Voith's two-stage air compressors offer a range of benefits to commercial vehicle operators including a high degree of energy efficiency, low-emissions, reduced weight and longer service intervals. The key to this range of benefits is an inter-cooling system that ensures consistently high air quality and noticeably lower fuel consumption. An extended compressor lifetime is another advantage of the two-stage principle which benefits all bus and truck operators using any Voith air compressor.

The two-stage principle features an intermediate chamber with cooler between the suction and pressure chamber. This allows air to be cooled as it makes its way from the first to the second compression stage. Lowering the temperature of compressed air allows the compressor to achieve an up to 85% longer duty time, increases air availability and improves energy efficiency. This is because the intercooling set-up performs a compression function and thus ensures low temperature levels throughout the compression process.

The intercooler's functioning principle ensures a decrease in power consumption during transport, thus saving fuel. With the light-weight aluminum construction, this model is roughly 7 kg lighter than conventional single-stage compressors, which ensures further reductions in fuel consumption. In addition, the automatic idle system (SLS) reduces consumption when the vehicle is in non-transport mode. As the demand for compressed air is particularly high in city buses, these vehicles are able to make full use of the two-stage Voith air compressor's efficient operation. In doing so, the unit is able to save up to 1 liter of diesel fuel for every 100 kilometers.

Another advantage of this compression is that it reduces the mechanical strain on pressurized components, thus extending the lifetime. During compression, temperatures of up to several hundred degrees are reached, which can be problematic, e.g. for oil. Lowering the temperature also reduces the strain on the unit and prevents the oil from cracking. It also stops by-products developing which may damage downstream devices in the compression system. The risk of compressor failure due to the over-heating that occurs during compression is thus reduced. Ensuring a consistently high air quality means compressor components last significantly longer and makes low-emission vehicle operation possible.

Voith technology can also be used to enhance vehicles already in operation. As part of its retrofit service, Voith offers suitable upgrade kits for a range of Euro 3 to Euro 5 Mercedes Benz, MAN and Volvo engine models.

Voith Turbo, a Group Division of Voith GmbH, is a specialist for intelligent drive solutions. Customers from highly diverse industries such as oil and gas, energy, mining and metal processing, ship technology, rail and commercial vehicles rely on advanced technologies from Voith Turbo.

Voith sets standards in the markets energy, oil & gas, paper, raw materials and transportation & automotive. Founded in 1867, Voith employs almost 43 000 people, generates €5.7 billion in sales, operates in about 50 countries around the world and is today one of the biggest family-owned companies in Europe.