Company News

MICHIGAN CITY, IND. (July 10, 2023) – Hitachi Global Air Power US, LLC, an industry leader in innovative compressed air solutions since 1965, today announced a climate action performance update for fiscal year 2022. Notably the company achieved carbon neutrality throughout its global operations* as part of the company’s Long-Term Climate Action Strategy.

New name supports the company’s growth and strategic vision while marking an inspiring next chapter for its global compressed air business MICHIGAN CITY, IND. (April 17, 2023) – Hitachi Industrial Equipment Systems Co., Ltd. (“HIES”), a wholly-owned subsidiary of Hitachi, Ltd. (TSE: 6501), today announced the establishment of Hitachi Global Air Power, a new company bringing together its global compressed air business. Effective immediately, Sullair will change its company name and operate under Hitachi Global Air Power.

Equipment management is a balancing act of cost, maintenance and utilization administration, and air compressors are no exception. Deciding whether to buy or rent an air compressor involves considering several factors beyond the machine’s purchase/rental price and is a very user-specific determination. What are your utilization plans for the machine? Is storage an issue? Do you have the time and bandwidth to manage the necessary maintenance requirements? Do you need flexibility?

Sullair, a Hitachi Group Company, announced its long-term climate action strategy and goal to globally reach carbon neutrality. It will be achieved by undertaking capital expenditure projects to further facilitate CO2 reduction, transitioning to 100% renewable electricity through a voluntary green power program, and implementing a voluntary carbon offset program.

Sullair, an industry leader in innovative compressed air solutions since 1965, recently celebrated the first anniversary of the Michigan City Expansion Project, its largest-ever capital expenditure project in Michigan City, Ind.

Jerel Cole, Senior Product Manager at Sullair, is featured in the February 2022 edition of Compact Equipment. Cole provides advice and insights for portable diesel air compressor pros in the article titled “The Compressor Crew.” He touches on maintenance and safety tips, common applications for small (185 and 375 psi) portable diesel air compressors and more. Read the full article here.

There was a time when air compressor manufacturers and local compressed air sales and service companies provided customers with solutions based upon product-centric information. But that’s no longer a viable practice given today’s competitive manufacturing environment. Today, sales engineers are critical to serving customers effectively and efficiently.

There are many differences and distinctions of oil free compressed air that need to be understood because choosing the wrong solution and technology can have adverse effects.

Sullair and Kanoo Machinery, one of its authorized distributors, are featured in the January 2022 edition of Oil & Gas News. The feature, titled “Oil Free Air - Where You Need It To Be,” discusses the growing need for oil free compressed air in many industries, including petrochemical, pipelines, power plants and more. The award-winning Tier 3 OFD1550 portable air compressor represents one of the latest solutions in the expanding Sullair oil free portfolio.

Oil & Gas Engineering magazine has named the Sullair Tier 3 OFD1550 oil free portable air compressor the silver award winner in the Power category for their 2021 Product of the Year awards program. Launched in January 2021, the OFD1550 is the latest development in the expanding Sullair oil free portfolio. Delivering ISO 8573.1 Class 0 oil free plant or back-up air, the Tier 3 compressor is perfect for users in markets with sensitive compressed air needs including food and beverage, electronics, power plants and more.

Sullair and one is its customers, Ghostfish Brewing Co., are featured in Craft Brewing Business, a leading news source for the crafting brewing industry. Brian Thiel, cofounder of Ghostfish Brewing, and Amy Offord, area sales manager of Southeast US at Sullair, discuss the importance of oil free compressed air in the production of beer. Ghostfish Brewing relies on a Sullair SRL 16.5 oil free scroll compressor to help run its canning processes, such as affixing can tops, blowing water off the top of the cans and applying plastic carriers.

Sullair announced its one-of-a-kind, pink 185 Series Tier 4 Final portable air compressor raised $32,500 in the ARA Foundation Charity Auction. Texas First Rentals of Cibolo, Texas, purchased the pink compressor, which became the highest bid item in the history of the ARA Foundation Charity Auction.

Sullair, an industry leader in innovative compressed air solutions since 1965, welcomed Michigan City, Ind. High School Tech Education students to the Sullair booth at the recent 2021 Best Practices Conference and Expo in Schaumburg, Ill. The students traveled more than 90 miles to meet with Sullair engineers and sales and marketing professionals to learn about the company and the compressed air industry, meeting Sullair distributors, vendors and industry peers exhibiting at the show.

