COMPRESSED AIR, VACUUM, AND GENERATORS Europe’s underground water and wastewater networks are ageing, while the number of pipelines requiring rehabilitation continues to outpace the industry’s capacity to repair them. As utilities increasingly turn to trenchless technologies to extend the service life of buried infrastructure, contractors are placing growing emphasis on one of the process’s least visible yet most essential components: compressed air. Among the technologies helping to address this challenge is Cured-In-Place Pipe (CIPP) rehabilitation. By repairing existing pipelines without excavation, CIPP enables utilities to avoid road closures, minimise disruption to local communities and complete projects more quickly than traditional open-cut replacement. “Currently, the industry cannot rehabilitate what would be necessary each year, so demand for trenchless rehabilitation continues to grow quickly across Europe,” explained Thomas Lengger, Head of Sales, IMS Trenchless. “Without this solution, we would fall even further behind on broken pipes.” One of the main advantages of trenchless rehabilitation compared with traditional excavation is the reduced disruption to surrounding areas. “You don’t have to dig and close streets, so it does not affect traffic and day-to-day operations in the same way. It’s also quicker and more cost-effective”, Lengger added. Supporting each stage of the process Compressed air is used at several key stages of a typical CIPP installation. The process begins by cleaning the sewer using a water jetter before preparing the pipe with a cutting robot powered by an airdriven motor. After a second cleaning stage, compressed air is used to invert the liner, a synthetic felt fabric or glass tube impregnated with resin, into the existing pipeline. Pressure must then be maintained while the resin cures using either heat or light. Once curing has been completed, compressed air is used again to cool the liner before the installation is complete. Because compressed air is involved throughout the process, maintaining consistent performance is essential. “Compressed air is necessary for all CIPP lining solutions,” said Lengger. “Without air, we cannot carry out the work. It is a key component of the complete installation process.” This creates demanding requirements for the compressor. Contractors need a consistent combination of airflow and pressure throughout the relevant stages of installation. Air treatment is also important, with IMS Trenchless identifying a dryer and water separator as key technical requirements for CIPP applications. Collaboration When IMS Trenchless began evaluating compressors for its CIPP equipment, it prioritised a small footprint combined with high air volume and pressure. The company first encountered the compressors while observing them in operation at a project site in the United States, 28 HYDRAULICS & PNEUMATICS September 2026 www.hpmag.co.uk Compressed air supports trenchless pipe rehabilitation Compressed air plays an important role in trenchless pipe rehabilitation, helping contractors repair ageing pipelines without excavation by powering equipment, installing liners and maintaining pressure during the process, as H&P reports. where they were offered under the ELGi brand. This experience subsequently contributed to IMS Trenchless’s decision to work with ROTAIR in Europe. IMS Trenchless selected a bespoke ROTAIR compressor model, FLEXcomp, from ROTAIR’s VRK product line. Tailored specifically to IMS Trenchless’s applications, the compressor can operate almost all of the company’s machinery, providing customers with a mobile compressed air solution capable of supporting multiple stages of a CIPP project. According to IMS Trenchless, mobility is one of the compressor’s most valuable characteristics in day-to-day operations. Its combination of output and compact dimensions also responds directly to the space and transportation constraints contractors regularly encounter on site. “Contractors appreciate the power available from such a small footprint and how easily the compressor can be moved, particularly given the need for reliable performance, operational efficiency and strict project deadlines that are often among the biggest challenges when carrying out CIPP projects,” said Roberto Gonella, Head of International Sales, ROTAIR. The growing need for pipeline rehabilitation means CIPP contractors are under pressure to complete projects efficiently while maintaining consistent installation quality. Selecting equipment based solely on its initial purchase price can therefore create operational and financial risks over the longer term. “Contractors should not look solely at the price of the
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