PEORIA, Ill. — Caterpillar has announced it plans to build and distribute a new air compressor for the on-highway market.

The Cat 270 air compressor will deliver cleaner air, greater reliability and less vibration and noise than current models, the company says. It will be available on Cat C13 engines in selected chassis beginning immediately and on all other Cat engines in 2007.

The new compressor uses two cylinders, resulting in better balance and delivering up to four times less vibration, Cat officials insist. Noise is also reduced by two decibels compared to competitive models, says Mike Powers, product development manager for Caterpillar On-Highway Engines.

“Our new air compressor is even more effective at supplying air comparable to or better than competitive products while providing a comfortable environment for the driver,” Powers says. “The on-board air compressor is one major source of chassis vibration. Our new Cat 270 air compressor is much smoother than today’s typical compressor.”

The compressor also features a cast iron piston which the company says is stronger than the aluminum piston used in many other models, improving durability. There are also fewer parts used, simplifying installation of the compressor to the engine. Cat officials also say the new compressor will offer better oil control.

“When a small amount of oil carries over into the rings, it gets into the air supply and coats the air system, which degrades reliability and requires cleaning,” Powers said. “The Cat 270 design allows significantly less oil carryover, which means air can be up to twice as clean as current air compressors.”