As a feature for Compact Equipment, Jennifer Ohlinger, Senior Communications Manager at Sullair, wrote an article discussing how Sullair is getting creative with staffing. Sullair has tapped into the local labor pool by investing in training for nearby students through a partnership with area high schools and the Economic Development Corporation Michigan City. Read the full article here.

There is no denying the labor and skills shortage many in manufacturing are experiencing. Unfortunately, as economic experts agree, the shortage doesn’t appear to be going away any time soon and finding quality, skilled labor will continue to be a major issue for the unforeseeable future. Hence, manufacturers like Sullair aim to close the skills gap through collaboration and community outreach.

Brian Mann ME, PE, Air Systems Manager for Sullair, wrote an article appearing in the November 2021 issue of Compressed Air Best Practices. The article, titled “Exploring the Total Cost of Ownership of Oil-Injected vs. Oil-Free Compressed Air Systems,” discusses some end-users’ reluctance to transition from oil-injected to oil free air compression technology. Mann discusses why oil free compression technology is perceived to be less economical to own and operate than oil-injected technology and whether that is true or not.

Sullair, an industry-leading provider of compressed air solutions, was named a finalist in the Employee Relations category in the 2021 PRNEWS Platinum PR awards. 

In the October 2021 issue of Equipment Today, Nav Sharma, Director of Product Management, shares some tips on servicing portable air compressors. The article, "5 Basics of Air Compressor Maintenance," describes how service can often be the difference between a successful application or a costly breakdown.

Sullair, an industry leader in innovative compressed air solutions since 1965, announced it will donate a one-of-a-kind, pink 185 Series Tier 4 Final Portable Air Compressor to the ARA Foundation Charity Auction. Sullair will make a separate charitable donation to support breast cancer awareness and research, contributing 25% of the final auction price (up to $7,500) to Susan G. Komen® Chicago.

In the September/October 2021 issue of Pro Contractor Rentals, Jerel Cole, Senior Product Manager at Sullair, discusses how to get portable air compressors rental-ready for the impending rebound. He shares common oversights that maintenance teams may make while maintaining portable compressors as well as best practices for compressor maintenance to keep units working and ready to rent.

In the September/October 2021 issue of Turbomachinery International, Brian Tylisz, Senior Vice President of Sales, Americas at Sullair, discusses centrifugal compressor and air compressor technology, including the necessity and benefits of oil free air compressors. In the featured Q&A, he also touches on a few of the upcoming projects at Sullair and trends in the compressor industry. Read the full article here (pages 42-43).

Spencer Hall, field service engineer with Sullair, had an article published in Industrial Equipment News (IEN). The article titled "Tips to Help Your Industrial Air Compressor Withstand the Summer Heat" discusses tips end users should follow to ensure their industrial air compressors perform optimally during the heat and humidity, which make compressors exert more effort. To read the full article, click here.

Sullair, an industry leader in innovative compressed air solutions since 1965, today announced it has hired its first two Michigan City High School Compressed Air Academy graduates. Drake Adams and Matthew Ramirez were hired at Sullair for its Summer Assembly Program.

Sullair President and CEO John Randall is interviewed in the June 2021 issue of Mineria Pan-Americana magazine. With Sullair being a manufacturer of portable and stationary equipment for the mining and civil construction markets across Latin America, Randall outlines plans for the years ahead. Read the full article (in Spanish) on pages 14-15.

In the June-July 2021 issue of Contractor Supply magazine, Sullair Senior Product Manager Jerel Cole discusses portable air compressor and accessory trends in the issue's "Industry Update." Read the full article here (pages 46-47). Contractor Supply magazine serves more than 21,000 construction fastener, tool and supply distributors, manufacturers and rep agencies across North America.

Are you looking to rent a towable rotary screw air compressor? If so, you'll want to read a new article in Compact Equipment's June 2021 edition. Compact Equipment recently published an article titled "Renting Tips and Operational Insights for Towable Rotary Screw Air Compressors," which includes commentary from Jerel Cole, Senior Product Manager at Sullair. Cole provides tips and best practices while considering which compressor to rent.

Sullair Director of Product Management, Navendu (Nav) Sharma, is quoted in the Rental magazine article titled "5 Important Tips for Air Compressor Maintenance." The article discusses why a strong air compressor maintenance program is essential for a longer life, optimal performance, and happier customers.

John Randall, President and CEO of Sullair, never saw himself as a future executive. In the early parts of his career, he sought a challenge and any opportunity to learn. Those opportunities came in the form of several leadership roles, first with Navistar and for the past six years with Sullair. In the April 2021 edition of CompressorTech2, Randall discussed his career path and the future of Sullair. Read the full story here (pages 44-45).

