It’s simple: marketing BS,
most people compare if there’s a number they think they’re comparing two models. And if that number is bigger than a competitor we can sell our machine.
The most common way is they take the highest rated component maybe 3500 psi or 3700 psi and multiply that times cylinder area and get an inflated tons. Even though the system is operating say at 2400 psi.
very few actually operate in 3000 to 3500 psi range because the cost and availability of components changes considerably at the 3000 psi point. Not to say that lower quality components can’t be pushed a higher pressure, it’s just that for industrial components 3000 is a traditional boundary where hose and pump technology changes somewhat.
Basically just compare cylinder diameter between different models and ignore all the tonnage ratings. And look at pump size and cycle time and probably most important is ergonomics and overall quality.
I asked a floor salesman one time how they were claiming X number of tons with the 4 inch cylinder and the pressure. he had apparently gone to product sales class. And memorized everything but understood nothing, because his explanation was ‘our cylinder is so much more efficient than the other companies’