March 2021

COMPRESSED AIR 42 HYDRAULICS & PNEUMATICS March 2021 www.hpmag.co.uk ELGi Compressors Europe, a subsidiary of air compressor manufacturer ELGi Equipments Ltd, has installed its second AB ‘Always Better’ Series oil-free screw air compressor at Château Ollieux Romanis, the producer of premium organic wine, in the French Languedoc region. The AB Series unit will support the nitrogen blanketing and bottling of the wine. With a low lifecycle cost, high reliability, consistent air quality, and better return on investment, the ELGi AB Series delivers unmatched air quality in line with the ISO8573-1 plus ISO8573-7 compliance norms ensuring zero traces of microbial contaminants. Founded in 1868, Ollieux Romanis is one of the largest privately owned wineries in the Corbières, spanning 130 hectares. Pierre Bories, owner of the Château Ollieux Romanis winery, says: “When selecting an air compressor partner for our production processes, two factors played a critical role in our decision. i.e., the highest quality of air at the lowest lifecycle cost. Ensuring zero risk of oil contamination to meet our strict quality standards was of utmost importance for us. The oil-free air guarantees oil-free nitrogen that we use during the blanketing process. Blanketing with oil- and micro-biologically free nitrogen safeguards the wine from getting contaminated, and avoids variations in taste or colour, while ensuring the desired shelf life. We installed our first ELGi AB Series compressor in time for the bottling process in March 2020 and it has performed flawlessly. The AB series ensures oil-free air of the highest quality, in line with our mission to produce high quality, sustainable wine. Today we’re delighted to be expanding the system’s capacity by adding a second AB Series unit.” Improving sustainability Wine has been produced on the lands around Château Ollieux Romanis since the 11th century and in the late 1990s, the family-owned vineyard began implementing organic production methods. The choice of two ELGi AB Series oil-free compressors (AB37 VFD and AB30 VFD) is aligned with the vineyard’s goals to improve the sustainability of their processes. “When producing premium quality wine over decades you need to ensure that every step of the production process is impeccable and of absolute quality. The ELGi AB Series compressors embody our emphasis on quality in all we do, symbolising the role of technology and innovation, in supporting tradition, while ensuring we remain committed to driving business sustainability and a greener environment.” concluded Pierre Bories. Nils Blanchard, representative of ELGi Compressors Europe, says: “ELGi’s AB Series of oil-free screw air compressors are a disruption indeed! These units offer customers a no-compromise, oil-free solution at reduced lifecycle costs. Château Ollieux Romanis bears testament to just how the AB Series delivers Class ‘0’ certified, high-quality air along with significantly reduced maintenance costs and ease of use when compared with prevailing oil-free technology. The AB series is built around a single stage water- injected screw element, with an inbuilt microbial inhibition and water replenishment system. The units are designed to run at low speeds and can operate at high ambient temperatures.” For over 60 years, ELGi has developed world-class products with best-in-class lifecycle costs, resulting in higher uptime for the customer. In recognition of this, ELGi is the first globally established industrial air compressor manufacturer to be awarded the Deming Prize for excellence in Total Quality Management in over six decades. www.elgiaircompressors.eu ELGi’s AB Series delivers compressed air at Château Ollieux Romanis