Hearing the Cost of Waste
Where Are You Wasting Energy Without Realizing It?
Like many manufacturers, Vaagen relies heavily on compressed air systems to keep production moving. Over time, they suspected that air leaks were eroding efficiency. Leaking air meant compressors working harder than necessary, driving up energy consumption while undermining their sustainability goals. The challenge was not awareness—it was execution. They lacked a systematic, data-driven way to identify leaks, understand their financial impact, and prioritize fixes.
That changed when Vaagen partnered with CES and Avista Utilities. Known for its incentive programs that reward energy efficiency, Avista, with CES aligned to deliver a comprehensive, end-to-end solution. Through its AIMM Services delivery group, CES brought structure, expertise, and technology to what had previously been an elusive problem. What’s more, by partnering with Fluke, we were able to capture that story and share it.
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Beyond Vaagen, the collaboration revealed a broader truth: no manufacturing air system is ever perfect. Leaks are inevitable. Recognizing this, CES partnered with Fluke and Avista to expand the program and educate the wider manufacturing community.
Redefining Lumber: Vaagen's Approach to Forest Health & Innovation
Vaagen Bros. has always believed that stewardship is not a slogan—it is an operating discipline. They see sustainability as a responsibility that stretches from the forest floor to the finished boards leaving their mills. Every tree, every acre of land, and every kilowatt of energy matters. That mindset led them to question: Where are we wasting energy without realizing it?
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Our Process
The process began with a full-plant walkthrough. AIMM Services technicians followed every manufacturing process, examining the facility holistically rather than focusing on isolated equipment. Using Fluke’s advanced acoustic thermal imaging technology, they detected and measured air leaks that were impossible to reliably find with the human ear alone. Each leak— its location, severity, and characteristics—was captured and stored directly on the device. After the walkthrough, the data was moved to the reporting software. Every leak was documented, and the value of the wasted energy was calculated.
The results were immediate and lasting. Energy consumption dropped measurably as leaks were eliminated. But the most powerful outcome was cultural. By assigning a dollar value to the sound of leaking air, the program changed human behavior. Maintenance teams no longer heard leaks as background noise—they heard lost money. What was once easy to ignore became a clear priority tied directly to efficiency and cost control.
Air Leak Assessment by AIMM Services
Discover how the Compressed Air Leak Assessment performed by AIMM Services helps industrial facilities improve energy efficiency, reduce wasted compressed air, and optimize performance. In this video, we take you on-site with our expert technicians as they identify, locate, and assess air leaks that are costing time and money. With advanced detection tools and a systematic approach, we show why regular air leak assessments are a crucial part of plant operations.
Whether you’re responsible for maintenance, reliability, or energy use, this assessment can bring measurable benefits.
Our Partnership
“This program has been a catalyst for deeper collaboration with our customers. By walking their processes with them and using data to visualize issues they couldn’t previously see, we weren’t just fixing air leaks — we were building trust. It opened the door for more meaningful conversations about their operations, and together we’ve been able to drive innovation, improve efficiency, and uncover opportunities that simply wouldn’t have surfaced without this engagement model.”
Daniel Wilbanks, CES Profit Center Manager