Case Study: Labotek chooses Busch vacuum pumps for materials supply systems

Producer of peripheral equipment for the plastics processing industry, Labotek, is using vacuum supply components from Busch for its materials supply systems.

These supply systems allow granulates and additives to be transported from silos via dryers to extruders, injection moulding machines and blow moulding machines distributed throughout a production site. Labotek uses Busch Mink claw vacuum pumps, stating that they ensure “the highest levels of reliability and efficiency”.

The vacuum supply serves to create a low pressure in the suction line, causing an air current to move which transports material along the pipe.

Mink claw vacuum pumps require no oil for compression, so the extracted air does not make contact with oil or other operating fluids. This is due to the contact-free operating principle, which has the added advantage of internal components not being subject to wear, says Busch.

For the operators of Mink claw vacuum pumps this means almost maintenance-free vacuum supplies, as the only servicing recommended by Busch is a gearbox oil change every 20,000 operating hours. Other service tasks essential for oil-lubricated vacuum pumps, such as the replacement of oil, filters and worn components, are not required.

Labotek designs its materials supply systems to operate with maximum economy. According to Busch, the Mink claw vacuum pumps fitted to Labotek systems are t”he most energy-efficient units available” – their power consumption is reportedly lower than any other vacuum pump on the market. A frequency control option is available, allowing the vacuum output to be matched to demand to achieve even greater energy savings.

The Mink claw vacuum pumps comes in a wide range of sizes (40-1150 m³/h), allowing an exact match to the demands of individual centralised supply systems. Several pumps can be combined, so if the supply system is expanded at a later date the number of vacuum units can be increased as necessary. In large systems with several Mink vacuum pumps, a controller ensures that only the units required to meet the current demand are in operation. The vacuum pumps can be operated in circuits connected by shut-off valves, so in the event of a vacuum pump failure no loss of production occurs.