Kirloskar Pneumatic Company Limited (KPCL) has commercially launched what it describes as India's first oil-free water-injected screw compressor, branded HYDRINO. The announcement was made in Bengaluru on 25 February 2026, with the Foundation for Science Innovation and Development (FSID) at the Indian Institute of Science (IISc) citing its role in the product's development.

The compressor meets ISO 8573 Class 0 standards — the industry benchmark for oil-free air — making it applicable to pharmaceuticals, food and beverage processing, and electronics manufacturing, where air contaminants can compromise product quality or safety.

HYDRINO uses water in place of oil for cooling, sealing, and lubrication within the compression chamber and bearing system. According to KPCL, this design delivers contaminant-free compressed air while maintaining energy efficiency, low noise levels, and a compact footprint suited to continuous industrial operation.

The technology was developed indigenously by KPCL with grant funding from India's Ministry of Heavy Industries. Technical mentorship was provided through Pravriddhi, a pan-India product accelerator run by FSID at IISc, Bengaluru, which supports domestic manufacturing development in alignment with the government's Viksit Bharat 2047 initiative.

Neeraj Asati, General Manager and Head of Hydrogen Business and Technology at KPCL, said the structured support from Pravriddhi helped the company accelerate development and validate the technology against global standards.

Oil-free compressors have historically been dominated by European and Japanese manufacturers. The domestic development of a compressor meeting ISO Class 0 standards represents a shift in India's industrial manufacturing capability, reducing reliance on imported equipment in a segment where demand has grown with the expansion of pharmaceutical and food processing industries.

Pravriddhi was established by FSID to bridge the gap between academic research and commercial manufacturing. The programme works with industry partners across sectors to bring domestically developed products to market and strengthen India's position as a manufacturing base.