Food science facility uses oil-free compressed air solution

ELGi Equipments, together with authorised partner Compressed Air Controls, have provided an oil-free ‘Class 0’ turnkey compressed air system solution to a new food science facility jointly operated by a trio of New Zealand research providers.

The Te Ohu Rangahau Kai facility shared by Massey University, AgResearch and the Riddet Institute is situated on the university’s Manawatū campus in Palmerston North. The facility includes over 1800 m² of research laboratory space that houses a range of hi-tech food science analytical equipment, including mass spectrometers which require high-purity nitrogen to analyse chemical molecules in food. Delivered by a nitrogen generator, the compressed air supply needed to be 100% oil-free and certified ‘Class 0’ in compliance with ISO 8573-1.

Massey University contacted its long-standing compressed air partner Compressed Air Controls, one of ELGi’s authorised partners, to find the right solution to meet the requirements.

Steve Carran, Compressed Air Controls Territory Manager, 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.”

Keith Harvey, Massey University Project Manager, said it was essential that the nitrogen system’s air supply was certified Class 0. The AB series promised to meet those requirements with minimal environmental impact, aligning with the university’s sustainability goals.

“The recently installed ELGi turnkey compressed air solution, and Compressed Air Control's expert service and support is meeting our expectations,” Harvey said.

Installed in September 2022, the ELGi AB series was designed to meet AgResearch’s requirements for zero process contamination, low lifecycle and maintenance costs and low carbon footprint.

Ramesh Ponnuswami, Executive Director, ELGi OSEA, said, “ELGi’s AB series represents a real disruption in oil-free compressed air technology for sensitive industrial applications that not only demand 100% 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. We are delighted to have supplied an AB series oil-free screw air compressor to this new food science facility, and to be a small part of the new Te Ohu Rangahai Kai building, one of the largest agricultural food research centres in New Zealand.”