When you're planning a shop air system, the hard part often isn't finding equipment-it's deciding where the first big check goes. In the compressors, blowers, and air treatment category, this matchup is less about two identical machines and more about two different bets: put the larger budget into a compressor that makes air, or put the smaller budget into a tank that stores it. Both can move a project forward, but they answer different questions.
Quick Verdict
If you need air generation and don't have a large screw compressor, the Gardner Denver EDE99M is the foundational buy. If you already have a large screw compressor and simply need more stored air, the Industrial Air Compressor Receiver Tank is the lower-cost addition.
At a Glance
| Product | Listed Price | What You're Buying | Best For |
|---|---|---|---|
| Gardner Denver EDE99M 50HP Air Compressor (2000) New motor | USD 5,000.00 | Used 50 HP stationary rotary screw compressor with a new Baldor motor; horizontal and electric-powered | Shops that need a capable air-generation source |
| Industrial Air Compressor Receiver Tank Vertical Horizontal ASME 270 Gallon | USD 1,999.00 | New 270-gallon carbon steel receiver tank with ASME Section Code design and 1-inch, 2-inch, and 3-inch NPT connections | Shops adding storage to an existing 22 kW or larger screw compressor |
Where Each Product Wins
Gardner Denver wins when your priority is a complete air source. This unit is a stationary rotary screw compressor, so it does the work of compressing air. It's a used machine, but it includes a new Baldor motor, and the good-working-order condition makes it a dependable foundation. The catch is the higher upfront cost and the fact that used condition always deserves a careful review.
The receiver tank wins when your compressor is already in place. The tank adds a large reservoir of stored air without replacing what you already have. It's a new ASME-section-code carbon steel tank, and the port arrangement is flexible enough to fit several installation layouts.
Product Notes
Gardner Denver EDE99M 50HP Air Compressor (2000) New motor
This is the side of the matchup that actually creates compressed air. The Gardner Denver EDE99M is a used stationary rotary screw compressor in a horizontal layout and powered by electricity. The unit includes a new Baldor motor installed in October 2025, which removes one big reliability question from an older machine. It's in good working order and ready to install, and it carries the higher ticket in this comparison. Choose it when you don't yet have a compressor capable of feeding your shop's demand. Just remember that a used unit like this deserves a careful condition review before you commit.
Industrial Air Compressor Receiver Tank Vertical Horizontal ASME 270 Gallon
This is the storage play. It sits at roughly 60% below the compressor's price, and it gives you 270 gallons of carbon steel tank capacity rated to 160 PSI. The tank is new, designed and constructed in accordance with ASME Section Code for compressed air storage, and set up for 1-inch, 2-inch, and 3-inch NPT connections so multiple port arrangements are possible. ASME certification for government acceptance is also available. The main limitation is that it's not a compressor-it stores air rather than making it, and it's intended for use with a 22 kW or larger screw machine. If you already have that compressor, this tank improves cycling and pressure stability. If you don't, you'll still need a compressor to make it useful.
Final Choice by Use Case
- No compressor yet, and you need a complete rotary-screw air source: Gardner Denver EDE99M 50HP Air Compressor (2000) New motor.
- Existing screw compressor, and you need more stored air: Industrial Air Compressor Receiver Tank Vertical Horizontal ASME 270 Gallon.
If both pieces are missing, the compressor logically comes first because a storage tank can't fill itself. If your compressor already runs, the receiver tank is the lower-cost way to smooth out pressure and reduce cycling.
