Gardner Denver Air Compressors For Sale
Gardner Denver is well-known for its commercial air compressors and other products. In this detailed buyer’s guide, we will review what makes Gardner Denver so popular, what kind of compressors do they manufacture, and what you should consider before purchasing a Gardner Denver.
Finally, we will review the best Gardner Denver air compressors based on HP, CFM, and other criteria. The quality of Gardner Denver air compressors can be shown by the recent acquisition(source).
The Gardner Denver air brand was acquired by its biggest rival–Ingersol Rand. We will look into what that means to new buyers and existing users of Gardner Denver Air Compressors.
Gardner Denver 15 HP Air Compressors For Sale
Gardner Denver 30 HP Air Compressors For Sale
Gardner Denver 40 HP Air Compressors For Sale
Best Gardner Denver Air Compressors
Product name | Gallons | HP | CFM |
---|---|---|---|
Champion 10HP Piston Two Stage Reciprocating Air Compressor | 120-gallons | 10hp | 34.8cfm@175psi |
CASRA 10hp 85 Gallon Stage Reciprocating Air Compressor 3ph | 85-gallons | 10hp | 35cfm |
CASRSA28 2 Stage Air Compressor 120 Gal Horizontal 10hp 34.8cfm | 120-gallons | 10hp | 34.8cfm@175psi |
The Company
Gardner Denver started up in 1883 and sells under Elmo Rietschle, Champion Pneumatic, and Robuschi. They also specialize in air compressors.
What Type of Air Compressors Does Gardner Denver Make?
Lubricated Reciprocating
If you run a woodworking shop, construction site, or any other industrial facility, you will want to look into a lubricated reciprocating compressor.
These compressors have the strength to operate in these heavy-duty environments. They have lower maintenance costs and are best for on and off operation.
These are very energy efficient and can operate just fine at partial loads These types of piston compressors are better than rotary compressors as they are more dependable in rough conditions.

Rotary Screw Compressors
Rotary Screw Air Compressors utilize a displacement principle. The screw compression element consists of rotors that are male and female. They move towards one another while there is a decrease in the volume between them and the housing.
There are no valves in the screw element, which means no mechanical forces to create imbalances. It can work at higher speeds than other compressors.
Oil-Free Compressors
These 100% oil-free compressors have absolutely no trace of oil in any part of the compressor. The screws are water-injected and can be water-cooled or air-cooled.
They are energy efficient and can meet the needs of a wide variety of industries.

W-Type Reciprocating Air Compressors
Locomotive reciprocating compressors are used for locomotive accessories and air & vacuum braking systems. These compressors ensure that the locomotive performs at the highest rate possible each day.
What Motor Does Gardner Denver Use?
Gardner Denver uses Bellis & Morcom shaftless motors. These motors are shameless, meaning the rotor is connected directly to the crankshaft. This allows the running gear to obtain 100% of the motor’s output power.
You may find that most conventional motors use belt-driven systems, running with inefficiencies between 5-7%. As the belt wears and it loses friction, this rate can rise to 12%. This could cost upwards of $50,000 per year in energy that went to waste.
Compressors with Bellis & Morcom motors are rated above 100 kW with the shaftless motor technology. There is absolutely no degradation over the lifetime of the equipment.
SEE ALSO: Gardner Denver Fault Codes
What to Consider Before Purchasing a Compressor from Gardner Denver
Before you finalize your decision on a commercial air compressor, there are a few things you should consider first.

Type of Compressor
You have to think about the type of compressor you want, such as these:
- Reciprocating
- Rotary
- Oil-free
- Oil-lubricated
- Variable speed
- Fixed speed
It’s also important to consider the price between prices and brands. Energy accounts for more than ⅔ of the total cost of the ownership of the air system.
The total cost of ownership includes service and maintenance as well as energy costs. So remember, cheaper isn’t always better.
Technology
You have to also consider the technology of the compressor. One technology may not always be the best for a specific application.
There are a few technology choices that aren’t compatible with anything lower than 10 HP. If the requirement for air is intermittent, a reciprocating compressor is t ideal choice.

As the specifics for the application change, the choice of technology will change as well. If a compressor is being used with the wrong application, performance is going to be sub-par.
Final Verdict
Gardner Denver offers much more than just air compressors. They have air treatment products, locomotive reciprocating compressors, condensate management, high/medium pressure reciprocating compressors, process chillers, nitrogen generators, laboratory equipment.