As the forestry sector continues to modernize, sawmill operations face increasing pressure to deliver higher throughput, reduce downtime, and improve operational efficiency. For one leading North American sawmill group, launching a new facility meant more than simply replicating past practices—it was an opportunity to build smarter from the ground up.
This case study highlights how Chamco, located in British Columbia, and nano partnered to deliver a highly efficient, reliable compressed air solution featuring an 800 SCFM nano blower purge desiccant dryer with advanced energy-saving technology. Through thoughtful equipment selection, detailed energy modeling, and hands-on commissioning, the customer achieved long-term operational value with minimal maintenance requirements.
The Challenge: A New Facility Demands a Clean Slate
Unlike many industrial air system projects that involve replacing outdated or failing equipment, this opportunity involved a completely new sawmill facility. With no legacy systems to navigate, the customer was able to focus on designing the most efficient and reliable compressed air system from day one.
The project stakeholders—including plant engineers, maintenance staff, and project managers—identified several critical requirements:
A high-quality compressed air system to support both indoor and outdoor applications
A single, robust dryer unit to reduce maintenance complexity
Energy efficiency and minimal air loss to support long-term cost savings
A trusted vendor capable of offering both expert consultation and local service
The customer had already standardized on Sullair air compressors for other parts of its operations and turned to Chamco, their preferred equipment partner, for a complete solution that would include compressor sizing, dryer selection, installation support, and ongoing maintenance.
Solution: Engineering Efficiency with nano’s Blower Purge Desiccant Dryer
The Chamco team worked closely with the customer to design a solution tailored to their process demands and energy goals. While several drying technologies were considered—including refrigerated dryers and heatless desiccant dryers—the customer ultimately selected nano’s 800 CFM blower purge desiccant dryer with energy-saving features.
Why Blower Purge Technology?
Blower purge dryers offer a significant advantage over heatless models in applications where energy efficiency and purge air loss are critical. Traditional heatless dryers consume 15–20% of compressed air for regeneration, while blower purge systems use ambient air and external heat to regenerate the desiccant, drastically reducing air loss.
nano’s blower purge dryer further optimizes performance with its Energy Saving (ES) System, which monitors demand conditions and adjusts the drying cycle accordingly—delivering compressed air only when needed. This helps reduce power consumption, wear and tear on components, and overall system lifecycle costs.
Data-Driven Decision Making
To support the decision-making process, Chamco performed a detailed energy analysis of three dryer configurations:
Heatless desiccant dryer
Externally heated heatless dryer
Blower purge desiccant dryer with nano’s Energy Saving System
Working alongside nano’s technical team, Chamco used performance modeling and energy calculators to compare each configuration’s projected operating costs. The analysis clearly demonstrated that nano’s blower purge dryer offered the lowest total cost of ownership, especially when accounting for reduced purge air, electricity savings, and minimal maintenance over time.
Execution: Seamless Commissioning and Support
The project moved quickly once the purchase order was submitted in July 2024. By February 2025, the new compressed air room was complete, including:
Brand-new piping throughout
Sullair air compressor installed
nano 800 SCFM blower purge dryer commissioned
Full operational training provided onsite
nano dispatched a certified technician to work alongside Chamco’s team to ensure seamless installation and startup. With both technical teams on-site during commissioning, the customer received hands-on instruction, best practices for operation, and initial performance verification to ensure everything was running to spec.
According to the team at Chamco, the installation was smooth and professional. “It was a very clean install in a brand-new compressor room. Everything looked like it was done well. We did the commissioning, a bit of training at site, and it’s been running there reliably since.”
Ongoing Support: Reliability Backed by Service
One of the critical differentiators in this project was Chamco’s commitment to aftermarket service. While many suppliers offer basic support, Chamco provides a proactive preventative maintenance plan, visiting the site every three months to inspect and service both the compressor and dryer.
This level of ongoing support gives the customer peace of mind and helps maximize system uptime—especially important for sawmill operations where equipment reliability directly impacts production output.
Previously, this customer operated a mix of older compressors and dryers from various manufacturers. These legacy units lacked modern efficiency features and required higher service effort to maintain. With nano and Chamco now providing standardized equipment and scheduled support, the customer benefits from:
Simplified maintenance routines
Reduced unplanned downtime
Consolidated vendor relationships
Improved air quality and system performance
Results: Efficiency, Reliability, and Long-Term Value
Since going live, the nano dryer has performed as promised—quietly and efficiently providing clean, dry air to critical processes. The decision to move away from heatless drying technology in favor of a blower purge dryer with energy-saving controls is already paying dividends in terms of performance and operating costs.
This installation also further solidified Chamco’s position as the customer’s go-to partner for compressed air systems. According to Sinclair, “We had a good history with the group. They were using other brands and other service providers before. But this project, and the support that came with it, really fortified that relationship.”
From technical consultation to energy modeling, from commissioning to quarterly service visits, Chamco and nano demonstrated the value of working with experienced partners who understand the full lifecycle of compressed air systems.
Key Takeaways
800 scfm nano Blower Purge Desiccant Dryer Installed
Lowest Total Cost of Ownership among evaluated technologies
Energy-Saving System (ES) reduces operating costs and purge air loss
Quarterly Preventative Maintenance ensures peak performance
Seamless Commissioning with on-site training and support
Strengthened Customer Relationship and platform standardization
Why nano for Your Industrial Air Applications?
At nano, we engineer air treatment solutions that are as reliable as they are energy-efficient. Our blower purge desiccant dryers are built for demanding industrial environments—designed to reduce purge air, lower utility bills, and extend equipment life.
Whether you're building a new facility or upgrading an aging compressed air system, nano dryers are trusted by manufacturers across North America to deliver uninterrupted performance and long-term value.
Want to learn more about how nano can support your next plant build or air system upgrade?
Partner with nano for energy-efficient dryers, expert support, and long-term reliability. Contact us today to get started.
