Caps Australia to showcase oil-free air compressors for food and beverage industries at Foodpro

05 Jul 2011

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Caps Australia will be showcasing a range of oil-free air compressors suitable for use in food and beverage manufacturing at the triennial Foodpro exhibition being held in Sydney in July.

Caps Australia will be showcasing a range of oil-free air compressors suitable for use in food and beverage manufacturing at the triennial Foodpro exhibition being held in Sydney in July. Caps Australia is a major Australian-owned independent compressed air company.

Built by Ingersoll Rand, the oil free air compressors are certified to meet Class 0 air quality standard, the most stringent classification for air quality, limiting oil contamination in liquid, aerosol and vapour forms.

Compressed air is used by food and beverage manufacturers to push food products such as powders and cereals through pipes, often coming into direct contact with the product during processing. Compressed air is also used to cool down baked goods, clean bottles or spray produce. In some applications, compressed air supplies oxygen to bacteria for fermentation or is pumped into liquids to raise dissolved oxygen levels.

Food and beverage processing industries therefore require compressed air to be clean and of high quality to prevent contamination of the end-product and potential harm to consumer health.

According to Dino Alessio, leading compressor engineer from Caps Australia, Class 0, 100% oil-free air ensures higher product purity, eliminating the risk of rejections and/or health risks associated with oil contamination being transferred directly to the product.

He adds that certified Class 0 air compressors deliver consistently clean, sterile air to critical applications.

Even a single drop of unwanted oil can cause an entire automated process to malfunction by causing seals to swell, which may result in complete seizure of moving parts. Other contaminants that may impact production processes include solid particles such as dust and rust, condensed water droplets from ambient humidity as well as liquid oil and oil vapours.

A recent study has established that food product recalls and food safety concerns are increasingly influencing consumer shopping behaviour, prompting 38% of consumers surveyed to stop purchasing certain foods.

Oil-free air compressors from Caps Australia provide pure air, free from additional contaminants, minimising downtime associated with cleaning filters and other air system components. Oil-free technology increases productivity and ensures higher overall product quality.

By selecting certified oil-free air compressors, food and beverage manufacturers can enjoy the peace of mind that comes with knowing their critical air supply is completely free of compressor created contaminants.

The International Organisation for Standardisation (ISO) developed the 8573.1 range of classifications to help plant engineers specify desired compressed air quality. Ingersoll Rand and CAPS Australia earned Class 0 certification for a range of rotary screw and centrifugal air compressors through rigorous testing by TÜV Rheinland, a global leader in independent testing and assessment.

Ingersoll Rand’s oil-free rotary screw compressors and centrifugal air compressors help manufacturers comply with environmental standards such as ISO 14001 and European Union regulations. The oil-free compressors help manufacturers do away with disposal issues concerning waste oil and filtration components.

Disposal of air compressor condensate can also be an issue in traditional, lubricated compressors. By creating a clean condensate that is easier to dispose of, oil free compressors do not require special treatment for oil and water mixtures.

Caps Australia will be showcasing the Ingersoll Rand oil-free compressors on stand T1 of Foodpro 2011 from 10 July to 13 July at the Sydney Convention & Exhibition Centre in Darling Harbour.

Source: Caps Australia