch will remain the same – the team in Sheffield is not changing. Their relocation in 2020 put them in a prime position to provide key support to manufacturers and compressed air users across the region. South Yorkshire customers will already be used to dealing with the PPS West Yorkshire head office for accounts, installation and ducting.

“Up until now we have not needed to change the name of Simm Engineering Group, they worked as a division of PPS – but we only had two branches. In this year alone we have doubled to four branches and so the time is right for the change to bring greater consistency and ease of recognition across the business.

“It is a credit to our Sheffield based team that we are able to do this, the service and support they provide to customers is second to none. I know they are ready for the change and fully support what we are trying to achieve with this rebrand.

“I firmly believe that local presence from a team you can trust is the key to delivering good service – that is something that won’t change in our business” Ian Harrison, Managing Director, PPS

These are the contact details for PPS in South Yorkshire:

Pennine Pneumatic Services Ltd

Unit 14 & 15,

31 East,

Kingfisher Way,

Dinnington,

Sheffield,

S25 3AF

Telephone: 0114 244 0764
Email: sales@pps.co.com

For more information on Pennine Pneumatic Services Ltd please visit www.pps.co.com.

Recent expansion in PPS Sheffield helps to reduce lead times for our customers

PPS Sheffield (Pennine Pneumatic Services Ltd) — 05/12/2022

With compressed air making up approximately 70% of all energy in manufacturing, our customers trust us for a reliable supply of compressed air and pneumatics parts. Our recent expansion of Pennine Pneumatic Services Ltd Sheffield branch (PPS Sheffield) will help us source parts faster, and better service our customers.

The branch has undergone renovations, with a new 8500 sq ft mezzanine being added. This creates more space for our large stock, including air compressors, compressor spares and pneumatic parts – items that have recently seen a large increase in lead times due to global supply issues.

“Manufacturers in South Yorkshire have been feeling the pain of long lead times. The addition of the mezzanine floor and 1.2 tonne lift has enabled us to hold a massive amount of stock that is central, and crucial to our operation and client network – helping us to alleviate some of that pain.

“Having the stock here in South Yorkshire, ready to ship means manufacturers can hire or buy a compressor quickly should the worst happen, and they have a system failure. It also means we have the right compressor spares available for our engineers to be able to make first time fixes on site and maintain the correct service intervals on machines.

“Response, customer uptime and energy efficiency are paramount to the PPS ethos, which is why we have made this significant investment in the new mezzanine. As a distributor for market leading brands including Atlas Copco, we are proud to carry stock of energy efficient products” Alan Kerr, General Manager PPS Sheffield.

The expansion follows other major transformation, with our South Yorkshire branch moving to the new site in Dinnington in the summer of 2020. The site’s convenient location, situated just off the M1 and M18, makes it ideally placed for customers in the South Yorkshire area, as well as being centrally located to the other four PPS branches.

Alan added: “At PPS we do not stand still, we are always looking to make improvements. Moving into our new Sheffield premises back in 2020 was a massive step for PPS but we knew it was exactly the right thing to do in, let’s be honest, quite uncertain times through the Covid peak. We knew, however, that this was just the start of our venture to develop and grow our infrastructure to better support our customers across South Yorkshire and beyond.”

Get hands on with the latest developments in “Connected Technologies”

PPS Sheffield (Pennine Pneumatic Services Ltd) — 20/09/2024

The Festo Technoferium is coming to PPS Sheffield on 30^th September for a demo day…and you’re invited.

Demo day highlights

Drop in anytime between 10am-3.30pm to:

Experience the Festo Connected Technologies demonstrations
See inside the PPS Sheffield branch and find out more about the services offered
Talk to industry experts to find solutions for your site
Hot sandwich and refreshments available to all attendees
Every attendee will be entered into a prize draw for a £100 Amazon voucher

More about the Festo Technoferium

You may have already seen or visited the Festo Technoferium, however the demonstrations on board are adapted several times per year. It’s equipped with the latest product innovations and technologies. The current demonstration theme is “Connected Technologies”.

The demonstration day will inspire you with ideas for sustainability, flexibility, and connectivity. You will be able to find out what opportunities the Festo solutions offer and discuss your questions or issues on site with both the Festo and PPS technical team.

Here are some of the topics covered in the demonstrations:

New IO system CPX-AP-I and AP-A for interconnectivity between different machine parts
Combined pressure and flow meter for saving energy
Predictive maintenance with artificial intelligence
The new valve terminal VTUX: compact, adaptable, and with the latest bus technology
Electric drives: our latest axes, motors and controllers, all perfectly matching and suitable for every bus system
Multi-protocol controllers so you can use 1 controller with several makes of PLCs

Book in and come along

When: Monday 30^th September, drop in any time between 10am-3.30pm

Where: PPS Sheffield, Unit 14 &15, 31 East, Kingfisher Way, Dinnington, Sheffield, S25 3AF

Book on here: https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/festo-demonstration-day-at-pps-sheffield-tickets-1012728025787
Booking your space helps us to predict numbers to cater for – thank you!

Simm Engineering Group relocate to upgrade their customer support

PPS Sheffield (Pennine Pneumatic Services Ltd) — 21/07/2020

Since 1941, Simm Engineering Group have been well known for air compressors in Sheffield. But it has always been more than just air compressors for Simm Engineering Group. Their focus is on keeping customer systems working efficiently from the plant room to the factory floor. This whole system approach includes air treatment, pipework, vacuum pumps, nitrogen generators, chillers, pneumatics and more.

At the end of June, Simm Engineering Group relocated to Dinnington, Sheffield in a move that will help them to upgrade their customer support.

A move to benefit customers

The new unit, fitted specifically for Simm Engineering Group, means they can do more for their customers.

With more space to hold stock for the pneumatics trade counter, they are shortening customer lead times for things like air compressor parts, accessories, air tools, cylinders, pipework, pneumatics and valves.

A larger warehouse also means Simm Engineering Group can extend their hire fleet, ready to support a customer when the unexpected happens or for longer term solutions. They offer fast and efficient hire and leasing of Atlas Copco air compressors, vacuum pumps, nitrogen generators and other machinery.

Technical support and training are areas that can now grow with the new space. Training that has previously only been available at the head office location in Brighouse can now be carried out in Sheffield with the PPS and Simm Engineering Group Technical Trainer, Andy Kershaw.

“This is a real springboard into a brand-new era for Simm Engineering Group. We are ready to push on with what we do best, delivering a one stop solution for compressed air equipment, installations, pneumatics, vacuum, chillers the list goes on. The new environment has already had a really positive effect on our team, and before we were properly moved in, we had hire machines going out to Sheffield customers - a brilliant start from our new location.”

Alan Kerr, General Manager (Simm Engineering Group)

A move to benefit staff

The Simm Engineering Group team are keen to get settled in at the new offices. Bright spaces and a modern canteen space plus showers and changing rooms will help promote positive wellbeing among the hard-working team.

“A relocation for Simm Engineering Group has been pivotal in helping us to provide improved customer service and massively improved facilities for staff. It has been in the pipeline for the last couple of years, it was just about finding the perfect location and the new unit at Dinnington ticks all the boxes. We are proud to be investing in Sheffield.”

Ian Harrison, Managing Director, Pennine Pneumatic Services Ltd and Simm Engineering Group

Where to find Simm Engineering Group

Their new address is:

Simm Engineering Group, Units 14 & 15, 31 East, Todwick Road, Dinnington, Rotherham, S25 3RF

Phone numbers and email addresses remain the same:

0114 244 0764

sales@simmeng.co.com / service@simmeng.co.com