Pneumatic nitrogen solution

23 January, 2025

Paragon Rapid Technologies, based in Darlington, is in the business of delivering low- to mid-volume manufacturing services to thousands of customers across the UK, Europe and the rest of the world. The company offers low-volume manufacturing, CNC precision machining and 3D printing for tool-free, volume production, providing world-class support throughout the product development cycle, from innovation to manufacturing. Applications for their services include manufacturing parts for performance cars, film and TV props, and prototyping.

Nitrogen needs

Many of Paragon’s manufacturing processes are reliant on compressed air, but one of the 3D printing technologies they use – Selective Laser Sintering (SLS) – also requires a consistent supply of high-purity nitrogen.

Paragon’s Site Supervisor, Craig Rennie, explains: “SLS is a great way to produce three-dimensional components with complex designs. It uses special metal powders that are sintered by the laser to create precise shapes. Nitrogen is critical during the SLS printing process because it displaces oxygen and keeps the lasers operating at the correct temperature. Some builds can take up to twenty-four hours, so there is a significant time investment as well as the cost of the powders and the energy to run the process. Having a reliable supply of high purity nitrogen is critical to success.”

However, the company’s existing nitrogen generator was approaching the end of its useful life. It was becoming increasingly difficult to source spare parts, and the gas purity levels fluctuated between 70% and 85%. The SLS process requires a minimum of 95% purity.

Finding the right partner

Paragon initially explored the possibility of switching to a bottled nitrogen supply rather than installing a replacement generator. However, the carbon emissions associated with weekly deliveries made this option impractical and unsustainable.

A new nitrogen generator needed to meet several key criteria. In addition to delivering a consistent supply of high-purity gas and lowering energy consumption, it had to fit within the existing generator’s footprint. The new generator needed to be quick and simple to install because demand for Paragon’s services meant there was no room for production delays or significant outages. Low maintenance requirements were also a key factor.

Paragon approached several nitrogen generator manufacturers for a solution to their requirements, but the results were largely disappointing. Rennie explains: “Most of the quotes were based on supplying a standard model, so the proposed replacements were oversized – and overpriced – for our application. Atlas Copco took the trouble to visit our site and conduct a proper survey. Their solution demonstrated that they really understood our processes and our pain points.”