Information intended for dental healthcare professionals. Always follow the manufacturer's instructions.
Cattani sets clear intervals: compressor head filters every 12 months in a clean environment, antibacterial filter for the suction unit's exhaust air every 12 months, inspection of the centrifugal separator every 18 to 24 months, suction motor bearings every 10,000 hours (Cattani manuals and posters). For its suction units, which are class I medical devices, Cattani requires genuine spare parts and a new test of the device after repair (Cattani Smart manual, p. 9).
01Why Cattani requires genuine parts
The Micro Smart, Micro Smart Cube, Turbo Smart, Turbo Smart TS, Turbo Smart Cube and Turbo Smart 2V suction units are class I medical devices. Cattani draws three consequences from this (Cattani Smart manual, ed. 04-2024, p. 9):
- technicians authorised to repair these machines must only use genuine Cattani spare parts;
- replacing parts that have lost their characteristics is corrective maintenance aimed at restoring the original safety condition: Regulation (EU) 2017/745 then requires a new test of the device, according to the IEC EN 62353 standard;
- certain components, such as inverter control panels, are subject to traceability: the order must state the machine's serial number, and the part must be installed on that machine.
The same principle applies to the Maxi Smart (Maxi Smart manual, ed. 04-2025, p. 5). For compressors, extraordinary maintenance must be carried out by a specialised, authorised technician using original parts, without modifying the machine or welding on the tank (Cattani compressors manual, ed. 02-2023, p. 14). The manufacturer's warranty and liability cease in the event of modification by unauthorised persons (p. 4).
02Cattani compressors: the schedule
| Item | When | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Draining: open the tap under the tank | Periodically; moisture = call the technician | Compressors manual, p. 13 |
| Head, motor and heat exchanger fans | Check every 12 months; frequent cleaning in a dusty room | Compressors manual, p. 13 |
| Complete technical inspection | Every 6 or 12 months depending on workload | Compressors manual, p. 14 |
| Electrical current draw (clamp meter) | Every 6 months | Compressors manual, p. 14 |
| Head filters: polyester 168563 (up to 20 µm) or HEPA H14 168429 | Every 12 months in a clean environment, more often if the air is dusty | Compressors manual, p. 13-14; Cattani poster 12/2016 |
| HEPA H14 filter at the column outlet | Replacement during extraordinary maintenance, according to the filter instructions | Compressors manual, p. 14 |
| Drying column and drain solenoid valve | Check every 12 months | Cattani poster 12/2016 |
| Bearings | Service life of approximately 10,000 hours; replacement with specific tooling, sending the heads to Cattani recommended | Cattani poster 12/2016 |
| Head and foot anti-vibration mounts | Service life of approximately 5 years or 5,000 hours | Cattani poster 12/2016 |
The technician also checks that each cylinder draws in at least 6,000 N l/h and that the silica gel is dried by a counter-current air jet at each stop; if not, they check or replace the solenoid valve (compressors manual, p. 14). Cattani advises replacing heads that have become noisy (p. 14). See also our guide Which dental compressor.
03Smart suction units: the schedule
| Item | When | Who | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| Chair secretion filters + anti-foam tablets | Every day | Practice | Cattani poster 09/2023 |
| Puli-Jet Plus 2.0 solution with Pulse Cleaner | Every evening | Practice | Smart manual, p. 19 |
| Suction unit filter | Periodic cleaning | Practice | Smart manual, p. 19 |
| Maximum recorded temperatures, alarms, noise level (72 dB max.) | Every 12 months | Technician | Smart manual, p. 20 |
| HEPA H14 antibacterial filter on the exhaust air, or its cartridge | Every 12 months | Technician | Cattani poster 09/2023 |
| Centrifugal separator and recirculation valve | Check every 18 to 24 months | Technician | Smart manual, p. 21 |
| Motor bearings and anti-vibration elements | Every 10,000 hours (if necessary) | Technician | Smart manual, p. 21; Cattani poster 09/2023 |
| O-rings, bellows, seals | Each time the item is dismantled | Technician | Smart manual, p. 21 |
The choice of exhaust air filter depends on the installation: the HEPA H14 filter with activated carbon 042090 is recommended for 4 to 6 chairs (90 m³/h, cartridge to be replaced every 12 months); the Ø 30 filter 042010, for 1 to 2 chairs, is replaced every 6 months (Cattani data sheets 042090 and 042010).
