DGX now selling Lenhardt & Wagner compressor

[Namreg 58]

The Coltri at that price is certainly a better prospect than any of the Chinese knock offs, however the frequent maintenance kits would soon erode that bargain price.
The large X configuration Coltri similar to the K14 also looks the goods but have had no experience with it.
Now if I was into S&M, I'd buy a secondhand Chinese knock off or Rix.

 

[iain/hsm]

What makes the L&W model worth a 50% premium over a similar compressor like this one?

To answer your question in a word...........Profit.

Profit to the importer L&W Americas
Profit to the distributor Brownies
Profit to the retailer DGX

Averaged out it around it's a 30% split to each
Hence why the retail price you pay as a diver is 50% more than most others.
Its a risky strategy but the US distributor thinks the "market" is the rich boys and yacht toys
and the manufacturers (plural) thinks its about time the US distributor made an effort to sell them
And as we have just finshed DEMA a retailer was arranged and given a good deal.

Although I have answered your question of how this 50% increase in price over most other brands came about. The question from an end user or divers perspective should be careful consideration of the "Brand" hype and claims made by others here on this forum. We may get to answer these concerns if we get discuss this particular product in greater engineering detail. Unless of course your a rich boy with a toy yacht.

 

[JamesBon92007]

they are not designed to fail before 500 hours of use, and can be expected to require service (oil change) after about 1000 hours and repair approaching 4-5000 hours (Drive belts, valves, piston rings n sleeves).

How is it possible to require oil changes only every 1000 hours? Are the cylinder clearances measured in atoms? My Cornelius needs an oil change every 25 hours.

 

[iain/hsm]

How is it possible to require oil changes only every 1000 hours? Are the cylinder clearances measured in atoms? My Cornelius needs an oil change every 25 hours.

I think Michael is in sales and marketing post DEMA hype mode and confusing service time with mark up and profit.

The oil change is stated at 25 hours from new there after every 250 hours, (NOT 1000hrs)

But with only 0.5 liter by volume of an oil sump even that is a tad risky IMHO
Interestingly they do cover themselves by stating oil should be changed annually if less than 250 hours. This is a nice example of liability cover you see more in Europe

Oil is expensive but my guess is the rich kids who buy into this hype wont bother changing and everyone is happy to sell a replacement compressor. Saves DGX having to offer experience in compresor servicing I guess.

 

[Wookie]

I think Michael is in sales and marketing post DEMA hype mode and confusing service time with mark up and profit.
The oil change is stated at every 250 hours, (NOT 1000hrs)

But with only 0.5 liter by volume of an oil sump even that is a tad risky IMHO
Oil is expensive but my guess is the rich kids who buy into this hype wont bother changing and everyone is happy to sell a replacement compressor. Saves DGX having to offer experience in compresor servicing I guess.

Out of curiosity, how are parts for the L&W to come by in the USA? My Mako (Reavel blocks) are pricey but widely available.

 

[taimen]

How is it possible to require oil changes only every 1000 hours? Are the cylinder clearances measured in atoms? My Cornelius needs an oil change every 25 hours.

It is model dependent but for larger L&W compressors the oil change interval really is 1000 hours. The 100l/min model DGX sells has 250 hour interval.

 

[BoltSnap]

To answer your question in a word...........Profit.

Profit to the importer L&W Americas
Profit to the distributor Brownies
Profit to the retailer DGX

Averaged out it around it's a 30% split to each
Hence why the retail price you pay as a diver is 50% more than most others.
Its a risky strategy but the US distributor thinks the "market" is the rich boys and yacht toys
and the manufacturers (plural) thinks its about time the US distributor made an effort to sell them
And as we have just finshed DEMA a retailer was arranged and given a good deal.

Although I have answered your question of how this 50% increase in price over most other brands came about. The question from an end user or divers perspective should be careful consideration of the "Brand" hype and claims made by others here on this forum. We may get to answer these concerns if we get discuss this particular product in greater engineering detail. Unless of course your a rich boy with a toy yacht.

You think that they make this much profit??? I have the distributor prices and the profit margin is so small, it is hardly worth it for anybody who doesn't do large volume of compressor sales if they have to stock them.

 

[michael-fisch]

And I thought that everbody in the compressor business sells vaporware. You see one compressor, and then place an order for your compressor that hasn't yet been built.

6 weeks to 3 months later it shows up at your door. If your lucky all you have to do is unpack it, add oil and the filter cartridge and hook it up. If you aren't so lucky, you will have a long involved period getting the electrical power installed, hooking up the cascade, or cascades, and getting approval from all the unnecessary government bureaucracies, before you can finally switch it on.

Michael

 

[michael-fisch]

The most involved installation procedure I have seen was with a pair of big watercooled 400 Bar 5 stage Bauers, with additional CO and CO2 filtering of the air intakes, interstage cooling to prolong live of the filter cartridges, and a huge 400Bar cascade. The filling section, at 300Bar, was made to simultaniously fill 20x 300 Bar tanks in explosion proof containers.
From delivery to the fire department until all approvals were there and the fire department could start filling their tanks was 15 months, and one heart attack!

Michael

 

[guruboy]

You think that they make this much profit??? I have the distributor prices and the profit margin is so small, it is hardly worth it for anybody who doesn't do large volume of compressor sales if they have to stock them.

Do you mean the price distributors pay or distributor charge?