Top solution for research centre

Air compressor manufacturer ELGi Equipments, with its authorised partner Compressed Air Controls, delivered an oil-free ‘Class 0’ turnkey compressed air system solution to a new food science facility.

Te Ohu Rangahai Kai is jointly operated by a trio of leading New Zealand research providers – Massey University, AgResearch and the Riddet Institute. The new facility included more than 1800 square metres of research laboratory space housing a range of hi-tech food science analytical equipment including mass spectrometers.

Mass spectrometers require high-purity nitrogen to analyse chemical molecules in food. Delivered by a nitrogen generator, the compressed air supply for the nitrogen generator needed to be 100 per cent oil-free and certified ‘Class 0’ in compliance with ISO 8573-1.

Compressed Air Controls territory manager Steve Carran said, “We designed a complete skid-mounted turnkey solution, including an ELGi AB37 oil-free screw air compressor and an Airmate EGRD200 refrigerated air dryer complete with downstream filtration, and full stainless steel air lines to meet their needs.”

The ELGi AB series was selected because of zero process contamination; low lifecycle costs; low maintenance costs; reliability; and low carbon footprint.

ELGi OSEA executive director Ramesh Ponnuswami said, “ELGi’s AB series represents real disruption in oil-free compressed air technology for sensitive industrial applications that not only demand 100 per cent oil-free compressed air in compliance with ISO 8573-1 but want to achieve high reliability and high efficiency with low cost of ownership and minimal environmental impact. 

This story first appeared in the April-May edition of Food & Drink Business magazine.