AIR SAVE
AIR SAVE aims to develop a Smart system which improves the Sustainability of Compressed Air systems.
Compressed Air Systems (CAS) are heavily exploited in industrial automation systems, due to various advantages of pneumatic actuator uses. However, industrial CAS have a low energy efficiency of around 10-20%. Compressed air (CA) leakages, which are the most rudimental form of faults and inefficiencies, amount to around 30% of the total available compressed air. CAS are typically only maintained a
24/06/2026
๐๐ง๐๐ฎ๐ฌ๐ญ๐ซ๐ฒ ๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐ค ๐๐จ๐ง๐ญ๐ข๐ง๐ฎ๐๐ฌ ๐ญ๐จ ๐ซ๐๐ข๐ง๐๐จ๐ซ๐๐ ๐ญ๐ก๐ ๐ซ๐๐ฅ๐๐ฏ๐๐ง๐๐ ๐จ๐ ๐๐๐ ๐๐๐๐ ๐
Earlier this month, we had the pleasure of welcoming Anna Kurganowa from WIKA to the Engineering Research and Innovation Labs at the University of Malta, where we demonstrated the AIR SAVE system in operation.
The visit provided an opportunity to discuss how AIR SAVE can be integrated into existing industrial environments to characterise and mitigate compressed air leaks in real time.
๐๐ผ It was particularly encouraging to hear that the solution was recognised as highly applicable to addressing one of industry's persistent challenges: ๐ต๐ฉ๐ฆ ๐ญ๐ข๐ค๐ฌ ๐ฐ๐ง ๐ข๐ธ๐ข๐ณ๐ฆ๐ฏ๐ฆ๐ด๐ด ๐ฐ๐ง ๐ค๐ฐ๐ฎ๐ฑ๐ณ๐ฆ๐ด๐ด๐ฆ๐ฅ ๐ข๐ช๐ณ ๐ญ๐ฆ๐ข๐ฌ๐ด, ๐ธ๐ฉ๐ช๐ค๐ฉ ๐ญ๐ฆ๐ข๐ฅ๐ด ๐ต๐ฐ ๐ด๐ช๐จ๐ฏ๐ช๐ง๐ช๐ค๐ข๐ฏ๐ต ๐ฆ๐ฏ๐ฆ๐ณ๐จ๐บ ๐ญ๐ฐ๐ด๐ด๐ฆ๐ด ๐ข๐ฏ๐ฅ ๐ถ๐ฏ๐ฏ๐ฆ๐ค๐ฆ๐ด๐ด๐ข๐ณ๐บ ๐ฐ๐ฑ๐ฆ๐ณ๐ข๐ต๐ช๐ฐ๐ฏ๐ข๐ญ ๐ค๐ฐ๐ด๐ต๐ด.
We look forward to continuing to engage with industry as AIR SAVE progresses towards wider industrial and commercialisation adoption ๐ญ.
Partners: University of Malta, AIM Enterprises Ltd
Funding: Xjenza Malta Go-To-Market Programme
Paul Refalo, Emmanuel Francalanza, Massimo Borg, Jasmine Mallia, Peter Xuereb, Angelo Mifsud, Ylenia Grech Mifsud
18/06/2026
As part of the ๐๐๐๐๐ ๐ญ๐๐๐ก๐ง๐ข๐๐๐ฅ ๐๐ฏ๐๐ง๐ญ held on ๐๐ญ๐ก ๐๐ฎ๐ง๐, we presented ๐๐๐ ๐๐๐๐ and discussed our smart and sustainable approach to improve the efficiency of compressed air systems through ๐ช๐ฏ๐ต๐ฆ๐ญ๐ญ๐ช๐จ๐ฆ๐ฏ๐ต ๐ง๐ข๐ถ๐ญ๐ต ๐ฅ๐ช๐ข๐จ๐ฏ๐ฐ๐ด๐ช๐ด ๐ข๐ฏ๐ฅ ๐ฎ๐ช๐ต๐ช๐จ๐ข๐ต๐ช๐ฐ๐ฏ.
โจIt was a pleasure to engage with a diverse audience of engineers and industry professionals. The questions and discussions following the presentation reflected the growing interest in sustainable, AI-driven solutions for industrial compressed air systems.
Thank you to MGPEI for the invitation and to everyone who attended and contributed to the discussion ๐๐ป. We look forward to continuing these conversations and advancing innovative solutions for industry.
Partners: University of Malta, AIM Enterprises Ltd
Funding: Xjenza Malta Go-To-Market Programme
Paul Refalo, Emmanuel Francalanza, Massimo Borg, Jasmine Mallia, Peter Xuereb, Angelo Mifsud, Ylenia Grech Mifsud
19/05/2026
AIR SAVE held its first Industrial Advisory Board Meeting since entering the Go-To-Market phase, together with our partner AIM Enterprises Ltd. ๐ญ
Representatives from Teva Malta, TOLY Products Ltd, Trelleborg, Methode Electronics Malta and STMicroelectronics attended the session to discuss the progress and future direction of our product. ๐ค
The feedback received was positive and the valuable suggestions shared will help ensure that AIR SAVEโs objectives continue to align with industrial market needs and expectations. This meeting further reflects the teamโs strong commitment towards developing a robust and industry-ready solution for sustainable compressed air systems. ๐
L to R: Angelo Mifsud, Emmanuel Francalanza, Jasmine Mallia, Massimo Borg, Paul Refalo, Yu Fei Goh, Ryan Valentino, Keith Abela, Olaf Zahra, Maurizio Cappello
05/05/2026
A few weeks ago, our researcher Dr Massimo Borg was invited to present his Ph.D. work at the Seminar on Sustainable Engineering held at the University of Malta . ๐ค
His research highlighted AIR SAVEโs innovative approach to improving sustainability in industrial systems through advanced fault diagnosis and fault mitigation strategies. ๐ฑ
We remain committed to further developing this solution and bringing it to market, contributing to more efficient and sustainable industrial operations. ๐ญ
23/04/2026
Last week, we had the pleasure of welcoming the European Patent Office delegation, including its President, Mr Antรณnio Campinos. Prof. Ing. Emmanuel Francalanza provided an overview of our innovative concept, together with the next steps towards achieving commercialisation. ๐ก
This visit reflects the AIR SAVE teamโs strong commitment to turning innovation into real-world impact. ๐
We would once again like to thank the delegation for their time and interest.
20/04/2026
We recently joined the Parliamentary Secretariat for Youth, Research, and Innovation for a Thematic Press Event which focused on the future of Energy. Parliamentary Secretary Keith Azzopardi Tanti emphasised the vital role that local research plays in addressing global energy challenges.
Representing our team, Prof. Ing. Paul Refalo shared how our project AIR SAVE makes industries greener by optimising compressed air systems and lowers both energy costs and carbon footprints.
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Department Of Industrial And Manufacturing Engineering, Faculty Of Engineering, University Of Malta
Msida
MSD2080