Air Compressors for Food and Beverage Industry
In the food and beverage sector, compressed air is one of your most valuable utilities, powering essential processes across your facility. Unfortunately, it is also one of the most significant contamination risks, with the potential to cause product recalls and audit failures. As UK food safety standards rise, having pure compressed air is becoming a commercial and legal imperative.
Control Gear serves food and beverage producers throughout South Wales and the West, including Cardiff, Swansea, Bristol, and Gloucester. We can help you make sure your compressed air systems are clean, safe, and compliant. This guide explains how to create a safe, efficient, and reliable system.
Meet and Exceed UK Food Safety Standards
For UK food producers, compliance with BRCGS and HACCP principles is non-negotiable. Your compressed air system is a key part of this, governed by clear standards.
ISO 8573-1: Your Benchmark for Air Purity
ISO 8573-1 is the international standard for air purity. Achieving the standard will protect your food safety, help you pass audits, and defend your brand. It specifies detailed purity classes for particles, water, and oil. The main requirements for food are:
- Direct Contact: ISO 8573-1 Class [2:2:1]. For air that touches your product.
- Indirect Contact: ISO 8573-1 Class [2:4:2]. For air used in the production environment.
Meeting these standards requires documented proof of your compressed air quality, which is a critical component of your HACCP plan.
Engineer Your System for Guaranteed Purity
A compliant system requires the right combination of equipment working in harmony. At Control Gear, our design process ensures every component protects your product from contamination.
Protect Your Product with Class 0 Oil-Free Compressors
The only way to guarantee your compressed air is free from compressor-added oil contaminants is by using Class 0 oil-free technology.
- Eliminate Risk: Oil-free air compressors like the Atlas Copco Z-series are certified to add zero oil to your air stream.
- Ensure Compliance: This design eliminates the risk of catastrophic failure associated with oil-lubricated systems that rely on filtration.
A Complete Air Treatment Defence
Generating pure air is not enough; you must keep it pure. This requires a multi-stage air treatment chain.
- Moisture Removal: Compressed air dryers are essential for avoiding microorganisms in compressed air. Desiccant dryers are required to achieve the -40°C dew point for direct-contact applications.
- Multi-Stage Filtration: A robust set of industrial filtration systems removes particulates, aerosols, and vapours.
- System Monitoring: Tools like Atlas Copco’s SMARTLINK provide real-time data and documented evidence of system performance for your audits.
Turn Your Air System into a Source of Savings
A modern compressed air system protects your product and improves your bottom line.
Reduce Energy Use by up to 50% with VSD Technology
Variable Speed Drive (VSD) compressors match motor speed to air demand, eliminating the energy waste common in fixed-speed units and delivering significant cost savings.
Lower Your Gas Bill with Heat Recovery
Capture the waste heat from your compressor to generate hot water for washdowns or space heating, reducing your facility’s reliance on boilers and cutting fuel costs.
Cut Energy Bills by Stopping Costly Air Leaks
A single small leak in your system can waste over £1,200 in electricity annually. Our professional leak detection services identify and fix this waste, often paying for themselves within months.
Gain Control with On-Site Nitrogen Generation
Stop relying on expensive, scheduled deliveries of bottled nitrogen. Generate your own food-grade nitrogen on-site from your compressed air system to cut costs by over 70% and ensure a constant supply for packaging.
Why Work With Us?
Your Partner for Compliance and Performance
For over 50 years, Control Gear has been the trusted partner for food and beverage producers across South Wales and the West. As an Atlas Copco Premier Distributor, we provide expert design, installation, and 24/7 maintenance for industry leaders.
Don’t risk compliance failures or wasted energy. Contact our food and beverage specialists today for a free audit and start protecting your brand and cutting costs.
