There are times a construction project goal is best achieved through air excavation. Municipal codes are major considerations, notes Nikesh Bakshi, OEM sales manager for Vanair, a primary supplier of air compressors for OEMs.

“When you use hydroexcavation, sometimes what you dig out is not allowed to be dumped back in. You have to bring in clean dirt,” he says. “With air excavation, many times, whatever dry dirt you collect can be reused for compaction. That’s a big deal in an area far away from where you can get clean dirt or if you have to go a long distance to dump contaminated dirt.”

Regional water availability, water restrictions and electrical lines on site are other considerations.  

Underdeck kits available

To help accomplish job site objectives and minimize downtime, Vanair supplies a range of ready-to-go underdeck kits, providing up to 300 cfm and 250 psi for most trucks. Retrofit systems for older hydroexcavators are also available.  

The underdeck systems provide air power without claiming space above the truck frame or using the hitch.

Dual pressure systems are useful in situations necessitating jackhammer use or breaking up frozen ground before air excavation.

Vanair’s engineering team’s innovations — driven by end-user requests — include its FailSafe dual-sensor redundancy system for increased productivity. Meanwhile, the ThermalGuard weather protection kit preheats oil for the air system, a bonus for operators in cold Canadian and northern U.S. climates who can work immediately upon arrival to the job site.

With regular maintenance, Vanair offers a lifetime warranty on the system’s main air end component.

Vanair Mfg. offers a comprehensive line of vehicle-mounted air compressor, generator, welding, hydraulic and engine starting equipment, as well as customized solutions in the industry. 

800-526-8817 | www.vanair.com