Description
The Atlas Copco GA 160 is the fixed speed model with the largest motor in the GA 90-160 oil-injected platform. It runs at a constant speed and covers the air demand through three pressure versions in each supply frequency, with free air delivery between 439 and 529 l/s. The package comes as a basic Pack or as a Full Feature with an integrated refrigerant dryer, in an air-cooled or a water-cooled layout.
Where the GA 160 Fits in the Fixed Speed Range
The GA 90-160 series tops the oil-injected screw range, and within it the GA 160 carries the largest installed motor rating of the fixed speed models. Plants that draw a steady base load of compressed air pick this machine because a constant speed keeps the operating pattern simple: the element runs, the Elektronikon controller holds the pressure band, and the package gets on with its work.
Three pressure versions cover the classic plant-air bands. The 7.5 bar version serves general manufacturing at its most common setting, the 8.5 bar version adds headroom for longer pipe runs and heavier tool duty, and the 10 bar version carries high-pressure tooling and process equipment. At 60 Hz the same ladder appears as the 100, 125 and 150 psi versions.
Pack or Full Feature
Every pressure version combines with two scopes. The Pack is the compressor alone, ready to feed a plant that treats its air in a separate room. The Full Feature integrates the refrigerant dryer inside the package, so drying happens at the same footprint and the plant skips the installation work for wires and pipes that a standalone dryer needs.
Technical Specifications of the GA 160
The table below condenses the GA 160 into its headline figures:
| Parameter | Value |
|---|---|
| Model | Atlas Copco GA 160 |
| Compressor type | Oil-injected rotary screw, air-cooled or water-cooled |
| Capacity control | Fixed speed |
| Installed motor power | 160 hp (50 Hz) / 215 hp (60 Hz) |
| Pressure versions | 7.5, 8.5 and 10 bar (50 Hz); 100, 125 and 150 psi (60 Hz) |
| Free air delivery | 439-529 l/s (26.3-31.7 m³/min / 930-1,121 cfm) |
| Sound level | 78 dB(A) at the work station |
| Dew point, Full Feature | 3°C / 37°F at dryer reference conditions |
| Drive train protection | IP66 |
Rated Data at 50 Hz
Each 50 Hz version of the GA 160 is listed at one rating, and the FAD of every version is measured at its reference working pressure: 7 bar for the 7.5 bar version, 8 bar for the 8.5 bar version and 9.5 bar for the 10 bar version. Performance follows ISO 1217, Annex C, Edition 4 (2009), with the inlet at 1 bar (14.5 psi) absolute and 20°C (68°F):
| Model | Max working pressure | FAD (l/s) | FAD (m³/min) | FAD (cfm) | Motor power | Noise |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| GA 160 – 7.5 bar | 7.5 bar(e) / 109 psig | 525 | 31.5 | 1,112 | 160 hp | 78 dB(A) |
| GA 160 – 8.5 bar | 8.5 bar(e) / 123 psig | 495 | 29.7 | 1,049 | 160 hp | 78 dB(A) |
| GA 160 – 10 bar | 10 bar(e) / 145 psig | 460 | 27.6 | 975 | 160 hp | 78 dB(A) |
The Full Feature versions carry a slightly lower maximum working pressure of 7.3, 8.3 and 9.8 bar(e), because the integrated dryer takes a share of the pressure band. The noise level stays at 78 dB(A) across all three versions.
Rated Data at 60 Hz
The 60 Hz versions repeat the structure with psi ratings, and the FAD of each version is measured at its own rated working pressure:
| Model | Max working pressure | FAD (l/s) | FAD (m³/min) | FAD (cfm) | Motor power | Noise |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| GA 160 – 100 psi | 7.4 bar(e) / 107 psig | 529 | 31.7 | 1,121 | 215 hp | 78 dB(A) |
| GA 160 – 125 psi | 9.1 bar(e) / 132 psig | 480 | 28.8 | 1,017 | 215 hp | 78 dB(A) |
| GA 160 – 150 psi | 10.9 bar(e) / 158 psig | 439 | 26.3 | 930 | 215 hp | 78 dB(A) |
Dimensions and Weight
The GA 160 shares the footprint of the whole GA 90-160 fixed speed line. The Standard package measures 2,500 × 1,785 × 2,020 mm (98.5 × 70.3 × 79.5 in), and the Full Feature stretches to 2,900 × 1,785 × 2,020 mm (114.2 × 70.3 × 79.5 in) to house the integrated dryer:
| Scope | Weight 50 Hz | Weight 60 Hz | Length | Width | Height |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Standard | 2,900 kg / 6,393 lb | 2,900 kg / 6,393 lb | 2,500 mm / 98.5 in | 1,785 mm / 70.3 in | 2,020 mm / 79.5 in |
| Full Feature | 3,300 kg / 7,275 lb | 3,250 kg / 7,165 lb | 2,900 mm / 114.2 in | 1,785 mm / 70.3 in | 2,020 mm / 79.5 in |
The package keeps a compact footprint for its duty class, and the door layout gives a technician a clear path to every service point.
Inside the Fixed Speed Pack
The fixed speed pack concentrates on doing one job without detours. SmartInjection meters the exact amount of oil the compression element needs, so the element works at peak efficiency across the operating conditions, and a separate oil flow feeds the bearings for longer life and greater uptime. The motor is an oil-cooled unit of IE4 class that requires no service interventions, and the oil circuit that cools it belongs to the same loop that conditions the element.
