Outlook 2025: Sustainable practices to encourage innovations

Trends in the plastics industry in 2025 and beyond

The Asia Pacific region is expected to see significant growth in the plastics industry, fuelled by increasing demand in various sectors such as packaging, automotive, electronics, and construction.  Across Asia, plastic consumption has surged over the last decade due to factors such as rapid urbanisation, industrialisation, and large-scale infrastructure projects. The region is also one of the most dominant in the plastic market due to factors such as high consumption of packaged foods and a rise in consumerism.

In the plastics industry, and as in many other industries, sustainability is no longer just an option but a necessity. Consumers are increasingly favouring brands that prioritise sustainable practices and eco-friendly products, while more companies are adopting environmental, social, and governance (ESG) frameworks.

The air compressor industry, moving in tandem, is also witnessing significant growth, particularly in emerging markets. This global expansion of the plastics industry offers compressor manufacturers the opportunity to diversify their product offerings and adapt to the distinct demands of these developing regions. Regions such as Asia, Africa, and Latin America are experiencing a surge in demand for air compressors due to their accelerated industrial growth. Manufacturers are capitalising on this by expanding their footprint and introducing products tailored to the specific operational needs of local industries, ensuring reliability and performance in rapidly growing sectors.

Mr. Nalin Amunugama, General Manager of BOGE KOMPRESSOREN Asia Pacific

BOGE’s response to future trends and developments

With the market becoming more specialised, manufacturers are focusing on creating industry-specific air compressor solutions. As a leading supplier, BOGE’s air compressors and systems are designed to meet the precise requirements of each industry (whether it is food, automative, construction or electronics). This strategic approach enables manufacturers to better serve niche markets and gain a competitive edge by offering tailored, high-performance solutions.

Air compressors are essential to plastic manufacturing for powering pneumatic tools, injection molding machines, and blow molding equipment. There is a growing demand for energy-efficient air compressors that can help reduce electricity consumption and lower production costs. The BOGE FlexPET air compressors are specifically designed to provide a comprehensive solution for the plastic industry, offering the high-pressure, energy-efficient, and reliable performance essential for PET production and plastic processing applications that include beverages, personal care products, and other packaging applications.  PET is the most preferred for plastic manufacturing as it is 100% recyclable and highly sustainable.

BOGE offers a range of high-performance air compressor systems that align with the key demands of the plastic sector, i.e. energy efficiency, reliability, air quality, and sustainability.

BOGE’s newer air compressor models feature eco-friendly designed, energy-efficient motors and advanced control systems designed to minimise energy waste. Another significant development is the incorporation of heat recovery systems in air compressors. These systems capture the heat generated during the compression process and repurpose it for other industrial applications, such as heating water or spaces. By recovering and utilising this waste heat, businesses can achieve substantial energy savings and contribute to their sustainability goals.

Energy-efficient technologies: BOGE’s air compressors are designed to be energy-efficient, which is crucial to industries like plastics where high-volume production is the norm. Our systems often come with features that reduce energy consumption, leading to lower operational costs and reduced environmental impact. BOGE’s compressor technologies, such as variable speed drive (VSD) compressors are popular for their ability to match output to demand - resulting in energy savings. Other innovations include oil-free compressors to avoid contamination in certain applications like food-grade plastics.

Sustainability focus: As plastic manufacturers seek to reduce their carbon footprint, BOGE’s energy-efficient air compressors play a crucial role in optimising energy use and improving overall sustainability.  

The energy-efficient compressors often come with features that minimise wear and tear, leading to lower maintenance needs. This not only saves resources but also extends the lifespan of the equipment, contributing to the overall sustainability.

With BOGE’s air compressors, manufacturers in the plastics industry can ensure smooth, efficient, and reliable production with optimal air quality and performance. This is especially important in applications where consistency and precision are key.

