Description
The Atlas Copco GA 26 is the 26 kW / 35 hp screw compressor of the oil-injected range, built for workshops that want industrial rotary screw technology in the smallest possible footprint. The model exists in two branches: the GA 26 of the compact GA 11-26 series with five pressure versions from 7.5 to 16 bar(e), and the GA 26+ of the upgraded GA 11+-30 series with up to 85.7 l/s and a higher flow on the same motor rating.
The compact GA 26 delivers up to 72.9 l/s and weighs 500 kg as a Standard WorkPlace build, which puts the machine into rooms that no larger compressor can enter. Both branches post 68 dB(A) and carry a 5-year factory warranty or 24,000 hours of operation, whichever comes first, after registration.
The five pressure versions make the GA 26 the widest pressure band of the small class: one machine plans the whole ladder from 7.5 bar workshop air to 16 bar dedicated high-pressure duty. The sections below keep the two branches side by side so the choice between the compact series and the upgraded series follows the flow and control needs of the plant.
Where the GA 26 Fits in the Oil-Injected Range
The GA 26 is the top model of the compact GA 11-26 series, one step above the GA 22, and the GA 26+ holds the same position in the upgraded GA 11+-30 series below the GA 30. Plants choose it when the demand sits between the small workshop class and the 30 kW entry, or when a high-pressure network of up to 16 bar needs its own supply without a second machine type. The compact branch maximizes economy and footprint, while the plus branch adds flow, the touchscreen controller generation and the 3 degrees Celsius dryer of the upgraded series.
What Standard and FF Mean
The GA 26 comes as a Standard build with the element, gear drive, cooling system and controller inside the sound-proofed WorkPlace canopy, and as an FF build that adds the refrigerant dryer and the loss-free condensate drain inside the same enclosure. The FF build delivers dry air at a pressure dew point of 5 degrees Celsius and leaves the machine as a plug-and-play station that avoids the installation work of an external treatment chain.
The GA 26+ FF holds a pressure dew point of 3 degrees Celsius, and both FF builds accept built-in filter stages that polish the residual oil content down to 0.01 ppm.
Technical Specifications of the GA 26
The table below condenses the two branches into their headline figures:
| Parameter | Value |
|---|---|
| Installed motor power | 26 kW / 35 hp |
| Branches | GA 26 (GA 11-26 series); GA 26+ (GA 11+-30 series) |
| Working pressure versions | Compact branch: 7.5 / 8.5 / 10.5 / 13 / 16 bar(e); GA 26+: 7.5 / 8.5 / 10.5 / 13 bar(e) |
| Free air delivery | up to 72.9 l/s (compact branch); up to 85.7 l/s (GA 26+) |
| Noise level | 68 dB(A) on both branches |
| Weight | 500 / 558 kg (Standard / FF); 571 / 629 kg (GA 26+ Standard / FF) |
| Dimensions | Compact branch: 1225 x 695 x 1475 mm; GA 26+: 1267 x 790 x 1590 mm |
| Outlet connection | G1″ |
GA 26 50 Hz Pressure Versions
Unit performance of the compact branch is specified per pressure version, with the maximum working pressure of the Standard build quoted next to the reduced value of the FF build, whose dryer takes a small share of the pressure. The reference conditions are an absolute inlet pressure of 1 bar and an intake air temperature of 20 degrees Celsius:
| Max. working pressure, Standard / FF | FAD (l/s) | FAD (m³/min) | FAD (cfm) | Motor power |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 7.5 bar(e) / 109 psig — FF 7.3 bar(e) / 105 psig | 72.9 | 4.37 | 154.4 | 26 kW / 35 hp |
| 8.5 bar(e) / 123 psig — FF 8.3 bar(e) / 120 psig | 68.1 | 4.09 | 144.2 | 26 kW / 35 hp |
| 10.5 bar(e) / 152 psig — FF 10.3 bar(e) / 149 psig | 61.5 | 3.69 | 130.3 | 26 kW / 35 hp |
| 13 bar(e) / 189 psig — FF 12.8 bar(e) / 185 psig | 54.7 | 3.28 | 115.9 | 26 kW / 35 hp |
| 16 bar(e) / 232 psig — FF 15.8 bar(e) / 229 psig | 49.3 | 2.96 | 104.5 | 26 kW / 35 hp |
GA 26+ 50 Hz Pressure Versions
The plus branch runs the upgraded flow path of the GA 11+-30 series and delivers its FAD across four pressure versions:
| Max. working pressure, Standard / FF | FAD (l/s) | FAD (m³/min) | FAD (cfm) | Motor power |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 7.5 bar(e) / 109 psig — FF 7.3 bar(e) / 105 psig | 85.7 | 5.14 | 181.5 | 26 kW / 35 hp |
| 8.5 bar(e) / 123 psig — FF 8.3 bar(e) / 120 psig | 82.0 | 4.92 | 173.7 | 26 kW / 35 hp |
| 10.5 bar(e) / 152 psig — FF 10.3 bar(e) / 149 psig | 76.5 | 4.59 | 162.0 | 26 kW / 35 hp |
| 13 bar(e) / 189 psig — FF 12.8 bar(e) / 185 psig | 66.4 | 3.98 | 140.6 | 26 kW / 35 hp |
The noise level of 68 dB(A) applies to every pressure version of both branches, determined as the A-weighted emission sound pressure level at the work station according to ISO 2151. That figure lets the GA 26 stand beside workbenches and assembly cells, and workshops keep the machine inside the production room instead of building a separate compressor bay.
Dimensions and Weight
The compact branch measures 1225 mm deep, 695 mm wide and 1475 mm high, and weighs 500 kg as a Standard build, with the FF build between 554 and 558 kg depending on the pressure version. The GA 26+ measures 1267 mm deep, 790 mm wide and 1590 mm high and weighs 571 kg as a Standard build and 629 kg as an FF build. Both branches leave the factory on a G1″ outlet connection, and the sub-meter width of the compact branch fits through standard doors and onto mezzanine floors that exclude conventional industrial compressors.
Drive System and Rotors
New Rotors and IE2/IE3 Motors
The GA 26 works with new compression rotors paired with IE2 and IE3 high-efficiency motors, a combination built for robust daily duty. The drive is gear-driven, which transfers the motor power to the element with higher efficiency and easier serviceability than a belt-driven design, and the gear-driven system gives the machine its high reliability across the service life. The whole drive train sits totally enclosed inside the canopy, protected against dirt and dust.
The GA 26+ Motor and Cabinet
The GA 26+ carries the upgraded drive chain of the GA 11+-30 series with IE3 and IE4 efficiency motors, and its motor bearings are grease-lubricated for life, which removes them from the maintenance schedule entirely. The upgraded flow path of this series lifted the free air delivery noticeably against the previous generation, and the machine meets Grade 1 of the GB19153-2019 energy efficiency standard. The electrical cabinet is force-cooled to hold the component temperature down and extend the lifetime of the electronics, and the innovative fan design cuts the fan power draw while controlling the noise emission of the machine.
Control and Monitoring
Elektronikon Slide-Key Controller
The compact branch is operated from the Elektronikon Slide-Key controller, whose built-in intelligent algorithms optimize the system pressure and reduce the overall energy consumption of the installation. Remote start and stop, fault alarms and maintenance reminders are included, and the built-in SMARTLINK remote monitoring keeps the machine status visible in real time. The controller keeps the header pressure inside a narrow band, which stabilizes the network and trims the energy bill at the same time.
Elektronikon Touch and Multi-Unit Control
The GA 26+ runs the Elektronikon touchscreen generation with smart algorithms, remote start and stop, alarm output, maintenance scheduling and network diagnostics, and SMARTLINK remote monitoring on board. The controller holds two pressure bands that can be switched manually or automatically, and the Delayed Second Stop function keeps the motor off until the pressure really calls for it, which removes unnecessary unloaded running from low-load hours. An optional integrated compressor controller coordinates installations of two, four or six machines, so a GA 26+ can anchor a small compressor room without an external sequencer.
Oil Separation and Air Quality
The vertical oil-air separator of the compact branch reduces the oil carryover and keeps the compressed air clean, and its optimized size minimizes the air loss during load and unload cycles. The independent cooling fan and the high-efficiency cooler hold the oil temperature in the right window across the duty cycle.