Spencer Hall, field service engineer with Sullair, wrote an article for Plant Services' March 2021 Compressed Air eHandbook. The article titled "Rotary Screw Air Compressor Maintenance - Why it’s important to follow service intervals and inspect wearable parts regularly," discusses why it is important to follow the prescribed service and maintenance program for rotary screw air compressors. To read the full article, click here (pages 11-13).

Navendu (Nav) Sharma, Director of Product Management for Sullair, wrote an article appearing in Compressed Air Best Practices magazine. The article, titled “How to Size and Maintain Oil Free Compressed Air Systems,” discusses what users need to consider when adding an oil free air compressor to their facility.

In the March 2021 issue of Compact Equipment, Jerel Cole, senior product manager at Sullair, wrote an article discussing how to prepare a portable diesel air compressor for spring. Read the full article here (pages 40-41).

Sullair, an industry leader in innovative compressed air solutions since 1965, announced today that John Randall will be appointed President and Chief Executive Officer, effective April 1, 2021. Current Sullair President and CEO Charlie Takeuchi has been promoted by Hitachi, Ltd. and will become President of Tokyo-based Hitachi Industrial Equipment Systems (HIES), effective April 1, 2021.

In its latest episode of its video series titled Machine Heads, Compact Equipment takes a deep dive into the Sullair Mid-Range Series of portable diesel air compressors. Ken Cannella, Director of R&I Sales in North America at Sullair, discusses the new product with Keith Gribbins of Compact Equipment. To view the full video episode, click here.

In the February 2021 issue of Compact Equipment, Jerel Cole, senior product manager at Sullair, discusses how to pick the right 185 cfm portable diesel air compressor for your applications. Cole's commentary appears within the article "Air on the side of caution." Read the full article here (pages 40-41).

In the January edition of Food and Drink Technology, Sullair appears in the publication‘s supplier profile section. The feature highlights Oil Free Technology essential for food production and Sullair DSP oil free compressors, which are certified to Class 0 standard. Read the publication here (pages 38-39).

On November 1, 2020, Food Engineering magazine published an article titled "Keep composition of rotor coatings in mind when selecting an oil free rotary screw compressor," written by Camilo Villalobos, director of oil free product marketing at Sullair. Rotor coating is critical to help ensure the efficient operation of an oil free screw air compressor over a long period of time--but not all manufacturers use the same coating material. Learn more about what to look out for and why you should pay attention to the composition of rotor coatings.

In the 30 October – 5 November 2020 edition of Engineering News & Mining Weekly, an article titled “Sullair and Hitachi Construction Machinery Zambia work together to support mining and construction in Africa” appeared in the publication‘s Business in Mining feature. The article discusses the partnership between Hitachi Construction Machinery Zambia Co. Ltd (HCMZ) and Sullair, both Hitachi Group Companies. The complementary strengths of the two companies will provide a holistic approach to meeting client needs and improving local efficiencies and responsiveness.

In the October 2020 issue of Compact Equipment, Navendu (Nav) Sharma, Senior Product Manager at Sullair, discusses winterizing tips for portable diesel air compressors. Winter and its cold weather is harsh on all of us -- including your equipment. In the article titled "Cold Compressor Work," Sharma discusses tips on how to properly winterize your equipment to avoid unexpected downtime. Read the full article here (pages 36-37).

It's something no food or beverage manufacturer can operate without. From baked beans to chocolate custard, tubes of toothpaste to bottled water, the filling in meat pies to the icing on cakes — all require a clean, high-quality, pressure-controlled supply of compressed air. The article "In a Puff: Clean Compressed Air Solutions," published in Food Technology, discusses the importance of oil free air and customizing air compressor solutions to the unique needs of the product and its production cycle.

Navendu Sharma, Senior Product Manager with Sullair, provided commentary in the September 2020 issue of Compact Equipment. In the article titled "How Do You Use a Towable Air Compressor to Winterize an Irrigation or Sprinkler System?" Sharma provides contractors with tips, tricks and best practices when using portable diesel air compressors for blowout season/winerizing irrigation systems.

Manhar Grewal, R&D Product Manager at Sullair, recently had an article published in Compressed Air Best Practices titled "Calculating the Water Costs of Water-Cooled Air Compressors."

