The Use of Compressed Air in Different Industries
February 28, 2025
Today, with more than 150 years of experience, Atlas Copco is a leading provider of industrial productivity solutions, including innovative and reliable air compressor systems, air-handling systems, vacuum solutions, industrial tools and more.
In this article, we'll delve into how Atlas Copco industrial air compressors serve a wide variety of industries, offering world-leading expertise to keep operations running smoothly and efficiently.
Compressed Air Applications: Manufacturing Industries
Food and Beverages
Atlas Copco air compressors are a crucial component in the food and beverage industry, fulfilling several vital functions, such as automation, conveying, cleaning, blowing/aeration, fermentation and food storage. With ISO 8573-1 CLASS 0 certification and ISO 22000 food safety management system compliance, our oil-free compressors provide clean and safe compressed air for operations that require zero contamination, such as filling, packaging, and bottling.
→ In food transportation, our compressors are used to transport powdered food products, ensuring the purity of the final product.
→ Cleaning operations, such as cleaning bottles and containers, require oil-free air to prevent contamination and maintain food quality. In blowing and aeration, our compressors are used to oxygenate water and liquids, which is crucial in fish farming and food ingredient production.
→ For food storage, our compressors provide oil- or nitrogen-free preservation air, essential for protecting food quality and safety.
Metallurgical
Our compressors are a vital component in the metallurgical production process, from blast furnaces to bagging houses to the heat treatment of metals.
Our compressors are used to supply hot air to blast furnaces, feed coke production, supply pure oxygen to oxygen furnaces, clean dust with bag chambers, cool slabs and billets with air mixtures, instrument production processes, support wastewater treatment, and improve the heat treatment of metals with nitrogen.
Pulp & Paper
At Atlas Copco, we are aware of the crucial role that air compressors play in the pulp and paper industry. From pneumatic conveying to drying and cooling, our compressors provide clean, efficient compressed air for a variety of applications.
Whether for the pneumatic conveying of pulp and wastepaper, or for the cooling of paper after pressing, our air compressors ensure that your final product is not contaminated by dirty air. In addition, our solutions support the vital task of wastewater treatment, which requires a reliable supply of low-pressure air for motors and pneumatic blades to operate effectively.
Cement
At Atlas Copco, we recognize the importance of air compressors in the cement industry. Our range of reliable and energy-efficient products covers all your needs, from pneumatic conveying, truck and train unloading, silo fluidization, combustion air, and cooling air to pneumatic conveying.
Whether you need air for bulk material transport, heating raw materials, or cooling clinker, our products are designed for consistent airflow and control.
With features such as variable speed drive (VSD), you can easily adjust the air supply and save energy costs.
Pharmaceutical
At Atlas Copco, we are committed to helping the pharmaceutical industry maintain product purity and quality through our air compressors.
From bottling, canning, and packaging to the manufacture of tablets, capsules, ointments, creams, gels, and syrups, our Class 0 oil-free compressed air prevents contamination. Our air compressors also play a vital role for the aeration of sterile air in fermentation and instrumentation air in pneumatic conveying and valve control.
Our technology-backed air compressors assist in wastewater treatment to ensure that the water used in the manufacturing process is properly treated before reuse or discharge.
PET
At Atlas Copco we understand the importance of supplying clean and reliable air to the PET bottle blowing industry. Our oil-free air compressors are crucial to avoid problems and ensure the quality and safety of the final product.
Our compressed air is used to clean bottles, blow them into shape, and control valves and actuators in packaging and labeling lines. The use of Class 0 oil-free air prevents contamination, keeps the automated components running smoothly and ensures that the average pressure generated during bottle blowing can be used efficiently.
Compressed Air Applications: Non-Manufacturing Industries
Aquaculture
Atlas Copco air compressors are perfect for the aquaculture industry. Whether you need compressed air for aeration, pneumatic conveying, bubble curtains, handling live fish or removing dead fish, we have the perfect solution.
Our air blower technologies offer high uptime and reliability, ensuring you can focus on the quality of your final product. Our oil-free air solutions minimize the risk of oil contamination and our compact air blower solutions are ideal for saving space in tight spaces such as boats.
With a wide range of blowers suitable for different pressures and flow rates, you're sure to find the blower that best suits your needs. And with SMARTLINK technology, you can even monitor our solutions remotely.
CNG Stations
Atlas Copco air compressors play a crucial role in the Compressed Natural Gas (CNG) industry, servicing both fast filling stations and time filling stations. Our in-line BBR compressor can convert CNG pressure from 0.5 to 90 bar to higher pressure for storage and use.
For industrial applications, our pressure reducing systems are used to lower the pressure when transferring CNG from mother stations to daughters.
At service stations, our compressor package ensures more efficient operation by fully utilizing the pressure energy inside the trailer to reach the desired pressure.
Railway
Atlas Copco is the go-to solution for the rail industry when it comes to air compressors. Whether you're looking for lightweight tram compressors or heavy-duty locomotive compressors, we've got you covered.
Our compressors are built to withstand the rigors of the rail environment and are available with and without oil injection. To ensure you clean and dry air, we also offer a complete range of air treatment products, such as oil and dust filters, desiccant dryers and condensate treatment packages.
Oil & Gas
Atlas Copco supplies the oil and gas industry with safe and reliable equipment for a variety of applications.
Our oil and gas competence centers, located around the world, design and supply customized solutions to meet specific needs. We understand the demanding industry standards, and our equipment is designed, manufactured, tested, and commissioned to meet API and ISO standards for oil and gas.
Wastewater Treatment
We understand the importance of clean water and the role it plays in our daily lives. That's why we supply safe and reliable air compressors for the wastewater treatment industry.
Our equipment is designed to meet the most demanding requirements, focusing on energy efficiency and low maintenance. Whether you need a fixed-speed blower or a variable-speed drive blower, we've got you covered. Our air compressors are essential for applications such as diffuse aeration, filter backwashing, aerated lagoons, activated sludge processes, batch sequencing reactors, and membrane bioreactor systems.
Conclusion
In conclusion, the applications of compressed air are very broad and can be seen in a variety of industries ranging from manufacturing to non-manufacturing sectors.
Atlas Copco air compressors are a reliable solution for these applications, providing safe and efficient equipment for many difficult processes. With more than 150 years of experience in the industry, Atlas Copco has built a strong structure of competence centers around the world, offering special products and solutions designed to meet your specific requirements.
If you need compressed air solutions, consider Atlas Copco for your next purchase. Our team of experts will help you find the solution that best suits your needs, ensuring that your operations run smoothly and efficiently.
