Compressed air is regarded as the fourth utility, after electricity, natural gas and water, in facilitating production activities. In manufacturing plants, compressed air is widely used for such operations as actuating, cleaning, cooling, drying parts, removing metal chips and other pneumatic operations etc. At present the compressed air is produced by using conventional air compressor system driven by electric motors.

As a part of developmental activity NAD (New Applications Development) team, in association with the leading Indian industrial giant Mahindra & Mahindra (lead manufacturer of gas engines) and Elgi (lead manufacturer of air compressor), has developed a more effective and economical gas engine driven air compressor. Here gas engine performs the same function as an electric motor; ie they provide shaft work for process applications. Shaft work includes turning a shaft to operate a compressor.