Sullair and several of its employees are featured prominently in Compressed Air Best Practices' article titled "Compressed Air Manufacturers and Distributors Rise Above the COVID-19 Crisis." David Andrews, Vice President of Global Marketing and Communications, and Jessica Bailey, Vice President of Human Resources, were interviewed by the publication.

The journey into industrial air compressors can be overwhelming. In this article, Sullair Stationary Product Manager John Schmitt answers some common questions regarding compressor capacity and system demand to get you started in the right direction.

As rental companies face higher acquisition costs for Tier 4 Final-compliant portable air compressors in the face of an inelastic rental rate, compressor manufacturers are developing units that can offer greater rental flexibility. Rus Warner, Senior Vice President of Global Product Management at Sullair, provides commentary regarding this topic in the "Industry Outlook: Portable Air Compressors" article in the July-August 2020 issue of Pro Contractor Rentals.

Sullair is featured in the June 2020 issue of Diesel Progress. The article, titled "Expanding Options in Compression," discusses Sullair introducing and expanding its air compressor lineup to better meet its customer needs -- particularly in the rental market. The article features commentary from Rus Warner, Senior Vice President of Product Management, and Stephanie Roberts, Director of Communications, following a press conference at CONEXPO-CON/AGG 2020 in Las Vegas.

Rus Warner, senior vice president of product management with Sullair, is interviewed in the latest Compact Equipment (CE) Conversations video. Warner has a digital sit-down with Keith Gribbins, publisher of Compact Equipment, discussing how to pick a towable air compressor, how to operate it, what makes a durable unit, which sizes are popular for sprinkler system operations and much more.

Rus Warner, Senior Vice President of Product Management at Sullair, wrote a bylined article for Rental Equipment Register (RER) titled "Tips for an Efficient and Profitable Air Compressor Fleet." With challenging times in the equipment rental industry, Warner provides several tips to help ensure that air compressors in rental fleets not only satisfy customers but also help rental companies remain efficient and profitable.

In the May 2020 issue of Rental magazine, compressors take the spotlight. Compressor manufacturers, including Sullair, discuss the latest advancements in their portable air compressor products.  Rus Warner, Vice President, Americas - Rental & Infrastructure at Sullair, discusses the next generation 1600H portable air compressor and some of the top demands from customers, such as ease of serviceability, ease of use and environmentally friendly equipment.

Sullair is prominently featured in the May 2020 issue of Compressed Air Best Practices magazine. Manhar Grewal, R&D Commercial Systems Product Manager, authored an article titled "What’s Possible When Operating Rotary Screw Air Compressors in Hot Ambient Conditions?" (pages 18-23). The article provides an overview of what’s possible in these conditions, along with advice for ensuring the optimal performance of air compressors in hot ambient conditions.

Sullair announced that Charlie Takeuchi has been named president and chief executive officer, effective today. He succeeds Jack Carlson, who retired as president and chief executive officer on March 31, 2020.

Air compressors are essential equipment at manufacturing sites. Hitachi has years of experience in the compressor industry and has a comprehensive product portfolio. In 2017, Sullair joined the Hitachi Group and the Group has been expanding its business globally.

Sullair, an industry leader in innovative compressed air solutions since 1965, is pleased to announce Prior Diesel has been appointed an authorized distributor for Sullair commercial and industrial compressed air solutions in the United Kingdom. As an authorized distributor, Prior Diesel will provide full customer sales and support for Sullair equipment, parts, service and warranty.

Sullair showcases its expanded oil free compressor line at the International Manufacturing Technology Show (IMTS) in Chicago.

The day before our company’s 52nd birthday, Sullair officially became A Hitachi Group Company. The combination of Sullair and Hitachi represents a uniquely attractive opportunity for Sullair, its distributors and its end customers. 

Sullair announced the company’s “next half-century” begins at ComVac 2017 in Hannover, Germany.

Sullair has opened a new, state-of-the-art training center in Michigan City, Indiana with a larger, hands-on training area; a brand-new virtual reality (VR) compressor training room; and a more convenient location.

Sullair has announced an increased focus on its air treatment products and support, expanding the existing compressed air treatment business and extending and upgrading the current portfolio

​​​​​​​Sullair announced the launch of its brand new Certified RECON program, a hassle-free way to maintain their equipment and keep it running at maximum efficiency, for its large portable air compressors.

Sullair announced a multimillion-dollar investment to purchase seven state-of-the-art machines for use in its rotor shop located in Michigan City, Indiana. The enhanced machinery will increase efficiency and safety on the factory floor, replacing 30- to 40-year-old equipment.