Air Compressors & Halloween Candy: A Spooky Connection?

The invention of centrifugal air compressors dates back about 100 years ago. At that time, candy manufacturers were also trying to find the perfect holiday or season to promote more candy sales. A few unknown holidays were invented, Sweetest Day and Candy Day, but neither became popular. 

During the 1920s and 1930s, the tradition of trick or treating started to emerge. However, due to the outbreak of World War II, sugar rationing created a shortage of treats. In the 1940s, with sugar rationing no longer an issue, candy companies began launching advertising campaigns geared towards Halloween.

As centrifugal air compressors became more popular, the introduction of oil-free centrifugal compressors was a game-changer in food and beverage manufacturing. In the early 1970s, pre-packaged candy became the number one choice, and the official Halloween treats for kids. 

Candy Processing & Manufacturing Requires Oil-Free Air

One of FS-Elliott’s favorite installation locations is a well-known candy manufacturer in the Asia Pacific that helps fulfill the world’s candy needs. Their demand for new air compressors continues to grow as the company expands and manufactures more sweets and other food and beverage products. Their most popular installation model is FS-Elliott’s P300, a member of our Polaris series, ideal for manufacturers looking for small, reliable, and economical options for producing oil-free compressed air. 

 For our candy maker, the need for the highest air quality can be split into two categories: instrument air and plant or process air. The facility will need the instrument air to be oil-free for cleaning, packing, and sorting candy.  The plant or process air is used for other areas of the plant; this air category never comes into contact with the finished candy products. Both processes follow the ISO 8573-1 Class 0 oil-free air to ensure the cleanest air and environment for their products and plant. FS-Elliott’s high-quality, centrifugal compressors remove the risk of oil contamination and deliver much-needed clean air. 

Particles (debris), water (humidity), and oil are the primary impurities that can be found in ambient air (see Table 1). Ensuring that these contaminants are eliminated from compressed air is crucial across many industries, including food and beverage, pharmaceutical, and other industries that require oil-free air. 

Without properly controlling the contaminants, candy and other products may be exposed to oil, moisture, and other particles that could lead to mold and bacteria growth. The impurities could affect the quality and taste of the candy, but most importantly, it could lead to customer illness, recalls, and damage to their brand’s reputation.

To summarize, did centrifugal air compressors help promote the popularity of pre-packaged candy for Halloween? Probably not. But we do know that oil-free, centrifugal air compressors improve the manufacturing process and ensure that oil-free air is readily available to safely make the sugary treats we love! 

For more information on the manufacturing benefits of ISO 8573-1 Class 0, oil-free air please visit our What Can Oil Free Compressors Do for Your Plant blog post or contact us today to discuss your operations.