Pneumatic Conveying

The Smartest Distance Between Two Points

Pneumatic conveying is by far the most hygienic conveying method for dry bulk powders. Because they can be made to USDA sanitary standards, pneumatic conveying systems are popular in the food, pharmaceutical, and chemical industries. Applications can include loading mixers, tablet presses, volumetric or gravimetric feeders; feeding into a packaging machine; or any other application where bulk dry powders need to be introduced into your process.

VAC-U-MAX is a premier manufacturer of custom pneumatic conveying systems and support equipment for conveying, vacuum conveying, batching, and weighing materials. With a VAC-U-MAX pneumatic conveying system on site, your company’s product can move gently and quickly from point to point, with nothing in the way to impede the efficiency of its movement.

Features & Benefits

While pneumatic conveying has a higher initial capital expenditure than mechanical systems, the return on investment is substantial. The flip side of the cost of a good pneumatic conveying system is the savings you will enjoy on the other side – reduced downtime, increased production, product reclamation, and more.

• Cost savings. Pneumatic conveying has an incredible ROI, with significant savings on labor, reduced downtime, increased production, increased product quality, reduced housekeeping costs, a healthier workforce, and a longer lifespan for capital equipment.
• Efficient. Pneumatic conveying offers you greater control, precision, and consistency, and can often handle a higher volume of material. There is minimal waste, contamination is eliminated, and it opens the door to product reclamation.
• Flexible & Versatile: Pneumatic conveying systems can be routed horizontally, vertically, and around existing equipment and other obstacles, and they can handle thousands of materials, from the finest silica fume to reactive metal powders, from delicate friable foods to bottle caps, and more.
• Dust-free transfer of powder. As opposed to positive pressure conveying where leakage is outward, vacuum conveying pulls inward, keeping the dust within the system, minimizing dust, and preventing product loss. Pneumatic conveying is the NFPA’s preferred technology for transporting combustible dusts.
• Sanitary. Pneumatic conveying is by far the most hygienic conveying method for dry bulk powders.
• Easy to clean. VAC-U-MAX vacuum conveying systems are designed to be easy to disassemble – no tools needed.
• Small footprint. When using a vacuum conveyor, the tubing or hose takes up little or no floor space within your facility, allowing you to maximize your space and freeing up the floor.
• Easy to install. All VAC-U-MAX systems are pre-assembled and shipped for easy installation when they arrive at your factory. Most VAC-U-MAX vacuum receivers are also equipped with a suspension frame that allows for support from above or below.
• Low power consumption. When designed properly, pneumatic conveying is very energy efficient. Just like a performance car on a Dyno, we test and tune every system for maximum performance.
• Improved ergonomics. Pneumatic conveying can protect workers and save on injury costs by eliminating the need for heavy lifting, scooping, and climbing.

How does pneumatic conveying work?

Pneumatic conveying (aka vacuum conveying) is the process of moving bulk dry materials from place to place using suction. Material is transferred from the pick-up point (or source), through a network of tubing to the vacuum receiver, and on to the customer’s process.

Most vacuum conveying systems transfer product to the vacuum receiver based on a timed interval. At the end of the timed sequence, the discharge valve opens and the conveyed material discharges into the process.

There are two types of pneumatic conveying. Dilute phase conveying and dense phase conveying.

• Dilute Phase Vacuum Conveying: As the name suggests, the material is entrained in the air stream (suspended in air) and is almost equal parts air and product. This method is excellent for conveying almost any type of non-abrasive powder, like sugar or flour.
• Dense Phase Vacuum Conveying: In dense phase conveying, the material is transferred in slugs (clumps or plugs) within the convey tubing. The material moves more slowly, making it an excellent choice for delicate, friable product or blends of powders.

Do I have to know exactly what I need before contacting you?

No! We don’t expect you to be a an expert in the field of vacuum conveying. What we need is for you to be an expert in your field, your facility, and your process.

That said, if you’re just getting started in pneumatic conveying, the video below is a great way to get up to speed on vacuum conveying technology. In this short whiteboard video, we’ll give you a bird’s eye view of system design, covering the main advantages of pneumatic conveying and discussing the 10 variables you’ll want to consider when integrating pneumatic conveying into your lines.

The VAC-U-MAX Advantage

VAC-U-MAX’s tradition of vertical integration, application expertise, and manufacturing spans three generations, and we continue to lead the industry in innovation and design. We can adapt equipment, supply ancillary equipment, and offer alternative technologies to create the ideal solution for your process. Whether scaling up existing systems, adding production lines, or automating processes, we bring unparalleled engineering expertise to every project with rapid turnaround times, responsive support, and, of course, the VAC-U-MAX 100% Satisfaction Guarantee.

Experience matters.

Your project is not an experiment. Partnering with a manufacturer with decades of experience with both mechanical and pneumatic conveying systems, thousands of materials, and a fully equipped test facility ensures that your final system will meet all of your needs. We’re with you every step of the way, through installation, startup, operator training, and beyond.

When you partner with VAC-U-MAX, your system will be designed, manufactured, assembled, and configured right here in New Jersey. Once created, your system will be tested and tuned under simulated conditions in our 6,000-square-foot, fully equipped test lab to ensure optimal performance. All equipment will arrive at your facility fully configured and ready to go. And every system is backed by the VAC-U-MAX air-tight performance guarantee.