IMI Norgren Excelon Plus FRL - compact air prep system targets US factory upgrades
30.06.2026 - 19:55:06 | ad-hoc-news.de
By Julian Reed, ad hoc news New Launch Desk. Reviewed June 30, 2026, 1:54 PM ET. Details in the imprint.
Norgren Excelon Plus FRL sits at shoulder height on a factory test rig, its translucent bowls catching stray light from the overhead LEDs as compressed air pulses through. A technician runs a gloved hand over the quick-release guards, feeling the solid click of the safety latches as they lock into place.
Modular air prep for plants
Excelon Plus FRL is a modular filter-regulator-lubricator assembly designed by IMI’s Norgren division for industrial compressed air systems, marketed heavily across North America. The system combines a particulate or coalescing filter, pressure regulator, and optional lubricator in one compact, configurable housing.
On IMI’s product page, Norgren emphasizes that Excelon Plus is the next generation of its widely used Excelon air preparation line, aimed at factory automation, packaging, and material handling applications. The FRL units are offered in multiple port sizes, typically from 1/4 inch to 1/2 inch NPT and BSP, making them drop-in replacements for many legacy installations in US plants.
Safety and maintenance upgrades
One of the standout features is the integrated lockable rotating safety shut-off valve, which lets maintenance teams clearly isolate air supply before working on downstream equipment. Norgren’s documentation notes that Excelon Plus bowls include a double safety mechanism: a metal guard plus a bayonet-style quarter-turn lock that must be released before removal.
When you stand in front of a live Excelon Plus FRL, you notice how the bowl guard edges are slightly chamfered, reducing sharp corners where operators might catch sleeves. IMI engineer Mark Saunders is quoted in the launch literature describing the unit as “designed around safer, quicker maintenance,” pointing to tool-free filter element changes that can be done in under a minute.
IMI and Norgren in compressed air handling
Explore how Excelon Plus FRL fits into IMI’s broader industrial automation portfolio and long-running Norgren air preparation line.
US availability and pricing
Norgren distributes Excelon Plus FRL through major US industrial distributors, including Motion, Applied, and online catalogs that list typical street prices starting around the low hundreds of dollars per assembly depending on configuration. A basic 1/4 inch filter-regulator unit generally shows in the $120 to $200 range before volume discounts.
Excelon Plus is offered in multiple materials, with standard polycarbonate bowls and optional metal bowls for harsher environments. For US customers, the product is positioned as compliant with common industrial standards and compatible with 150 psi class compressed air systems found in many automation lines, making it a realistic retrofit choice.
Design details and options
The Excelon Plus FRL family supports different filter grades, from 5 micron general-purpose elements to finer coalescing filters for oil removal. Lubricator modules can be added downstream when air tools or legacy valves still require mist lubrication, though many new installations use filter-regulator combinations only.
IMI highlights the modular end connections and mounting brackets that let plants stack several units side by side, including soft-start valves and pressure sensors. Standing next to a demo rack, you can hear a subtle hiss as the soft-start valve ramps up line pressure, avoiding the abrupt slam of air on startup that can fatigue seals and shock cylinders.
Targeting maintenance and uptime
Maintenance crews are a clear audience for Excelon Plus FRL. IMI’s literature stresses reduced downtime via quick bowl removal and an improved visual indication of differential pressure, so clogged filters are identified before they choke off production. This matters in food processing or automotive plants where unplanned stoppages ripple through entire lines.
In a white paper, Norgren points out that poorly maintained air preparation can cost companies thousands of dollars per year in wasted energy and premature component failures. By tightening control over filtration and regulated pressure, Excelon Plus is framed as a way to keep actuators and valves working closer to their rated lifetimes and reduce compressed air leaks.
IMI context and stock angle
Excelon Plus FRL sits in IMI’s Precision Engineering division, alongside valves, actuators, and fluid control components that serve factory automation markets worldwide. IMI plc reported record profits in its latest preliminary results, with management flagging continued growth from industrial automation and energy efficiency solutions as key strategic pillars. IMI stock (LSE: IMI, ISIN GB00B1905F76) gives investors broad exposure to this installed base of Norgren-branded air handling hardware rather than a single product line.
Key facts on Norgren Excelon Plus FRL
- Product: Norgren Excelon Plus FRL air preparation units
- Manufacturer: IMI plc
- Category: New launch industrial air preparation (filter-regulator-lubricator)
- Launch: Excelon Plus line introduced mid-2010s, with ongoing portfolio updates for industrial automation customers
- MSRP / Price: Typical US distributor pricing roughly $120-$200 for basic FRL assemblies, varying by configuration
- Availability: Distributed across the US and globally through Norgren and industrial distributors
- Target audience: Factory maintenance teams, automation engineers, and OEMs upgrading compressed air systems
- Standout / USP: Modular FRL design with enhanced safety features, quick maintenance access, and retrofit-friendly port options
This article was AI-assisted and editorially reviewed. Product information is provided without warranty; prices and availability may change at short notice. Not investment advice and not a buy or sell recommendation. Securities trading carries risks up to total loss.
