For a booth painting industrial parts, size the compressor on everything that uses air at the same time: spray guns, blowing off parts, preparation, pumps and the booth's small equipment. In the example below, a two-station booth with its preparation area needs about 2,060 L/min: a 15 kW screw compressor such as the K 150 or the S 150, which delivers 2.2 m³/min at 8 bar, covers it.
What changes compared with a workshop booth
- Duration. Parts are painted in batches, several hours a day, sometimes over two shifts. The compressor runs continuously.
- Number of users. Several spray guns, often pumps, pot agitators, an air-driven gun washer.
- Blowing off parts. Each part is dusted off before painting, sometimes blown between coats.
- Preparation next door. Sanding, deburring and masking fed by the same network.
Our page on compressors for spray booths sets out the basic rules: dry air, filtration at the station, stable pressure. Here we apply them to production.
Make the list
List each device, its consumption and how it is used. Typical values, as a rough guide, to be checked in the manuals:
- Paint spray gun: around 350 L/min, counted at 100 %.
- Primer gun: around 300 L/min, counted at 100 %.
- Orbital sander: around 350 L/min, counted at 100 %.
- Dusting blow gun: around 150 L/min, counted at 50 %.
- Pumps, agitators, gun washer: the value in the manual.
A tool that blows continuously while in use counts in full. A tool that blows in bursts counts for half, because the receiver covers its peaks.
Worked example, two-station booth
- Two paint guns: 2 × 350 = 700 L/min.
- Two blow guns for the parts: 2 × 150 × 50 % = 150 L/min.
- Two sanders in preparation: 2 × 350 = 700 L/min.
- Agitators and gun washer, example assumption: 100 L/min.
- Total: 1,650 L/min.
- With a 25 % margin: 1,650 × 1.25 = about 2,060 L/min.
A K 150 or an S 150, at 2.2 m³/min at 8 bar, covers this need. If a third station is planned, our configurator offers a 20 % extension margin: 2,060 × 1.2 = about 2,480 L/min. You then move up to the S 220 PM.
Which compressor to choose?
- A new installation: the K 150. 4-in-1 screw compressor, 2.2 m³/min at 8 bar, 340 L receiver, built-in refrigerated dryer and filtration. One unit to connect.
- A network with its receiver, or a large receiver near the booth: the S 150. Same flow, supplied on its own, to pair with an air receiver and a dryer. Our article 4-in-1 or standalone compressor helps you decide.
- An extension or several booths: the S 220 PM. 22 kW, 3.6 m³/min at 8 bar, permanent magnet motor. Beyond that, see our offer for industrial projects, up to 132 kW on request.
Production is never steady: colour changes, breaks, cleaning. Our screw compressors are variable speed and follow demand instead of running off load. See our article on variable speed.
Pitfalls of a booth in production
- The pipework. A ring main around the workshop, pipes sloping to drain points, take-offs from the top. Our guide to connecting a compressor to the air network details these rules.
- Air quality at the station. Dryer at the compressor outlet, then fine filters at the booth inlet, after the last cold point. The air class is set with our technicians according to ISO 8573-1 and your paint's requirements. Our compressors are lubricated: filtration holds back oil aerosols.
- The buffer receiver. When several guns and pumps start at once, a receiver near the booth keeps the pressure stable. Our air receiver size calculator gives an order of magnitude.
- Powder coating. If you also powder coat, the need is different: see our article on the powder coating booth.
- An existing installation. Before adding a compressor, check what the workshop really uses. Our compressed air audit shows how much air you produce and how much you lose.
List your stations in the configurator, or send us the booth layout with a quote request: we will propose the compressor, the receiver and the air treatment.
For your trade: Compressor for spray booths.