Efficient S-4 screw compressor with extended power range: The fourth generation of the S series with a power range from 37kW to 75 kW and higher energy savings will be further expanded with a fixed and variable speed driven energy-saving compressor with BOGE’s newly developed airends. This expanded S-4 series of compressors will be available from the second quarter of 2025. All models are characterised by quiet, reliable operation and have excellent efficiency values. The compressors generate high free air delivery at low specific power consumption. The energy use of the new 75 kW compressor will be reduced by over 12 percent compared with its predecessor, while the free air delivery will increase by almost 9 percent. Generously sized components reduce internal pressure losses, and with a footprint of just 1.20 m x 2.00 m, the housing of the new models is considerably smaller than its older siblings. These new compressors even now come with the particularly high-performance, low-energy IE4 motors and permanent magnet motors fitted as standard.

The S-4 series is not only for use in foundries, the mining sector and the construction industry where dust and dirt can hamper even the best efforts to generate reliable, continuous compressed air. Other areas include the food and plastic industries – which similarly face challenging conditions. And this is where a compressor with a virtually maintenance-free hermetically sealed direct drive comes into its own: wear and tear are minimised, which increases the device’s service life. All models in the BOGE’s S-4 series have this “IntegrateDrive” airend – including the new compressors with a performance range of 37 to 75 kW.

BOGE Boosters for pressure boosting up to 40 Bar for plastic industry. A modular compressed air system to meet the requirements of PET bottle applications: BOGE Boosters are designed for total flexibility and convenience. The individual components can be assembled on-site according to specific requirements and the prevailing site conditions. A screw compressor generates air to 5 - 10 Bar which is then dried to a pressure dew point of 3°C. Boosters then make the required operating pressure up to a maximum of 40 Bar. The modular system helps to provide continuous energy-saving and work on a demand basis to save energy and contribute to low cost of ownership. The BOGE Focus 2.0 Controller on both screw compressors and boosters helps to synchronise up to 4 Boosters to operate efficiently, as per demand. Low maintenance cost is an added benefit to the user with a modular system while the low-pressure instrument air requirement is fulfilled by the screw compressor directly, thus eliminating high energy costs due to the pressure reduction from 40 Bar to 7 Bar.

NEW: BOGE C2 series now comes with up to 15 Bar as standard: With the expansion of the plastic industry, there is a growing need for oil-lubricated screw compressors that are construed for higher pressures up to 15 Bar. So far, this has required a costly custom solution, but now BOGE offers it as a standard configuration at the same cost. With either fixed rotational speed and belt drive or direct drive and frequency control – any of C2-series compressors can now be configured in a 15 Bar variant at no extra cost.

NEW: BOGE refrigerant dryers for sustainable, reliable operations: Robustness, eco-friendliness and efficiency are the three main characteristics of the new DT series of refrigerant dryers from BOGE. The combination of innovative technology and intelligent control ensures a stable pressure dew point, even in changing environmental conditions. Thanks to the use of the future-proof refrigerant R 513 A as standard across the whole series, these refrigerant dryers are especially sustainable and have a low CO₂ footprint. Additional advantages are energy-saving, reliable operation and numerous different monitoring capabilities. By integrating BOGE’s latest refrigerant dryers into their compressed air systems, businesses can improve air quality, protect their equipment, and achieve greater energy efficiency, contributing to more sustainable and cost-effective operations.

In addition to the existing DS-2 series, BOGE has now launched a new range of products. All the models in the new DT series ensure a constant dew point of 3°C at a free air delivery of between 0.4 and 75 m³/min. With this strategy, the expert for compressed air systems ensures maximum delivery capability for its customers. Just like with the DS-2 series, the DT series refrigerant dryers all come with an “all-in-one” aluminium heat exchanger operated in a reverse flow process and containing a proven air/air heat exchanger, evaporator and condensate drain. Both models use the R 513 A. 

Focus in Asia 

Our main focus will be on digitalisation. We plan to expand our position as a technically significant supplier in the premium segment, and as a trusted partner to our customers in all relevant markets, as we strive to achieve long-term, above-average, profitable growth. In doing so, we will take advantage of the opportunities offered by digitalisation and industry 4.0 and beyond.