Schulz 15120HW60-3 Oil-Free Two-Stage Air Compressor, 120 Gallon

Every other stationary compressor in this range lubricates its pump with oil, and a small amount of that oil goes downstream with the air. That is normal, it is what filters and separators exist to manage, and for a tyre gun or a die grinder it does not matter. For a dental surgery, a laboratory, a food or packaging line, or a process where a trace of oil ruins the work, it matters completely — and no amount of filtration is the same as an air path with no oil in it to begin with.

The 15120HW60-3 is the oil-free machine in the line. Its cast iron pump runs dry, turning at 880 RPM on a belt drive, delivering 60 CFM at 90 PSI from a 120-gallon horizontal tank behind a 15 HP motor. Maximum pressure is 120 PSI.

Oil-free is a design, not an accessory

An oil-lubricated pump relies on an oil film between the piston rings and the cylinder wall to seal and to carry heat away. Some of that oil inevitably passes the rings, becomes aerosol in the hot discharge air, and travels into the receiver and the line. Coalescing filters remove most of it. Most is not none, and filters that are past their service life remove considerably less than the shop believes they do.

A dry pump removes the question. There is no oil in the compression chamber, so there is no oil to carry, no oil-laden condensate at the drain, and no filter element standing between your process and a contaminated batch. The trade-off is honest and worth stating: an oil-free pump runs hotter and noisier than a lubricated one, because oil damps and cools as well as lubricates, and it is generally a shorter-lived design. Low speed is how this machine mitigates that. At 880 RPM the pump makes its air with far fewer cycles per hour than a high-speed unit, which is the main lever available on an oil-free design for both wear and heat.

The tank is coated on the inside

The 120-gallon horizontal steel receiver carries an internal antibacterial powder coating. That is an unusual specification and it belongs on the same page as the oil-free pump, because both address the same worry. A compressor tank is a warm, wet, dark steel vessel with condensate sitting in the bottom of it, which is an excellent place for biological growth and for rust. An internal coating attacks both, and it is the difference between an air system that is clean at the pump and one that is clean at the outlet.

The construction is epoxy coated to resist corrosion of the pump and tank, and the machine is fitted with an aftercooler, which drops the discharge temperature before the air reaches the receiver so that most of the condensate falls out at the tank drain rather than downstream. There is an intake air filter and a pressure gauge. An air dryer is not included.

Before you order: two things to check

• No magnetic starter is supplied. The specification sheet records the magnetic starter as not fitted, which is a real difference from the other stationary Schulz models we sell — most of those arrive with the starter mounted and prewired. Budget for a correctly rated starter and its installation as part of the project, not as an afterthought.
• Check whether the regulator is fitted. The manufacturer's feature list describes a built-in regulator switch; the specification sheet records the filter regulator as not fitted. If a built-in regulator is part of why you are buying this machine, confirm it with us before ordering on 866-774-7743.

Power and circuit

The machine is a three-phase unit and the specification sheet gives its supply as 208-230/460V. Schulz publishes a recommended 60 Amp breaker for it, which is more information than the company gives for most of the range and is useful at the quoting stage — but it is a starting point for your electrician, not an instruction. The correct branch circuit, disconnect, starter and grounding for your building, installed to code by a licensed electrician, is the buyer's responsibility, and it must be sized for the supply voltage the unit is actually connected to.

Will it fit?

The compressor is 78" long, 29" wide and 51" high, and it weighs 980 lbs. That is a horizontal machine that wants a run of wall rather than a corner. The 51" height keeps the pump and the tank drain at a comfortable working level and clears low structure, and the 29" width is manageable through most shop access routes.

Set it on level concrete with clear air around the pump. In a clinic, office or laboratory installation, remember that this is still a compressor — plan for the noise and for the tank drain, and give the machine its own space rather than a cupboard. The tank outlet is 1".

Perfect for

• Clinics and dental practices, where oil in the air supply is unacceptable rather than inconvenient.
• Laboratories and offices running instrumentation or pneumatic equipment on clean air.
• Critical industrial processes — packaging, coating, electronics — where a trace of oil scraps the work.
• Food and beverage operations where the air touches product or product contact surfaces.
• Any facility replacing a lubricated compressor that has been contaminating a process nobody could trace.

What is in the box

From the manufacturer's description and specification sheet: the oil-free belt-drive cast iron pump with Swedish steel valves, the 15 HP electric motor, the 120-gallon horizontal steel air tank with its internal antibacterial powder coating, an ASME safety valve and tank drain, an aftercooler, a pressure gauge, and an intake air filter. A magnetic starter, an air dryer and an electronic drain valve are recorded as not included. Air piping, fittings, the starter and all electrical hookup materials are not supplied.

Specifications

Ratings, stated plainly

The specification sheet for this model records both an ASME rating and a UL mark, and the manufacturer's copy names the ASME safety valve and tank drain specifically. That is a stronger paper position than most of the compressors we sell, and it is worth understanding exactly what each part covers: ASME is the pressure-vessel standard applied to the tank and the safety valve, and the mark recorded alongside it points to an electrical safety evaluation. We hold the manufacturer's specification entry rather than the listing document itself. If your installation is in a clinic, a laboratory or any regulated environment where an inspector will want to see the certificate rather than a line on a spec sheet, ask us to obtain the paperwork before you order. In a regulated setting that is a question worth asking early.

Shipping and delivery

Freight only, to the lower 48 states. At 980 lbs this comes off the truck with equipment: a loading dock, a forklift, or collection from the carrier's local terminal. Delivery is curbside and unloading is the receiver's responsibility. Delivery to a residential address carries a residential fee, quoted live at checkout. Pickup for Schulz equipment is available in Acworth, GA.

Inspect the shipment at the truck before signing. Look for punctures, crushed corners, banding that has moved, and any sign the pallet has been dropped, and write every defect on the bill of lading while the driver is still on site. A clean signature is treated as confirmation that the machine arrived undamaged, and reversing that later is difficult. Take photographs as the crate comes off.

Warranty and support

This model carries a 1 Year limited warranty, recorded on the specification sheet as 1 Year for both consumer and commercial use. Do not dismantle the pump before a claim is opened — once it is apart the manufacturer can no longer assess the failure as it occurred, and that is the first thing a warranty process examines. Call, text or chat with us on 866-774-7743 and we will tell you what to record and who to contact.