The evolving role of air and gas technologies
5 March 2026 
Chris Hyde, Business Line Manager for Air and Gas Applications at Atlas Copco Compressors UK, discusses with PWE how on-site generation, digitalisation, and emerging applications such
as hydrogen and carbon capture are reshaping the industrial landscape.
As industries across the UK face mounting pressure to decarbonise, improve efficiency, and rethink traditional production processes, air and gas technologies are playing a pivotal role in that transition. From nitrogen generation and wastewater treatment to hydrogen compression and carbon capture, the boundaries of what’s possible are rapidly expanding.
Chris Hyde, recently appointed Business Line Manager for the Air and Gas Applications (AGA) division at Atlas Copco Compressors UK, shares his perspective with PWE on how the market is
changing – and why a deeper understanding of applications will be key to driving progress.
1. Industry and market context
PWE: You’ve joined at a time when many UK manufacturers are under pressure to improve energy efficiency and reduce emissions. What trends are you seeing in how air and gas technologies are evolving to meet that challenge?
CH: There’s a lot of historic practice in the UK – things have been done a certain way for many years. When Atlas Copco first introduced variable speed drive (VSD) compressors, it took time for the market to understand the long-term benefits, but eventually it became the industry standard. The same cycle is happening again now in the air and gas sector.
In areas like nitrogen and oxygen generation, customers have traditionally relied on bulk supply through cylinders or tanks. But rising energy and logistics costs are prompting a shift towards on-site generation. The ability to produce the exact amount and purity required – and only when it’s needed – gives operators far greater control over cost and efficiency. Compressed air is sometimes referred to as the fourth utility, and gases like nitrogen and oxygen are increasingly seen the same way. Businesses want ownership of those utilities so they can optimise them rather than depend on third-party suppliers.
PWE: What sectors are showing the most momentum in their use of air and gas systems – and why?
CH: The biggest growth area in the UK right now is probably laser cutting and the energy sector, such as hydrogen and biogas. It’s a mature industry, but manufacturers are realising they can tailor nitrogen purity to their process instead of using standard high-purity cylinders. For example, a firm producing general components might not need 99.999% nitrogen purity. On-site systems allow them to generate 95% or 99%, which cuts costs without affecting quality. That flexibility is a huge advantage.
Oxygen generation is another growth area, particularly in veterinary and medical settings. In high-pressure applications, PET bottle manufacturing continues to be a strong market. What unites all these sectors is a desire to make better use of utilities – producing what’s needed, when it’s needed, at lower cost and with less waste.
PWE: How do you see air and gas technologies contributing to the broader net-zero transition within UK industry?
CH: Air and gas applications will have a major role to play, especially in green gases. Carbon capture, biogas, and hydrogen are all areas where we can directly help reduce greenhouse gas emissions. We’re already supplying technology that removes carbon from processes and stores it for reuse elsewhere.
Hydrogen is a good example of an emerging market that’s still developing but full of potential. The technology is new to many people, but we’re beginning to see real movement as funding increases and projects scale up. The key will be moving from pilot plants to mainstream adoption – when hydrogen starts powering generators or transport fleets, we’ll see a step change in emissions reduction. Air and gas systems underpin all that progress.
2. Technology and application insight
PWE: There’s been a lot of talk about biogas and carbon capture – but what practical changes are happening on the ground in those areas?
CH: The UK already has an established network of biogas plants, but most of the activity we’re seeing now involves upgrading and retrofitting existing sites. Operators want to improve efficiency and reduce emissions. We’re getting involved much earlier in the design phase of new plants to ensure the most efficient technology is built in from the start.
Carbon capture is still relatively young, but interest is accelerating. In the next five to ten years, I expect strong uptake among high energy users – steelworks, car plants, and large manufacturers – who need reliable ways to cut emissions. The technology exists; it’s now about applying it at scale and integrating it effectively into industrial processes.
PWE: What’s driving demand for nitrogen and oxygen generation in particular? Are you seeing new applications emerge?
CH: It comes down to cost, control, and confidence. Many UK manufacturers already use nitrogen and oxygen in some form, but they’re realising that generating their own supply can deliver savings and operational stability. When customers move from bulk delivery to on-site generation, they gain independence from regional pricing differences and transport logistics.
We do a lot of work helping customers understand what purity they actually need. For years, many were supplied with the highest purity simply because that’s how bulk systems work. But if their process doesn’t demand it, they can save energy by producing only what’s required. That’s where our role becomes more consultative – helping customers understand their own applications first, then matching the right technology to it.
PWE: When it comes to engineered air and gas systems, what are the main technical challenges or integration issues customers face?
CH: The biggest challenge is often cultural rather than technical. Many sites have operated the same way for decades, and change takes education and trust. Customers need to feel confident that on-site systems will deliver what’s promised, particularly when purity or pressure is critical.
Technically, integration is about understanding the whole process – pressure levels, flow requirements, and how different systems interact. Every bar of pressure adds roughly 7% to energy use, so there’s growing interest in reducing system pressures where possible. That’s leading to new project work across all three pillars of AGA – industrial gases, high pressure, and low pressure – as
customers look for smarter, more efficient solutions.
PWE: How are advances in digitalisation or remote monitoring influencing how these systems are designed, commissioned, and maintained?
CH: Remote monitoring is becoming fundamental. Customers increasingly want installations that run hands-free – systems that just work. Of course, all rotating equipment carries some risk of failure, but by using digital monitoring we can spot trends, anticipate problems, and plan maintenance before downtime occurs.
