Mattei Blade 1 — Inside the Compact Rotary Vane Compressor

Mattei Blade 1 — Inside the Compact Rotary Vane Compressor

A Small Compressor with True Industrial DNA

Compact, efficient, and remarkably quiet, the Mattei Blade 1 represents the perfect starting point in Mattei’s industrial rotary-vane range.
Although small in size, it’s built with the same technology and reliability standards as the company’s larger models. Designed for light industrial users, workshops, tyre centres, garages, and service facilities, the Blade 1 delivers dependable compressed air while keeping energy use and maintenance to an absolute minimum.

If you’d like to learn more about the design principles behind Mattei’s rotary-vane technology, visit our main page on Mattei Rotary Vane Air Compressors.

Engineered for Everyday Reliability

Each Blade 1 unit is powered by a 1.5 kW (2 horsepower) electric motor and delivers around 160 litres of free air per minute at 10 bar, equivalent to roughly 5.6 CFM.
Despite this performance, noise levels remain exceptionally low — only about 64 dB(A) — allowing the compressor to operate comfortably within the working area.

The Blade 1 is available in several configurations to suit different sites and power supplies.
Customers can choose between 230-volt single-phase and 400-volt three-phase versions, both running at a steady 1 500 rpm.
The compressor can be supplied as a base-mounted unit, or fitted to 90-litre or 200-litre receivers.
Even the largest 200-litre version weighs just over 120 kg and requires no foundations — it simply needs positioning on a level surface and connection to the air line and electrical supply.
A power cable is included, but no plug is fitted, allowing a qualified electrician to make the correct connection for the installation.

How the Blade 1 Works

At the heart of the Blade 1 is Mattei’s rotary-vane air end — a design refined over more than 90 years of research and development.
Inside the stator cylinder, a precision-machined rotor spins eccentrically. The rotor contains slots holding self-adjusting blades which slide outwards by centrifugal force, trapping and compressing air as the volume between the blades decreases.
A thin film of oil provides sealing, lubrication and cooling, ensuring smooth, pulse-free compression.
Because there are no reciprocating pistons, vibration and noise are minimal while efficiency remains consistently high.

Intelligent Design and Engineering

Several key features make the Blade 1 stand out in the small-compressor market:

• Direct coupling: the motor and compressor are connected 1:1 by an elastic joint, eliminating belts, tensioning and alignment issues.

• Anti-condensate valve: patented by Mattei, it prevents water from forming inside the oil chamber during short or infrequent duty cycles.

• Integrated cooling: a fan on the motor shaft directs air across finned oil chambers, dispersing heat evenly without a separate radiator.

• Three-stage air–oil separation: ensures exceptionally clean output air, with oil carry-over typically below 1 mg/m³.

• Comprehensive protection: automatic over-temperature and overload shutdown, plus safety pressure relief and low-voltage control circuits.

• Easy installation: supplied ready for connection — no foundations or alignment required.

Performance, Efficiency and Economy

Because of its slow-speed vane design, the Blade 1 typically consumes around 15 percent less energy than a comparable screw or piston compressor.
Air delivery is continuous, without pulses, and efficiency remains high across the pressure range.
The 10-bar working pressure provides ample reserve for most workshop tools, paint equipment and air-driven devices.
Its compact footprint and low noise make it ideal for installation directly in the workspace, removing the need for long pipe runs or a separate compressor room.

Low Maintenance by Design

One of the major advantages of rotary-vane technology is its mechanical simplicity.
There are no thrust bearings, no timing gears, and very few moving parts — just the rotor and blades.
Routine maintenance is minimal: periodic oil and filter changes, typically every 2 000 to 2 500 hours.
The Mattei Rotoroil lubricant, formulated specifically for vane compressors, provides excellent cooling and wear protection.
Each unit is supported by Mattei’s worldwide service network, ensuring parts availability and expert technical assistance throughout its life.

Typical Applications

The Blade 1 range suits a wide variety of light-industrial and professional users, including tyre and car-service centres, vehicle body and paint shops, joiners, carpenters, small manufacturing sites, laundries, bakers and laboratories.
Wherever clean, quiet and reliable compressed air is required, a Blade 1 fits the task perfectly.

Why West Midlands Compressors Ltd Recommends It

At West Midlands Compressors Ltd, we have installed and maintained many Blade 1 and Blade S 1 units across the UK.
They offer a level of reliability and build quality rarely seen in small compressors.
Compact, energy-efficient and easy to service, they are an ideal choice for businesses seeking industrial performance without industrial complexity.

Interested in seeing how a Mattei Blade 1 could work for your site? Contact our team today »