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Shop Tool Reviews: Ingersoll Rand R-Series Rotary Compressor Preview

Are you out of air? To be more specific, is your shop lacking in the air compressor department, either worn out or over-burdened? Before going down to the big box stores and just grabbing one, it makes sense to do some research. Stepping up to a rotary compressor like the Ingersoll Rand rotary compressor may change the way the shop operates. With basically the same footprint, the Ingersoll Rand rotary compressor delivers more volume with much less noise. In addition, efficiency and aesthetics improve with these rotaries from IR, so the old shop gets a facelift as well.

Industry Leader

As an industry leader for over 145 years, Ingersoll Rand produces a vast range and supply of reliable and low maintenance air compressors. Listening to their customers and understanding the demands of industries continues to keep Ingersoll Rand on the leading edge. Even though they have compressors still working in the field that near the century mark, this doesn’t stop Ingersoll Rand from leading research and development of new technologies that show up in their compressors.

R-Series Rotary Screw Compressor

Ingersoll Rand R-Series Rotary Compressor Features

Driven from the success of their piston compressors, Ingersoll Rand has developed the R-series rotary compressor to be much quieter and run a lot cooler than the traditional piston heirs. With improved innovations such as leak-free PTFE hoses with o-ring face seals, as well as a reduction in the number of components, reliability increases with the R-series.

Traditional piston compressors need to run, then stop, in order to cool down the compressor. The Ingersoll Rand R-Series rotary compressor can be a continuous duty compressor. The R-series rotary compressor needs no cool-down time, hence making this an excellent choice for high demand applications. In addition, with increased heat of traditional piston compressors, the system builds more condensation (moisture). Moisture is the death of air tools and nice paint jobs, just to name a few.

With the stacked design of the Ingersoll Rand R-series rotary compressor, the footprint is much smaller. The R-series also offers premium efficiency with the totally enclosed fan-cooled motor that comes standard. These motors provide higher CFM output and are designed for harsh environments. Instead of the typical pressure switch, Ingersoll Rand includes an electronic controller for easy programming. Finally, fewer connection joints and more improved seals enable the Ingersoll Rand R-series compressor increased reliability and durability.

Piston Compressor

Our Take

We were able to get an up-close and personal look at these compressors while at SEMA 2016, and our first thoughts were pretty impressive. In fact, we shot a video standing right in front of one of these R-series while it was running (on purpose), and you can’t hear it in the video. As we look at expanding and updating our shop here at Shop Tool Reviews, compressors are an essential part of this. With the features and specs offered with these Ingersoll Rand R-series rotary compressors, as well as the the history that Ingersoll Rand brings with, we will take a hard look at choosing one of these IR R-Series.

If you are in the market for a new compressor, it makes sense to at least give these a long thought. Price does play a roll when you step up to a rotary compressor like the Ingersoll Rand R-series. With a starting price around $4,000 for a 5hp, efficiency, durability and technology do come at a cost.

R-Series Xe Controller

Model Specifications R-Series Compressor