It’s a move from reactive to predictive service. For customers, that means fewer disruptions, better energy performance, and lower maintenance costs over the life of the equipment. For us, it’s also a feedback loop – the more data we gather, the more insight we gain to improve future designs.
3. Reliability, sustainability, and lifecycle thinking
PWE: How are air and gas systems evolving to improve total cost of ownership?
CH: The focus has shifted from capital cost to lifecycle cost. Over a ten-year period, maintenance can represent up to 80% of total ownership cost, depending on the product. If we can reduce unplanned service interventions and extend component life, that’s where customers really see the benefit.
Remote monitoring helps by reducing failures and improving efficiency. Lower service frequency means lower cost and less waste. It’s all about providing predictable performance – giving customers confidence in uptime and long-term reliability.
PWE: Energy recovery and efficiency are recurring themes in industrial operations. Where do you see the biggest untapped opportunities in air and gas processes?
CH: Energy management systems are key. If we can control how and when compressors and gas systems perform, we can optimise energy use and extend machine life. The relationship between control, efficiency, and wear is often underestimated. By managing load cycles more intelligently, we reduce both energy consumption and carbon footprint.
Many customers still run at higher pressures than necessary. Lowering that pressure by even one bar can save around 7% in energy. Those marginal gains add up across large sites, so there’s real opportunity in simply reassessing how systems are configured and controlled.
PWE: Sustainability is often framed around carbon footprint reduction, but are there other ways the sector is improving its environmental performance?
CH: Yes – circular thinking is becoming more prominent. Sustainability isn’t just about emissions; it’s about designing equipment that uses less energy, lasts longer, and can be maintained efficiently.
We’re also seeing a shift in how customers view downtime. Reducing unplanned production stoppages not only saves energy but prevents the need for high-power backup systems to compensate. Everything from materials and service intervals to digital connectivity contributes to lowering environmental impact. Sustainability is becoming an operational mindset rather than a separate initiative.
4. Skills, collaboration, and innovation
PWE: From your perspective, what new skills or knowledge areas are becoming essential for engineers working with complex air and gas systems?
CH: The engineering workforce has aged, and we’ve felt the impact of fewer apprentices coming through. But the rise of new technologies like hydrogen and carbon capture is reinvigorating interest. These are exciting, complex systems – hydrogen compressors operating up to 1,000 bar, for example, are worlds apart from traditional 10-bar compressors.
That level of technical challenge attracts a new generation of engineers. Air and gas applications are broad – one day you might be working on a wastewater site, the next on a defence project – and that diversity is appealing. I think this division can play a key role in developing and inspiring the next wave of engineering talent.
PWE: Do you think collaboration between OEMs, integrators, and end users is changing – and how does that influence innovation?
CH: Absolutely. The days of OEMs simply supplying hardware are fading. The industry is moving towards solution-based partnerships, where OEMs, engineering firms, and end users collaborate much more closely.
For innovation, that’s a huge advantage. Shared data and joint development speed up progress. At Atlas Copco, we’re working with universities and technical institutes, and we’re extending our collaboration into digital areas such as AI-driven analytics. Combining industrial expertise with new digital capabilities is where the next leap forward will come from.
PWE: The UK manufacturing base is diverse. How can smaller or regional firms benefit from the same technology advances seen in large-scale industrial projects?
CH: The UK has a strong engineering heritage and a high-quality supply chain, particularly in sectors like aerospace, automotive, and energy. Smaller firms can really benefit from that ecosystem if they have the right support.
Government and industry programmes need to make sure SMEs can invest in new technologies and workforce skills. Regional development funding and apprenticeship schemes are critical. Collaboration between small and large companies will also help – smaller firms can adopt proven technologies faster when they’re part of larger supply networks. It’s about ensuring innovation filters down through the entire industrial base, not just the top tier.
5. The role of AGA and future outlook
PWE: The Air and Gas Applications division covers a broad range of technologies. What do you think makes it such a dynamic and fastevolving area of engineering?
CH: What makes AGA so dynamic is its diversity. We operate across all sectors from food and beverage, semiconductors, pharmaceuticals, carbon capture to hydrogen – each with its own pace of change. These are sectors driven by innovation and regulation, which means constant adaptation.
Because we serve multiple sectors and pressures – high, low, and industrial gases – we’re well positioned to capture opportunities as they arise. The variety keeps the division evolving, and that adaptability is key to staying ahead.
PWE: Looking ahead, which technological or market developments excite you most over the next five years?
CH: Hydrogen and biogas stand out. Biogas is already mature in the UK, but upgrading and efficiency improvements will continue. Hydrogen, meanwhile, is still at the early stage, but it represents one of the biggest steps towards decarbonisation.
We’ve already seen days where the UK grid runs on 100% renewable energy – and that’s just the beginning. Hydrogen will be central to the power transition, working alongside solar, wind, and biogas. It’s exciting to think that the work we do today could help shape that next phase of energy independence.
PWE: Finally, what message would you share with plant engineers or maintenance professionals preparing for the next generation of air and gas applications?
CH: Reliability will always come first. Engineers are measured on uptime, output, and avoiding stoppages, so that’s where our focus lies – keeping plants running efficiently. But it’s about partnership too. We don’t just supply machines; we provide support to help optimise performance and reduce energy use.
My message to engineers is to stay open to new ideas and new ways of working. Air and gas technologies are evolving quickly, and collaboration is the key to progress. If we can work together – OEMs, integrators, and end users – we’ll accelerate innovation and build a more sustainable, resilient industrial future.