The package comes in an air-cooled and a water-cooled layout. The air-cooled Pack releases the compression heat into the ambient air through its cooler section and suits plants without a cooling-water loop. The water-cooled Full Feature connects to the cooling-water circuit on site, keeps the rejected heat out of the machine room, and pairs the integrated dryer with the same circuit. The rated figures of the GA 160 apply across both layouts, so the choice follows the infrastructure of the site.
IP66 Protection for Hard Sites
The drive train carries an IP66 rating, which seals it completely against environmental dust and moisture. Machines with this protection keep their rated performance at sites where contaminants in the air would otherwise enter the package and push energy consumption up. The same design tolerates ambient temperatures up to 55°C / 131°F.
The Full Feature Scope of the GA 160
Choosing Full Feature turns the GA 160 into a ready-to-use compact package. The refrigeration dryer sits fully integrated inside the package, holds a guaranteed pressure dew point of 3°C / 37°F at dryer reference conditions, and the relevant temperatures show on the Elektronikon display.
Save Cycle Control and Air Quality
Patented Save Cycle Control stops the dryer whenever the compressor is stopped or in unload mode, which removes the power draw of the dryer from the idle periods of the day. The dew point is monitored continuously, and the oil separation works through multiple smaller cartridges that simplify service and minimize oil carry over into the air stream.
Control and Monitoring
The Elektronikon Touch controller runs the GA 160 and keeps the pressure band where the plant needs it. The controller manages the load and unload pattern of the fixed speed machine, watches the operating temperatures, and stores the service counters that decide the next intervention. Over the ethernet connection, SMARTLINK adds remote monitoring of the machine state, and Optimizer 4.0 coordinates the GA 160 when it works alongside other compressors in a larger room.
Because the machine runs at one speed, the controller concentrates on the boundaries of the operating window rather than on a speed trajectory. It holds the working pressure under the maximum of the version, opens and closes the intake according to the demand of the plant, and keeps the unload periods short so the package spends its running time producing air. The service counters accumulate on the controller, and the same records drive the maintenance plan of the package.
Options for Specific Sites
A range of optional features adapts the package to the application:
- Continuous SPM Shock Pulse Measurement monitoring, connected to the Elektronikon, shows the individual condition of the rotating parts.
- An integrated energy recovery system with a stainless steel heat exchanger serves plants that can use warm water in their process.
- The Roto-Foodgrade oil option allows operation in industries like packaging, pharmaceutical and food, including installations around food processing areas.
- Performance can be witnessed against the Atlas Copco standard test procedure in accordance with ISO 1217.
Where the GA 160 Works
General industry forms the widest base for the GA 160. Pneumatic tools for cutting, drilling, hammering and grinding, pneumatic actuators and valves, ventilation systems and packing and palletizing machinery all draw from the same ring main, and a fixed speed machine with three pressure versions matches this mixed duty well.
Mining uses the GA 160 for dust bag filtration, service air, ventilation air and pneumatic tools, where the IP66 drive train and the robust package handle harsh conditions. Power plants keep the machine on soot blowing and fly ash handling in round-the-clock duty. Metal plants run it for instrumentation, plant air and the pneumatic conveying of raw materials, and cement works value the combination of sealed drive train, grouped service area and slide out coolers in a dust-laden environment.
Serviceability of the GA 160
Service time on the GA 160 is designed down, not up. All service parts sit grouped together for ease of access, and the patented portal design opens the package for full access to every component when a bigger job comes up. Each component is designed for serviceability, which halves the time required to service compared to traditional designs, and the coolers slide out for cleaning in dusty plants.
Seadweer supplies Atlas Copco spare parts and service kits for the installed base of the GA 160 and its Full Feature branches. For a replacement element on the oil-injected platform, see the OIS O-06 Oil-Injected Screw Element. Send us the compressor model together with the parts you need, and the correct items are confirmed with the quotation in one pass.
FAQ
Is the GA 160 a fixed speed compressor?
Yes. The GA 160 runs at constant speed, and the Elektronikon controller manages the pressure band through the load and unload pattern. The variable speed model of the same platform is the separate GA 160 VSD.
Which pressure versions does the GA 160 come in?
At 50 Hz the versions are the 7.5, 8.5 and 10 bar models, and at 60 Hz they are the 100, 125 and 150 psi versions. Every version is available as a Pack or as a Full Feature.
How much air does the GA 160 deliver?
Free air delivery spans 439 to 529 l/s (26.3 to 31.7 m³/min or 930 to 1,121 cfm) across the versions, measured according to ISO 1217, Annex C, Edition 4 (2009).
What is the difference between the Pack and the Full Feature?
The Pack is the compressor package on its own. The Full Feature integrates the refrigerant dryer, holds a guaranteed 3°C / 37°F pressure dew point, adds Save Cycle Control, and stretches the package by 400 mm in length.
How loud is the GA 160?
All versions sit at 78 dB(A) at the work station, the A-weighted emission sound pressure level measured according to ISO 2151 and ISO 9614.
Can the GA 160 work in dusty or hot environments?
Yes. The IP66 drive train seals out dust and moisture completely, the package tolerates ambient temperatures up to 55°C / 131°F, and the slide out coolers keep cleaning simple on dusty sites.
Lucas Meyer –
Our packaging hall runs on two GA 160 machines in the 8.5 bar Full Feature scope, and the integrated dryer holds the dew point without a separate unit beside the compressor. The service points sit grouped behind the portal, so a routine overhaul takes about half the time our old machines needed. Seadweer matched the pressure versions to our ring main and supplied the service kits on schedule.