Pure Compressed Air: The Key to Cleaner, Safer Medical Manufacturing

Hygiene and sanitation are critical elements of medical care (Hygieia was the Greek goddess of health and the daughter of Aesculapius, the god of medicine).  While we typically think of compressed air and the way it delivers reliable power in dirty, grimy conditions, in certain applications there’s actually a strong connection between compressed air and health.

Saving lives is a big business. Companies that serve the medical industry with pharmaceuticals and medical devices demand oil-free compressed air to help keep their products free from contaminants. In order to ensure 100 percent oil-free air, manufacturers rely on the ISO air purity standards that yield both Class 0 certification and total peace of mind. For the medical devices and pharmaceutical industries, 100 percent oil-free compressed air ensures that safety is the top priority.

Medical manufacturing facilities can virtually eliminate the need for in-line oil filtration and – in most cases – eliminate the risk of oil contamination completely with oil-free compressors. In contrast, oil-lubricated compressors require costly oil maintenance, compressed air treatment and disposal multiple times per year. This can compound over the compressor’s life cycle. In most cases, selecting an oil-free compressor can provide better life cycle savings compared to an oil-lubricated compressor.

Clean, dry air is essential throughout the manufacturing process. Too much moisture in certain applications can compromise critical medications or devices, potentially passing on unnecessary risk to end users. By employing water separators and coalescing filters, contaminants such as water, dust, oil and other particles are eliminated before the air returns to the cold regenerative absorption dryer. The dryer lowers the dew point to -40 degrees F, the temperature required to qualify for medical use in accordance with regulatory standards.

Compressed air might not seem like a matter of life-and-death. But if medications or devices are not properly manufactured or packaged, they could do more harm than good. Clean, reliable air is an essential tool used by the manufacturers in the pharmaceutical and medical device industries.