The GA 22+ VSD rotary screw compressor from Atlas Copco AB - variable-speed workhorse for energy-conscious plants
23.06.2026 - 00:28:39 | ad-hoc-news.de
Reviewed: ad hoc news Bestseller & Flagship desk. Edited and checked on 2026-06-23, 00:27. Details in the imprint.
When the GA 22+ VSD rotary screw compressor from Atlas Copco AB spins up in a workshop, you hear a steady, low hum instead of a harsh roar, and the floor barely vibrates under your boots.
Variable speed at 22 kW
The GA 22+ VSD sits in the heart of Atlas Copco's oil-injected rotary screw line with a nominal motor power of 22 kW and working pressures typically up to 13 bar. The official product page lists variable-speed drive and an integrated dryer as key options.
According to product manager Daniel Alfven at Atlas Copco, variable-speed compressors like the GA VSD range can cut energy use by up to 35 percent versus fixed-speed models in fluctuating demand profiles, because the motor slows when the line does not need full flow.
Designed for tight factory corners
The cabinet of the GA 22+ VSD follows the GA VSD+ vertical layout, with the motor and drive stacked to reduce footprint and allow technicians to walk close in narrow aisles. Access panels open wide, so you can reach filters and the oil separator without squeezing your arms into hot metal gaps.
Atlas Copco highlights noise levels as low as roughly 62 to 67 dB(A) for comparable GA VSD+ mid-range units, which makes normal conversation possible a few meters away without shouting over the machine.
Background on Atlas Copco AB shares
The GA 22+ VSD sits in Atlas Copco's core compressor portfolio, which remains a key pillar behind the valuation of Atlas Copco AB shares.
Controls and connectivity
The GA 22+ VSD uses Atlas Copco's Elektronikon controller, with a color display that shows pressure, running hours, and energy use at a glance. Operators in a Swedish plant described the menu structure as tidy, with clear alarm codes instead of cryptic numbers.
Through the SmartLink connectivity service, the compressor can send operating data to the cloud for remote monitoring and predictive maintenance. Atlas Copco says that this allows service teams to spot trends in temperature or pressure before they turn into unplanned stops.
Energy and lifecycle costs
Atlas Copco's compressor division, led by business area president Vagner Rego, repeats in presentations that energy makes up more than 70 percent of a compressor's total cost of ownership over its life. That puts variable-speed models like the GA 22+ VSD in the center of customers' decarbonisation efforts.
Case studies from mid-size factories report payback times of roughly two to three years when replacing older fixed-speed units with GA VSD technology, mostly through lower electricity bills rather than headline purchase price savings.
Where it fits in the range
Within the GA VSD+ portfolio, the 22 kW class is a mid-pack workhorse between smaller workshop units and larger machines for heavy steel or automotive plants. Compressed air specialists often pair a GA 22+ VSD with a fixed-speed backup compressor for redundancy during maintenance windows or peak load situations.
Atlas Copco positions the GA 22+ VSD for general industry, from furniture manufacturing to food packaging, rather than niche high-purity or oil-free applications, where its Z-series oil-free compressors take the lead instead. The oil-free Z range overview highlights these separate use cases.
Context and Atlas Copco AB shares
Atlas Copco is headquartered in Nacka, Sweden, with compressors forming the largest part of group revenue and profit. Recent financial presentations show steady demand for energy-efficient compressed air solutions despite macro softness in some end markets.
Atlas Copco AB shares (ISIN SE0011166610) are listed on Nasdaq Stockholm, but a reliably current price and timestamp for the A line cannot be independently verified at this moment, so no specific intraday quote is reported here.
Key facts on the GA 22+ VSD compressor
- Product: GA 22+ VSD rotary screw compressor
- Manufacturer: Atlas Copco AB (publ)
- Category: Flagship oil-injected rotary screw compressor
- Launch: Part of the GA VSD+ family introduced in the mid-2010s, with continuing updates
- RRP / Price: Project-based industrial pricing, typically in the mid five-figure euro range depending on configuration
- Availability: Sold via Atlas Copco direct sales and distributors worldwide, with strong presence in Europe and Asia-Pacific
- Target group: Small to mid-size industrial plants needing continuous-duty compressed air with fluctuating demand
- Highlight / USP: Variable-speed drive and compact vertical layout for lower energy use and smaller footprint
This article was AI-assisted and editorially reviewed. Product information without guarantee; prices and availability may change at short notice. No investment advice, no buy or sell recommendation. Stock-market transactions involve risks up to total loss.
