Contamination by even trace quantities of oil can result in damaged batches or products, high rejection rates and returns. Costs also include production downtime and clean-up.
"Industries that risk contaminating their products with oil may expose themselves to product recalls, legal action and the negative consequences these have on company reputation and brand equity," Atlas Copco stated in a press release confirming the certification.
The company's Z series of oil-free rotary screw air compressors has be certified by Technische überwachungs-Verein (TüV), a certification agency in Germany. TüV certified the compressor line under the International Standards Organisation's ISO 8573-1 CLASS 0 codes.
"Risk of any contamination by oil is effectively eliminated during food and beverage processing, pharmaceuticals manufacturing and packaging, electronics manufacturing, automotive paint spraying and powder coating as well as textile manufacturing" Atlas Copco stated. "Certification was carried out using the most stringent test methods available, simulating realistic industrial installation environments. At all test conditions, no traces of oil could be determined and the compressed air was certified to be in the category 'Class 0' in terms of oil content."
Atlas Copco said it designed the compressor due to rising customer concern over safeguarding their industrial processes and end products. In turn Atlas received frequent requests for certifications for the air quality level provided by the company's Z series of oil-free rotary screw air compressors.
In 2005, the company began the certification procedure for its compressors under the ISO 8573-1 standard.