Hank van Ormer, one of the true experts of compressed air systems and their operation, started Air Power USA as a technical consulting company in 1986. His goal was to provide industrial customers with sound and practical insights to troubleshoot and improve their compressed air systems. Hank, along with Bill Scales, is generally recognized as one of the foundational contributors to the creation of the highly respected Compressed Air Challenge Program (CAC), operated by the US Department of Energy.

Central to Hank’s approach is the need to apply transparent analytics and solid economic evaluation as the basis for his recommendations. But most important was Hank’s commitment to ensuring his analysis was “independent and brand neutral” and free of any bias toward any OEM. To this day, “Air Power USA – Independent and Brand Neutral” remains the tag line of our company.

For most of the 1980s and 1990s, Air Power USA projects were funded directly by end-users like General Motors, Abbott Labs, and Packaging Corporation of America (PCA). When business economics shifted in the 2000’s, fewer and fewer engineering resources and capital budgets were available to make compressed air system improvements. Air Power USA shifted as well and began working with a new revenue source–electric utilities that had engineering and project incentives to help their industrial customers become more energy efficient and competitive in a world marketplace. This shift continues today with more than 70% of Air Power USA revenues linked to utility incentive programs, often on a performance basis, which means our revenues are based on how much verified savings we can demonstrate by improving a customer’s air system.

The last five years have brought a third stage in the evolution of Air Power USA; we have assembled an array of similarly independent and brand neutral technical consulting firms that together can help customers with almost any of their energy-using systems. We’re not limited to compressed air and vacuum system; we also work with systems, such as process cooling, hydraulics, automation and controls, industrial process changes, power quality, steam and heat recovery systems, and lighting. With this shift, we now offer turnkey solutions that cover the complete package of System Assessment, Project Implementation, and Creative Funding. We are most excited to offer the creative funding benefit because when we combine our highly regarded expertise in Utility Incentive Management with our ability to provide project financing on a Cash Flow Positive Basis, we can offer turnkey energy system improvements that result in a minimum impact on the limited capital budgets most companies face today!