Air Compressor for Pharmaceutical Industry

Oil-free air compressors are widely used in pharmaceutical companies, participating in the stirring, mixing, transportation, drying and other applications of raw materials. Also, they can provide pure air sources for precision instruments.

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Oil Free Screw & Scroll Air Compressor in Pharmaceutical Industry

In pharmaceutical factories, compressed air is mainly used in filling machines for liquid preparations, granulators, pulping machines, filling machines, packaging machines, printers for solid preparations, and extraction tanks in the extraction process. In addition, there are gases for testing, material transportation, drying, purging, pneumatic instruments, automatic control gases, etc.

In pharmaceutical production, there are usually strict hygiene standards. Especially in clean rooms, production needs to be carried out in an environment free of bacteria, particles, water, and contaminated oil. Therefore, there are also high requirements for compressed air in hospitals. That is to say, air compressors for the pharmaceutical industry are also widely used because the compressed air often comes into direct contact with the product itself during the production process in the pharmaceutical industry, and the compressed air must be sterile or oil-free.

Oil Free Air Compressor

Related Application Scenarios:

1. Tablet pressing

Compressed air pharmaceutical industry is required during tablet production, and the compressed air comes into direct contact with the product. This direct product contact occurs after the tablet press, where compressed air is used to remove dust particles or remove problematic products. Oil-free and dry air is important in this case, otherwise, it can cause the compressed tablets to swell, for example. Compressed air can also be used to apply lubricant to the tablet press to make the tablets easier to eject. Compressed air solution is also used in a post-pressing step known as coating, i.e. coating or encapsulation.

2. Clean and dry

Not only does the machine need to be cleaned, but the vials, ampoules, and bottles in which the medication is filled also need special cleaning. Air compressor in pharmaceutical industry is used here for drying. Another cleaning method is dry ice blasting. Dry ice strikes the surface to be cleaned and removes deposits. The separated sediments are then blown away with compressed air. Filters must be cleaned in fluidized bed systems during production. This can be done by blowing out the filter system. Compressed air is used to return accumulated material to the process. Here, too, there is direct product contact, which results in high quality requirements for the compressed air.

3. Pharmaceutical packaging

Compressed air pharmaceutical industry is required during tablet production, and the compressed air comes into direct contact with the product. This direct product contact occurs after the tablet press, where compressed air is used to remove dust particles or remove problematic products. Oil-free and dry air is important in this case, otherwise, it can cause the compressed tablets to swell, for example. Compressed air can also be used to apply lubricant to the tablet press to make the tablets easier to eject.

4. Pneumatic conveying

Pneumatic conveying can be done with compressed air or under vacuum. When conveying under pressure, an air compressor for the pharmaceutical industry is generated and fed into the mixing head. For example, it is there to pick up powder and transport it to the desired location. With this type of pneumatic conveying, the transported material is in direct contact with the compressed air. This method is used to empty silo carts and distribute materials in production. Compressed air treatment equipment is also frequently used in the pharmaceutical industry to transport components in the manufacturing process, such as bulk goods, liquids, powders, and granules.

5. Control valve and cylinder

Compressed air is used in the pharmaceutical industry as control air, for example by controlling valves and cylinders to regulate production systems. These will also apply if controlling air may affect the process compressor. Typically lower requirements apply to control air since it does not come into direct contact with the product. But there are exceptions: there are special requirements for controlling air in clean rooms. If compressed air does not meet requirements, it can cause pneumatic tools and machines to malfunction, corrode pipes, cylinders, and other components, and freeze in exposed lines in cold weather. This has the potential to increase downtime and maintenance costs for pneumatic machinery, tools, and controls. Therefore, correct compressed air preparation as well as regular inspection and maintenance are necessary here.

How to Choose the Right Air Compressor for Pharmaceutical Production?

Air compressors are essential in the pharmaceutical industry, helping to maintain clean and uninfected conditions for effective production. In pharmaceutical manufacturing, cleanrooms are crucial to prevent contamination and protect patient health. An air compressor supports various processes, such as producing caplets, pills, tablets, medication formulas, lotions, and packaging materials like plastic containers and cartons. They also help maintain clean air throughout the facilities, ensuring equipment runs smoothly while maintaining high standards of hygiene, efficiency, and safety. While numerous air compressors are available, selecting the right one for pharmaceutical use can be challenging.

(1) Air Quality and Purity: The compressor must deliver air completely free from oil, moisture, and particulates to prevent contamination of pharmaceutical products. Oil-free compressors, paired with high-efficiency dryers and filters, are critical to meet stringent purity standards and ensure the safety of drugs for human consumption.

