Before rotary screw compressors became the default choice for most workshops, reciprocating (piston) units were the standard — and for lighter, occasional use, they still hold up fine. The mechanism is simpler than a screw compressor, which keeps the upfront cost down.
The trade-off is servicing frequency and duty cycle: piston units generally need more frequent maintenance and aren’t built for running continuously at high demand the way a screw compressor is. For a smaller workshop that only needs air intermittently, that trade-off often makes sense financially.
If you’re not sure which type actually fits your usage pattern, we can talk it through rather than default you to whichever’s more expensive. We supply, install and service reciprocating compressors alongside the rest of our range.
