Laboratory-grade air compressors play a critical role in various facilities where clinical precision and purity are essential. As public scrutiny and government oversight grow, those operating in these demanding fields need high-quality and reliably performing compressors capable of meeting rigid standards.
What Are Laboratory-Grade Air Compressors?
Laboratory-grade air compressors generate power by taking in atmospheric air and compressing it. This stored air becomes kinetic energy upon release, delivering power to vital equipment used in manufacturing, health and research-related environments.
Typical requirements in these facilities include quiet operation and freedom from vibrations. Air compressors for laboratory use generally meet these needs through an oil-free design approach. Engineers create the machines with an enclosed oil delivery system that retains independence from the circulating air. The air and oil don’t come into contact with each other, keeping the air dry and clean.
Why Laboratories Use Air Compressors
Labs and research and development facilities require air compressors for various reasons.
Get Consistent Power
First, air compressors help deliver consistent power for sensitive equipment. For example, during pharmaceutical manufacturing, compressed air may help drive pill-coating machinery. A pressure loss could render the entire batch unusable and result in financial losses or reputational damage.
Protect Equipment
Oil-free air compressors can help protect expensive precision tools. Keeping the oil and air separate can prevent clogging, unnecessary downtime and premature equipment repair or replacement.
Ensure Air Quality
Lab-grade air compressors also maintain stringent air quality requirements which can help prevent the growth of bacteria that can alter accurate results. High-quality air helps prevent unwanted chemical interactions during experiments, including those that could produce volatile reactions. Moreover, a lab-grade compressor’s cleaner air contributes to a healthier work environment and team.
Common Industries and Applications That Use Laboratory Compressors
Multiple industries and applications are ideal for laboratory air compressors.
Industries widely using this technology include:
- Pharmaceuticals: Lab air compressors help ensure packaging is well-sealed and contaminant-free to comply with strict quality control measures.
- Food and beverage: Oil-free air helps power automated equipment with air free of impurities that could be harmful to ingest.
- Research labs: Air compressor technology helps with the precise transfer of liquids and agents required in controlled research and experimentation.
- University labs: This machinery helps power the equipment required to spray, clean and sanitize lab tools and glassware.
- Manufacturing: Lab-grade air compressors help remove debris and assist with particle analysis in quality control testing.
Other typical uses for lab-grade compressors include:
- Spectroscopy: Air compressors assist in capturing vital imaging via X-ray, ultraviolet and more.
- Chromatography: The equipment is helpful for gas, high-performance liquid and ion chromatography.
- Substance analysis: These machines help support precision equipment like rheometers, microscopes, optical tables, viscometers and more.
- Cleanroom maintenance: Oil-free compressors help industries like aerospace manufacturing, nanotechnology fabrication and healthcare keep their cleanroom spaces compliant.
How Quincy Compressor Can Help
Quincy Compressors has manufactured innovative laboratory-grade air compressor solutions since 1920. Our reliability, performance and commitment to service are unmatched.
Shop our entire inventory of oil-free air compressors online, visit your local authorized Quincy Compressor dealer or contact a team member for more information.