ELGi Equipment Australia has released a new range of oil-free compressors designed to meet the stringent hygiene and safety requirements of the food, beverage and packaging sectors.
The range spans 11 kW to 110 kW (51 cfm to 560 cfm) and is aimed at industrial and packaging-line applications where high-flow, high-duty-cycle oil-free air is essential.
Key features include leading energy efficiency, high uptime reliability and low lifecycle cost. ELGi has also implemented a closed-loop water circuit that removes the need for an RO system, cutting both power use and maintenance costs.
“Whether you’re dealing with aseptic packaging, food-grade filler lines, pharmaceutical environments or other critical applications, specifying an oil-free compressor gives you a competitive edge and reduces risk,” the company said.
“Many plants still operate oil-lubricated compressors as part of legacy systems. Upgrading to oil-free technology such as the AB Series can support a broader hygiene or quality-improvement program.
“Don’t evaluate compressors purely on upfront cost. Factor in the cost of contamination events, cleaning downtime, potential recalls, and warranty or service risks. Oil-free may well pay for itself over the long term.
“With Australian manufacturers increasingly exporting to regions with strict air-quality and hygiene expectations, oil-free systems help ensure compliance and give customers overseas greater confidence.”
Compressed air sits at the heart of the wider packaging and processing ecosystem. According to ELGi, correct specification (flow, duty cycle, air quality) and proper maintenance of oil-free compressors ensure that pneumatic systems, fillers, actuators and packaging lines operate reliably and safely.
Key considerations when specifying:
Air quality standard: Ensure the compressor meets the required class (e.g., ISO 8573-1 Class 0 for oil-free).
Duty cycle and flow: Select a model sized for peak production requirements and future growth.
Energy efficiency: Look for VSDs, efficient motors and other features that reduce long-term energy costs.
Local service support: Confirm the availability of service technicians, spare parts and after-sales infrastructure.
Total lifecycle cost: Consider not just purchase price, but service needs, risk reduction, productivity gains and downtime avoidance.
“In 2025, for Australian packaging and processing machinery users, oil-free compressed air is increasingly a hygiene, safety and business-continuity requirement – not a technological luxury,” the company added.
“ELGi’s AB Series oil-free screw compressors offer solutions tailored to the needs of sensitive production environments.”
