Catalog › Air Preparation (FRL) Units
Pneumatic FRL Units: Filter-Regulators, Lubricators and Air Preparation Sets
Two-stage (FR) and three-stage (FRL) air preparation units in 1/8"–1" sizes, filter-regulators, lubricators, precision regulators, spare bowls and FRL oil.
Air leaving a compressor carries three things: water, oil vapour and particles. Fed into a circuit untreated, they corrode valve spools, wear cylinder seals and clog silencers. The FRL group — filter, regulator, lubricator — sits at the inlet of a pneumatic circuit and deals with all three.
The unit has three stages. The filter passes the air through a cyclone chamber, collecting water droplets and coarse particles in the bottom of the bowl; the accumulated water is drained through a manual or automatic drain. The regulator reduces the variable line pressure to the fixed value the circuit needs and holds it there; the small gauge on top shows the setting. The lubricator adds a controlled mist of oil to the air, lubricating the internal surfaces of valves and cylinders.
Not every circuit needs all three stages. The filter + regulator pair (FR) is the most common arrangement, and most modern cylinders are lubricated for life and run without a lubricator. A lubricator is added for older cylinders, high cycle rates and percussive hand tools. Once lubrication has been started it should not be stopped: the oil washes away the factory grease, and if lubrication ceases the component runs dry.
Selection turns on two values. Port size (1/4", 3/8", 1/2", 1") is set by the flow in the line; a unit sized below the line acts as a restriction, causing a pressure drop and slowing the cylinders. Body type is chosen for the environment: a plastic bowl is economical but cracks where solvent vapours are present, so metal-bodied units are used in those conditions.
Alongside complete units, this group also carries spare bowls, regulator gauges and FRL oil — including food-grade oil for food plants. For the rest of the circuit see the «Pneumatic Valves» and «Pneumatic Cylinders» pages.
Brands and standards in stock
Don't see the brand you're after? Ask anyway — air preparation (frl) units products are made to standard, so different brands carrying the same standard are equivalents.
Air Preparation (FRL) Units in stock — examples
| Product | Brand | Model / size | Item code |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1/4" Regülatör + Manometre (AR2000) | — | 1/4" | EKO.AR-2000 |
| 1/4" İkili Şartlandırıcı | — | 1/4" FR | EKO.AFC-2000 |
| 1/4" Filtreli Regülatör | — | 1/4" | EKO.AFR-2000 |
| 1/4" Yağlayıcı | — | 1/4" | EKO.AL-2000 |
| 1/2" İkili Şartlandırıcı | — | 1/2" FR | EKO.BFC-4000 |
| 1/2" Filtreli Regülatör | — | 1/2" | EKO.BFR-4000 |
| 1/2" Regülatör + Manometre | — | 1/2" | EKO.BR-4000 |
| 1/2" Yağlayıcı | — | 1/2" | EKO.BL-4000 |
| 1" Filtreli Regülatör (OFR Maxi) | — | 1" | EKO.OFR MAXİ 1" |
| 1" Şartlandırıcı (OU Maxi) | — | 1" | EKO.OU MAXİ 1" |
| 1/4" Şartlandırıcı 16 bar | — | 1/4" · 16 bar | EKO.REK.OU.MINI.1/4 |
| 3/8" Şartlandırıcı 16 bar | — | 3/8" · 16 bar | EKO.REK.OU.MINI.3/8 |
| 1/2" Şartlandırıcı 16 bar | — | 1/2" · 16 bar | EKO.REK.OU.MIDI.1/2 |
| 1/4" 0,5-2 bar Hassas Regülatör | — | 1/4" hassas | EKO.IR2000-02 |
| 1/4" 0,5-8 bar Hassas Regülatör | — | 1/4" hassas | EKO.IR2020-02 |
| 1/4" Hava Hazırlama Ünitesi, Manuel Tahliyeli (FRL) | Pemaks | 1/4" FRL | PEM.HH.FRL-S1-14-M |
| 1/2" Hava Hazırlama Ünitesi, Otomatik Tahliyeli (FRL) | Pemaks | 1/2" FRL | PEM.HH.FRL-S2-12-A |
| PS Serisi 1" Metal Gövde Filtreli Regülatör, Manuel Tahliyeli | Pemaks | 1" | PEM.HH.PS2FR-S4-1 |
| Hassas Regülatör 1/4" 8 bar | Pemaks | 1/4" hassas | PEM.HH.PS1HR-14-8 |
| 1/2" Yağlayıcı | Pemaks | 1/2" | PEM.HH.L-S2-12 |
| Regülatör MD1-R000-1/4 | Camozzi | 1/4" | MUH.224 |
| Regülatör Manometresi M043-P16 | Camozzi | M043-P16 | MUH.225 |
| 1/2" İkili Şartlandırıcı | Semakmatik | 1/2" FR | SM.SMŞ2Lİ12M1850 |
| 1/4" Regülatör, Metal Gövde, Manometresiz | Semakmatik | 1/4" | SM.SMŞREG14M1800 |
| R/FL-1/2 İkili Şartlandırıcı | Vema | 1/2" FR | MUH.011 |
| Şartlandırıcı Yağı (1 litre) | — | 1 L | YAĞ.010.001.HT |
| Gıdaya Uygun Şartlandırıcı Yağı | — | gıda tipi | MUH.221 |
This list is sorted by our highest-moving items and isn't the whole of our 115-item air preparation (frl) units stock. If the size you need isn't listed, we very likely have it — just ask.
Frequently asked questions
Should I buy a two-stage or a three-stage unit?
The two-stage arrangement (filter + regulator) is today's standard choice; most modern pneumatic cylinders and valves are lubricated for life and need no oil. The three-stage arrangement (filter + regulator + lubricator) is needed for older cylinders, high-cycle machines and percussive hand tools.
Can lubrication be stopped once it has been started?
It should not be. Oil carried in the air gradually washes away the permanent grease applied at the factory. If lubrication then ceases, the surfaces run dry and wear accelerates. Once a circuit has been run lubricated, it should stay lubricated for the rest of its life.
How is FRL size selected?
Port size follows the line diameter and the air flow consumed. Undersizing the unit is the most common mistake: it behaves as a restriction, pressure drops, and the cylinders run slower than expected. When in doubt, going one size up is the safe choice.
Water keeps collecting in the filter bowl — is that normal?
Yes, that is exactly what the filter is for — moisture in the compressed air condenses as it cools. What matters is draining it. Manual-drain bowls should be emptied at the start of each shift; where that is likely to be forgotten, choose an automatic-drain type. Once the bowl overfills, water passes into the circuit.
The regulator will not hold the set pressure — what should I check?
Check the inlet pressure first: a regulator cannot produce an outlet pressure higher than its inlet, and needs at least 1 bar of difference. If the inlet is adequate, the diaphragm may be torn or the spring housing fouled. If the adjusting knob is not locked after setting, vibration will turn it and drift the pressure.
Get a quote for Air Preparation (FRL) Units
Send us the size and quantity you need and our sales team will get back to you the same day with pricing and lead time. If you're not sure of the size, a photo of the part you have is enough.