Pakistan’s Orient Textile Mills Ltd has taken delivery of three Atlas Copco ZH7000-5 centrifugal compressors to ensure 100% oil-free operation for air power in its weaving operations. According to general manager, Mr. Arshad, the use of oil-free air is essential for quality production without the risk of oil contamination to the yarns.  “The three compressors play a key role in the weaving process,” he said, continuing, “they ensure a premium quality for our export ‘grey’ fabrics.”

“It is essential that we pass through the production process without the risk of any oil contamination of the woven fabrics.”

Installed for 24/7 operation, the compressors replace a competitive ‘marque’ oil-injected compressor to meet an increased air demand and provide a 10% energy and maintenance saving compared with the replacement compressor.

The decision was taken to install three Atlas Copco ZH 7000-5’s to meet the predicted increased production air power requirements by Orient Textile. With the original compressor only able to supply 40 m³/min, the three new units provide 105 m³/min around the clock 24/7.

“We are very satisfied with the performance of the Atlas Copco compressors plus we have also been able to reduce the energy maintenance costs.” Said Mr. Arshad.

“The oil-injected compressors, for example, required oil changes every 6000 hours plus regular filter changes in the separator. In comparison, the new Atlas Copco compressors, being oil-free, require no separators or filters,” he added.

Centrifugal 7000-5 compressor

Supplied by the local agent AVS, the Atlas Copco compressors are considered to be the most advanced centrifugals  available offering low installations, operating and maintenance costs with the highest ease of use and dependability.

As a complete ‘plug-in and play’ compressor, the unit  requires  no special foundation, anchor bolts or additional vibration dampening. The compressors require minimal floor space with the complete unit being mounted on a single bed frame. All three compressors operating 24/7 provide a total of 453,600 m³/day at 7  bar.

Al-Karam Group

As a pioneer in Pakistan’s textile industry, the Al-Karam Group can trace its origins back two generations with textiles remaining the central focus of its diverse activities including dairy products.

The Al-Karam Textile Mills Co. was established in 1986 to offer a fully integrated facility including fiber manufacture, spinning, weaving, knitting, dyeing and stitching. Orient Textile Mills Ltd, based in Karachi as part of the Al-Karam Group, specializes in manufacturing 100% ‘grey’ fabric utilizing more than 200 air jet weaving machines. It produces 1.6 mm per month in a range of fabrics between 50-220 gsm with yarn counts of Ne 7 to Ne 120.

The company’s woven fabrics are used for a wide range of bed sheets, curtains, tea covers and Jacquard designs; production is 60% for the US and European export markets and the remaining 40% is used for in-house processing and the domestic market.