(2) Regulatory Compliance: Verify that the compressor adheres to the highest air purity standards, such as ISO 8573-1 Class 0, which guarantees zero risk of oil contamination. Compliance with these regulations is essential in pharmaceutical production to satisfy legal requirements and maintain product integrity.

(3) Reliability and Maintenance: Select a compressor with proven reliability and durability to support continuous 24/7 operations common in pharmaceutical manufacturing. Easy maintenance and quick access to spare parts are vital to minimize downtime, ensuring uninterrupted production and consistent performance under demanding conditions.

(4) Energy Efficiency: Choose models with advanced energy-saving features, like variable speed drives that adjust power usage based on demand. Energy-efficient compressors reduce operational costs over time and contribute to sustainability goals by lowering carbon emissions, making them a smart long-term investment.

(5) Noise and Vibration Control: Opt for compressors designed to operate with low noise and vibration levels. In pharmaceutical settings, excessive noise can disrupt sensitive processes and worker focus, while vibration may affect precision equipment. A quiet, stable compressor improves the production environment significantly.

(6) Correct Sizing and Capacity: Ensure the compressor is properly sized to meet your facility’s total air demand, including potential future expansions. Consulting with experts helps determine the optimal capacity and pressure settings, preventing inefficiencies from undersized or oversized units and ensuring reliable performance.

Air Compressor for Pharmaceutical Production

Why Choose Our Oil Free Screw & Scroll Air Compressor?

High Purity Compressed Air

Reliability and Durability

High Efficiency and Energy Saving

Low Maintenance Costs

Relevant Cases:

Oil Free Screw Air Compressor for Pharmaceutical Industry

Jimin Pharmaceutical Gas Supply Oil-Free Screw Air Compressor Case

In 2019, Jimin Pharmaceutical purchased an EPG-CMN CM242GPV-4.0 with a gas production of 24m3/min and a maximum gas supply pressure of 4.0Mpa for its infusion bottle production line. The equipment has been used for nearly five years, with a total operation of more than 18,000 hours, without any failure, and can be visited on site.

So far, the user has received good feedback. Compared with the traditional piston type medium pressure air compressor, EPG-CMN medium pressure oil-free screw air compressor has the following incomparable advantages:

The whole machine does not use any lubricating oil to ensure that its production line is clean and pollution-free, and meets the high requirements of the pharmaceutical industry for the cleanliness of compressed air. (Oil-free piston crankcase contains lubricating oil, when the oil scraping ring and stuffing box wear, lubricating oil will enter the cylinder, pollute the product, affect the credibility of the enterprise)

Maintenance is simple, the whole machine has no wearing parts design, daily only need to replace the air filter and water filter, the annual maintenance cost is 1/5 of the oil-free piston machine.

High efficiency, low energy consumption, the use of efficiency down to less than 5%. (Oil-free piston machine with the wear of the piston ring, the efficiency will be reduced by 10% to 30%, the need for regular maintenance, the cost is high)

Water Lubricated Oil-Free Air Compressor for Pharmaceutical Industry

Conbe Water Lubricated Oil-Free Air Compressor Case

Conbe first cooperated with Sinman in 2012 and purchased a 132kw water-lubricated oil-free screw air compressor. The stable operation and maintenance cost of the machine have great advantages compared with imported brands. The company again purchased a 200kW water-lubricated oil-free screw air compressor with 1.0Mpa air supply pressure in 2013. The unit has been in operation for more than 36,887 hours without any failure. Conbe and our cooperation has been very smooth, has purchased a 110kW water-lubricated oil-free screw air compressor in 2014,2016,2020, Conbe Pharmaceutical plant now has more than five sets of water-lubricated oil-free screw air compressor, the longest running time has been nearly 50,000 hours, more than 11 years of total running time, without any failure. The EPG-CMN water-lubricated oil-free screw air compressor has the following advantages:

1. Low maintenance costs: daily maintenance only need to replace the air filter and water filter, taking the 110kW model as an example, the annual maintenance cost does not exceed 5000 yuan.

2. High stability: Because the temperature of the unit does not exceed 50 degrees Celsius during operation, the life of the parts is longer, the stability of the unit is higher, and the expenditure of maintenance and replacement of parts is reduced.

3. No oil guarantee: Due to the low bearing speed (3000 RPM), no lubricating oil is required, and the Simman water lubrication unit does not contain any lubricating oil, so it ensures the absolute zero oil content of the compressed air, which is crucial for pharmaceutical companies.