When dismantling a part with an O-ring, the technician replaces the O-ring and treats the new one with Lubri-Jet (Cattani poster 09/2023).
04Amalgam separator: the parts to plan for
- Amalgam container: to be replaced at the 100 % alarm; reference depends on the separator, for example 043135 for the Hydrocyclone ISO 18 (Cattani data sheet 043135).
- Joints and connecting hoses: every two years at most, using original hoses of the same diameter (Hydrocyclone ISO 18 manual, p. 24 and 29).
- Hydrocyclone seals: inspection and lubrication during annual maintenance, replacement if necessary during five-yearly maintenance (p. 29-30).
The step-by-step details are in our guide Amalgam separator.
05Everyday consumables
- Puli-Jet Plus 2.0 and Puli-Jet Classic for the suction circuit.
- Disinfectant anti-foam tablets for the chair filters.
- Type B manual suction terminals in Ø 11 and Ø 16, and theadapter for fitting a Ø 11 cannula onto a Ø 16 terminal (Cattani data sheets 040631, 040641, 040520).
- Grey VHR hose Ø 17.5, sold in lengths of 25 m minimum (Cattani data sheet 040869).
- Cannulas: spray interceptor for wet system 17, for dry system 11, surgical.
These products are used every day: ordering them at the same time as the annual filters avoids running out of stock.
06Finding the right reference
- Note the exact model and serial number on the machine's rating plate: Cattani requires it for traced components (Smart manual, p. 9).
- Note the version: with or without amalgam separator, with or without cabinet, and for Hydrocyclone kits, the year of the machine (Cattani kits come in different versions, for example “since October 2015 WI-FI”).
- Look up the Cattani reference in the shop or on the Cattani Benelux.
- If in doubt, send us the model and a photo of the rating plate : we will check against the Cattani documentation.
Up-to-date Cattani manuals can be downloaded from cattani.it; Cattani recommends consulting them regularly, in particular for safety updates (Cattani compressors manual, p. 12).
The annual maintenance kit to prepare
- Compressor head filters (168563 or HEPA H14 168429), one per head.
- HEPA H14 filter or cartridge for the suction unit's exhaust air.
- Spare amalgam container with the correct reference.
- Hydrocyclone joints and connecting hoses if they were last replaced two years ago.
- O-rings and Lubri-Jet for dismantling work.
- Puli-Jet Plus 2.0 for disinfection before servicing.
- Stock of anti-foam tablets and secretion filters for the year.
→Products mentioned
Antibacterial filter HEPA H14 with active carbons, complete with fixing plateRef. 042090754,00 € excl. VAT
Disposable amalgam container (for Hydrocyclone ISO 18)Ref. 04313542,90 € excl. VAT
Disinfectant antifoam tabletsRef. 040826529,00 € excl. VAT
Puli-Jet Plus 2.0Ref. 060922289,00 € excl. VAT
AdapterRef. 0405200,59 € excl. VAT
Manual terminal type “B”Ref. 04063123,90 € excl. VAT?Frequently asked questions
How often should the filters of a Cattani compressor be changed?
When should a suction unit's antibacterial filter be replaced?
Why use genuine Cattani parts?
When should the bearings of a Smart suction motor be changed?
What is the service life of compressor bearings?
What is needed to order a traced part?
Our team will answer you, with the manufacturer's documentation.
Sources
- Cattani Micro Smart / Turbo Smart manual, FR, ed. 04-2024, p. 9 and 19 to 21
- Cattani Maxi Smart manual, FR, ed. 04-2025, p. 5
- Cattani manual “Compresseur sans huile à 1-2-3 cylindres”, FR, ed. 02-2023, p. 4, 12 to 14
- Cattani poster “Manutenzione straordinaria aspiratori e compressori”, 12/2016
- Cattani posters “Manutenzione ordinaria” and “Manutenzione straordinaria Turbo-Smart / Micro-Smart”, 09/2023
- Cattani Hydrocyclone ISO 18 manual, French section, p. 24 to 30
- Cattani product data sheets 042010, 042090, 043135, 043391, 040520, 040631, 040641, 040869, 168429, 168563, cattani.it