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South Wales Multiple Sclerosis Treatment Centre story

How we helped a charity use compressed air to provide vital medical therapy and support twice as many people

Case study

How an air compressor can provide vital medical therapy

South Wales Multiple Sclerosis Therapy Centre in Swansea provides vital oxygen therapy to MS patients. When they found their reliance on oxygen delivery was limiting the help they could offer, they turned to Control Gear to help them transform their facility.

Oxygen is essential to life but is only 21% of the air we breathe. That means higher concentrations of oxygen can have therapeutic benefits.

Oxygen therapy for MS

In MS, the body’s immune system can attack vital nerves. The damage caused by these attacks can be permanent, causing life-long disabilities. The centre provides oxygen therapy, where pure oxygen is breathed in a hyperbaric chamber at one-and-a-half to two times normal atmospheric pressure. This increases the amount of oxygen dissolved in the blood, reducing inflammation and promoting healing. For people with MS, this can limit scar formation, reducing the long-term effects of the disease.

South Wales Multiple Sclerosis Therapy Centre in Swansea came to Control Gear to help them provide their important service to more people.

South Wales Multiple Sclerosis Treatment Centre story

2×

as many people supported

Developing a unique solution for a unique customer

The charity was moving to new premises, which meant it had space to offer therapy to more people, but its plant was limiting what it could offer.

Their oxygen deliveries were limited to just one a fortnight, and their limited space for oxygen storage meant their capacity was severely limited. They could not meet the increased demand they faced.

As a charity, they have a duty to reduce their costs so that as much of their revenue as possible is spent on their charitable aims. They found that servicing and rental on their existing system were taking up more of their income than they wanted.

How Control Gear helped

The South Wales Multiple Sclerosis Therapy Centre in Swansea used its parent charity, the Multiple Sclerosis National Therapy Centres (MSNTC), and its network of over sixty therapy centres to identify suppliers. They discovered that Control Gear, their local compressed air specialists, were their best option.

We recommended an Atlas Copco GA 18VSD+FF rotary screw compressor. Designed for uses that require pure oxygen, including medical facilities, the compressor uses adsorption and filter technology to provide up to 95% pure oxygen.

It was an easy decision for the centre

The quiet rotary screw design meant that although it was constantly in operation, it did not disturb those using the chambers or working at the centre.
It gave the centre self-sufficiency. The compressor had the capacity to serve two hyperbaric chambers and allowed them to produce oxygen on demand. This meant the centre was no longer dependent on deliveries or losing space to oxygen storage.
We also integrated heat recovery into the system. This meant heat, a by-product of compression, could be captured and used elsewhere, like heating water. This has helped the charity reduce its environmental impact and cut its energy bills, so more money is spent on its users rather than energy companies.

We were proud to have helped the incredible people at the South Wales Multiple Sclerosis Therapy Centre in Swansea. However, as the centre’s director said afterwards, when they looked at what we offered, using Control Gear was a ‘no-brainer’ for the charity.

Using compressed air where quality really matters

We provide compressed air solutions for various industries, but none rely on quality as much as the medical sector. When a compressor produces oxygen for breathing, there is no room for error.

But whatever the reason you need highly pure oxygen, there is no need to opt for expensive oxygen deliveries. We are experts in providing the exact quality of compressed air you require. Our team can design a system with filters and dryers to meet your exact specifications, and our engineers can help you maintain those standards.

From bespoke installations, ongoing all-inclusive servicing options, or just one-off inspections and repairs, Control Gear has become the trusted partner to businesses and charities throughout the region that rely on their compressed air.

Whatever your needs, contact Control Gear to find out how we can help you ensure your compressed air is powering your operations.

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