Pneumatic cylinders have powered Irish factory floors for decades, but compressed air’s hidden costs are becoming impossible to ignore. Electric actuators offer a smarter, more sustainable alternative.

The Hidden Cost of Compressed Air

Studies show that as much as 80–90% of the energy used to generate compressed air is lost as heat and leaks before it ever does useful work. Add constant compressor noise and ongoing maintenance, and pneumatic systems quietly become one of a factory’s biggest, and most overlooked, energy drains.

The IAI Advantage

Electric actuators from IAI draw power only when moving , no compressor running in the background, no air leaks bleeding energy 24/7. The result:

• Significantly less energy used per cycle than pneumatic equivalents
• No compressed air infrastructure to install or maintain
• Quieter operation, better factory environment
• Precise, programmable motion – less wasted material and rework

A Straightforward Swap

For manufacturers replacing pneumatic cylinders, IAI’s electric actuators are engineered as a like-for-like swap, with no full line redesign required. It’s one of the clearest, most measurable steps toward lower energy bills and a smaller carbon footprint.

Reliance Automation has supplied and supported IAI’s electric actuator range to manufacturers across Ireland, with engineering support from our Cork, Dublin, Dundalk, Limerick, and Antrim teams, making the switch from pneumatic to electric a straightforward, low-risk upgrade.

Explore our Electric Actuator range, or get in touch to talk through where electric actuation could fit your line.