One of the key factors to consider when looking for an industrial air compressor is whether it is lubricated or oil-free. At the end of the day, what matters most is what your application requires. You will need to be familiar with your facility and what your operation’s needs are. For applications that cannot have even an instance of oil contamination, such as medical or food processing applications, a lubricated industrial air compressor will be automatically disqualified.

Oil is needed in some industrial air compressors to help with lubricating, sealing, and cooling functions. Industrial facilities can get away with lubricated compressors because oil contamination is not necessarily an issue. Furthermore, lubricated air compressors are far more economical.

When it comes to reducing the amount of oil contamination as much as possible, the only sure-fire way to do this is to acquire the necessary industrial air compressor accessories. Normally, these accessories are filters, of which there are many different types to choose from, with different degrees of effectiveness.

As such, if you are in the manufacturing and industrial sectors, a lubricated industrial air compressor will probably suit your needs just fine. However, if you have a need for oil-free air compressors, make sure you consider air purity class as well.

There are two main classes of air purity: technically oil-free air and oil-free air.

This distinction is important because technically oil-free air is considered less clean than oil-free air. Technically oil-free air still has an oil concentration of 0.01 mg, whereas oil-free air is 100% free of oil content. Choosing between the two is a matter of budget and what specific requirements of anti-contamination your facility needs to meet. Completely oil-free air compressors are pricier, but they will be able to satisfy the criteria of cleanliness for all industries.

Choosing an industrial air compressor can be a more complex process than anticipated. That’s why it’s important to make sure that you consult with the experts at Compresseurs Quebec before making a decision.