One cubic foot of compressed air can contain millions of dirt particles, considerable amounts of water and oil — and even heavy metals like lead, cadmium and mercury. If they are not filtered out, trouble-free operation of the system components, like valves and cylinders, cannot be guaranteed in the long term. Poorly prepared compressed air can contaminate control valves, and cause seals to swell and wear prematurely. As a result, the right compressed air preparation is essential for reducing machine downtime, and for reducing maintenance and energy costs.