Lincoln Electric Holdings, Inc. offers platitudes to VMAC Global Technology Inc. as they celebrate a successful 20-year partnership.
A critical piece of equipment for many operators working in tough terrain, the Lincoln Electric Air Vantage System provides the user with a welder, generator and air compressor.
Despite the success of its Air Vantage System, the Cleveland-headquartered Lincoln Electric says the system would not exist without VMAC, a Nanaimo, British Columbia-based producer of compact, powerful air compressor technology.
“Lincoln Electric and VMAC have successfully worked together for the past 20 years,” said Nicholas Winarski, Product Manager - Industrial Engine Drives for Lincoln Electric. “VMAC is our top choice air compressor manufacturer for our Air Vantage models due to their high-quality air compressors and dedicated engineering support.”
VMAC designs, engineers and manufacturers of what many in the industry say is the only true North American air compressor. Its air compressors and multi-power systems are well-respected thanks to its fantastic build quality, durability, and reliability, and a VMAC Lifetime Warranty for the air compressors.
For operators and fleet managers in the sectors of mobile mechanic, tire service, utilities, mining, oil and gas, and construction , they rely on VMAC systems to work in the most challenging applications, climates, and environments
There’s nothing airy-fairy about the 20-year relationship between Lincoln Electric Holdings, Inc. and VMAC Global Technology Inc.
The Lincoln Electric Air Vantage system is considered to be a critical piece of equipment for many operators working in tough terrain, providing the user with a triple-threat welder, generator and air compressor.
However, the Cleveland-headquartered Lincoln Electric is quick to point out that its Air Vantage system simply would not exist without VMAC, a mobile air manufacturer that provides compact yet powerful air compressor technology.
“Lincoln Electric and VMAC have successfully worked together for the past 20 years,” said Nicholas Winarski, Product Manager - Industrial Engine Drives for Lincoln Electric. “VMAC is our top choice air compressor manufacturer for our Air Vantage models due to their high-quality air compressors and dedicated engineering support.”
Headquartered in Nanaimo, British Columbia, VMAC is a designer, engineer and manufacturer of what many consider to be the only true North American air compressor producers. It has a well-earned reputation for both its air compressors and multi-power systems thanks to extraordinary build quality, durability, and reliability, and a VMAC Lifetime Warranty for the air compressors.
Operators and fleet managers in mobile mechanic, tire service, utilities, mining, oil and gas, and construction industries rely on VMAC systems to work in the most challenging applications, climates, and environments, knowing that it will not let them down.
The partnership between VMAC and Lincoln Electric—an American multinational and a global manufacturer of welding products, arc welding equipment, welding consumables, plasma and oxy-fuel cutting equipment and robotic welding systems—began at a tradeshow in 1997.
Lincoln Electric engineer Nino Silvestro saw VMAC’s new UNDERHOOD air compressor—a compact and powerful rotary screw air compressor that remains the foundation of many VMAC products still.
“Lincoln Electric was using a 4-cylinder, reciprocating, single-stage compressor that they were shoe-horning into a welding machine. Those compressors are the size of a small microwave oven, so it was a challenge, and that’s why their engineer was so excited about VMAC’s new technology,” said Jim Hogan, CEO of VMAC.
In the early 2000s, VMAC and Lincoln Electric officially joined in partnership to develop an air compressor that would work seamlessly in the Lincoln Electric machines.
“VMAC worked closely with Lincoln Electric to develop an air compressor system that integrated with their existing welder designs,” said Rick Duifhuis, OEM Division Manager at VMAC. “Our engineers spent the next couple of years designing, prototyping, testing, and refining the optimal air solution for Lincoln Electric. The result was a brand-new product line for Lincoln Electric called the Air Vantage.”
Launched in 2004, the Air Vantage 500 included VMAC’s S700033 spline drive rotary screw air compressor—a pioneering welder generator air compressor.
Thanks to the success of the Air Vantage 500 solution, VMAC continued to work with Lincoln Electric to ensure the Air Vantage product line continued to meet the changing demands of the market.
VMAC redesigned and adjusted its air compressor for the Air Vantage product line many times over the years in response to modifications to the Lincoln Electric systems.
“VMAC has developed five complete air compressor systems for Lincoln Electric over the past two decades,” said Duifhuis. “Our team is always willing to do what it takes to serve our partners and ensure they have the air power they need to succeed.”
Lincoln Electric currently sells two Air Vantage models: the Air Vantage 566X and the Air Vantage 566X Hydraulic. The Air Vantage 566X features VMAC’s S700162 air compressor, which is a high-idle belt-driven rotary screw air compressor that delivers 60 CFM @ 100 psi (1.7 m3/min @ 6.9 bar).
Powered by a turbocharged Deutz Tier 4 Final Compliant engine, the Air Vantage 566X features a 20 kW generator, and supports numerous welding processes, including stick, MIG, TIC, flux-cored and arc gouging.
The Air Vantage 566X Hydraulic variation includes an additional 10 gpm hydraulic pump, which VMAC designed and supplied the mount/drive kit for. Lincoln Electric also sells the Air Vantage 600X-I to international markets.
“The Air Vantage 566X and Air Vantage 566X Hydraulic machines are used in some of the world’s most extreme climates. It is our pleasure to provide innovative air compressor technology that can meet our customers’ high expectations and withstand brutal conditions,” extolled Duifhuis.
“VMAC and Lincoln Electric have seen great success with our collaborations, which have resulted in several powerful systems. We are proud of our 20-year relationship and hope to continue to work with Lincoln Electric in the decades that follow,” Duifhuis added.
For more information on the two companies, visit: www.lincolnelectric.com and www.vmacair.com.