The FF builds integrate the refrigerant dryer with a loss-free electronic drain valve, so the condensate leaves the machine without wasting compressed air, and the dryer uses the environmentally friendly R134a refrigerant. With the built-in Class 1 internal filter the delivered air reaches a residual oil content of 0.01 ppm, and optional filters complete the treatment chain for quality-critical applications.
Energy Recovery and the 5-Year Warranty
During compression up to 90 percent of the electrical input turns into heat, and the integrated energy recovery system returns up to 75 percent of that input power as hot water without any impact on the compressor operation. The recovered heat feeds auxiliary heating, industrial processes and sanitation facilities, which shortens the payback of the installation. On top of the energy side, the machine carries a 5-year factory warranty or 24,000 hours of actual operation, whichever comes first, once the machine is registered after installation and commissioning.
Applications of the GA 26
The GA 26 covers the daily duties of workshops and smaller production plants: job shops, packaging and filling stations, laboratories, tire shops and service businesses that draw compressed air all day. The 10.5 and 13 bar versions serve high-pressure users such as pressure testing benches and die cutting, and the 16 bar version of the compact branch covers dedicated high-pressure networks that no other model of this class reaches.
Workshops that currently run an aging piston compressor move to this machine for the rotary screw efficiency, the 68 dB(A) noise level and the sealed gear drive. Plants that outgrow the flow of the GA 26 stay in the same series logic and step into the GA 30, which tops the upgraded range with up to 93.3 l/s.
Service and Support Around the GA 26
The gear-driven transmission of the GA 26 makes the routine services a short planned stop, and the controller reports the maintenance reminders before a consumable reaches its limit, with SMARTLINK keeping the service organization informed remotely.
Options such as the high-temperature model for 55 degrees Celsius as a Pack, food-grade oil, synthetic oil, a dryer bypass, a condensate separator with automatic drain and on-site witness testing adapt the machine to special environments and quality demands. Seadweer supports the GA 26 and both of its branches with original spare parts, service kits and technical documentation for every pressure version.
FAQ
Which pressure versions does the GA 26 offer?
The compact branch is available in 7.5, 8.5, 10.5, 13 and 16 bar(e) versions, and the 26+ in 7.5, 8.5, 10.5 and 13 bar(e) versions. The FF builds trade a small amount of maximum working pressure for the integrated dryer.
How much air does the GA 26 deliver?
The GA 26 delivers up to 72.9 l/s (154.4 cfm) at 7.5 bar and 49.3 l/s at 16 bar. The GA 26+ delivers up to 85.7 l/s (181.5 cfm) at 7.5 bar on the same 26 kW motor rating.
What is the difference between the GA 26 and the GA 26+?
Both branches share the 26 kW / 35 hp motor rating and the 68 dB(A) noise level. The GA 26 offers the five-version pressure ladder up to 16 bar(e), while the GA 26+ adds the upgraded flow path with up to 85.7 l/s, the Elektronikon touchscreen generation and the 3 degrees Celsius dryer.
What is the difference between Standard and FF?
Standard is the complete compressor without integrated air treatment, while FF integrates the refrigerant dryer and the loss-free condensate drain inside the same canopy. The FF build delivers a pressure dew point of 5 degrees Celsius on the GA 26 and 3 degrees Celsius on the GA 26+.
How loud is the GA 26?
The sound pressure level at the work station is 68 dB(A) for every pressure version of both branches, determined according to ISO 2151. That level allows the machine to sit close to production and assembly areas.
How heavy is the GA 26?
The GA 26 weighs 500 kg as a Standard build and between 554 and 558 kg as an FF build. The GA 26+ weighs 571 kg as a Standard build and 629 kg as an FF build.
Carlos Mendoza –
Our workshop runs on 8 bar, but the pressure testing bench in the corner needs its own supply, and we did not want a second compressor type in the room. The GA 26 solved both duties with one machine ordered in the 16 bar version. It sits between the racks on less than half a square meter, the noise never interrupts phone calls, and the controller reminds us about service intervals before anything slips. Seadweer checked our two pressure levels against the five versions before we ordered.