The four parts
A 4-in-1 package combines four items that are normally bought, installed and maintained separately: the screw compressor, the air dryer, the receiver and the filter chain. A 5-in-1 adds a further stage, commonly an additional filtration or separation element depending on the package. The compressor is still the same compressor; what changes is that the system around it is no longer assembled on site.
Why integration helps
- One footprint - the package occupies a defined rectangle instead of four machines and the pipework between them.
- Factory pipework - the connections between compressor, dryer, receiver and filters are made and tested before delivery, so site work is power, air outlet and drainage.
- Matched components - the dryer is sized for the compressor's flow at its design point, which is often where loose installations go wrong.
- Single control point - the package is started and monitored as one system.
What to check before buying
| Item | Question to ask |
|---|---|
| Dryer type and dew point | Refrigerated or adsorption, and what dew point is guaranteed at the rated flow |
| Filtration class | What air quality class the chain delivers, and at what element condition |
| Receiver volume and rating | Litres, and the pressure rating relative to working pressure |
| Ambient limit | The package's rated ambient, since dryer performance falls as the room heats |
| Service access | Which panels open, and how much clearance each needs |
| Drain routing | Where condensate leaves the package and whether an oil-water separator is included |
Where integration has limits
A fixed package is harder to modify. If the process later needs a lower dew point or a different filter class, the package has to be reworked rather than extended. For plants with a stable, known requirement, that is a fair trade. For plants still defining their process, separate components leave more room to change.
Laser cutting and other high demand duties
Integrated packages are common in laser cutting, where the assist air requirement is fixed by the machine and the package can be specified once. In those cases the pressure band (16 or 20 bar for fibre laser work) and the filtration class drive the configuration far more than the compressor size alone.
Send us your working pressure, required flow and site conditions and we will propose a configuration. Contact OPPAIR.