Atlas Copco compressors help major food processing plant double production capacity
June 22, 2015
As part of an MUSD 40 plant expansion, PIL Andina S.A., a leading Bolivian manufacturer of various food products, invested in two Atlas Copco 100% oil-free ZT 145FF compressors to maintain its stringent quality standards and more than double its milk processing capacity from 600 000 liters to 1.4 million liters a day.
Founded in Bolivia in 1996, PIL Andina S.A. is a leader in the food and dairy processing industry with production plants in La Paz, Cochabamba, and Santa Cruz. The three plants collect an average combined total of 970,000 liters a day of milk, which is turned into a variety of dairy products. PIL Andina products are distributed throughout the country, and the company exports its surplus powdered milk to markets in the Andean Community of Nations. Recently, PIL Andina invested MUSD 40 to expand its plant in Santa Cruz. The company chose two Atlas Copco ZT 145FF 100% oil-free compressors for its compressed air system to maintain its stringent quality standards and to handle the additional capacity.
Pure, energy-efficient air
Atlas Copco’s ZT 145FF oil-free rotary tooth compressors provide pure air while offering wide pressure ranges and improved energy efficiency. Developed especially for applications demanding the highest levels of purity, such as food processing, the ZT 145FF compressors eliminate the risk of oil contamination and are certified ISO 8573-1 CLASS 0. The ZT 145FF units also feature a variable speed drive (VSD) that can save an average of 35% on energy costs. With VSD, unload losses are reduced to a minimum, and load/no load transition losses are eliminated. Precise pressure control allows a tighter pressure band and a lower average working pressure, resulting in reduced energy consumption. To maximize efficiency and reliability, an Elektronikon® controller controls the main drive motor and regulates system pressure within a predefined and narrow pressure band. The Elektronikon® controller can be adapted to meet PIL Andina’s specific needs. The vertical layout of the coolers reduces the noise levels from the fan, motor and element. Moreover, ZT compressors are supplied in a sound-insulated canopy, avoiding the need for a separate compressor room and allowing installation in most working environments. In terms of installed power per unit, the Santa Cruz plant is now the largest in the region's food processing sector where oil-free compressors are concerned.Equipment spotlight: ZT 145FF compressor
- Provides 100% pure, clean air, complying with ISO 8573-1 CLASS 0 (2010) certification.
- Energy savings of 35% on average with the variable speed drive.
- Robust air inlet filter offers a long life time and high reliability for long service intervals and low maintenance needs. Written by Michael Gaar