Vacuum and blower technology for mechanical engineering and metalworking
Vacuum and blower technology for mechanical engineering and metalworking
Vacuum and air movement are present in far more places in machines than meets the eye. A product is picked up, a workpiece is held down by suction, a package is sealed or a product is blown dry: behind all these processes there may be a vacuum pump, blower or side channel blower. DOVAC helps machine builders select and size this technology, from the development phase and first practical test to delivery and stock for series production.
Everywhere in the machine: from picking up to holding down
Mechanical engineering is a broad term, and the same goes for the role of vacuum within it. Our pumps, blowers and side channel blowers are found in, among others:
- Vacuum lifters for stone, metal and wood processing, for sheets, tiles and worktops that nobody lifts by hand any more
- Packaging machines for flowers, fish, meat and cheese, where the product is packed under vacuum in film or a tray
- Bakery and egg processing machines, for picking up, drying and packing fragile products
- Filling and sealing machines, for example to pull open potato sacks before they are filled
- Handling robots with suction cups, for automatically picking up and moving boxes, sheets and other products
- Machining centres in the metal industry, where the workpiece is held down on a vacuum table
What determines whether the system works well in all these applications is the right ratio between vacuum level and air flow rate. Porous materials such as cardboard, paper or wood continuously let air through and therefore mainly require sufficient air movement. With smooth, non-porous materials such as glass and steel, leakage is much smaller and a deeper vacuum can be built up. The right vacuum technology therefore differs per material and application.
What goes wrong when the choice isn't right?
A pump that isn't matched to the application makes itself felt in the machine right away. Too little suction means a workpiece that shifts during processing, a product that comes loose from the suction cup, or packaging that doesn't seal properly. An oversized installation, on the other hand, can lead to unnecessary energy consumption, extra noise, and higher purchase and operating costs.
Centralised or decentralised: what suits the machine?
Vacuum and air can be generated centrally for multiple machines, but also decentrally with a pump or blower right at the machine. Which solution is most efficient depends on the number of machines, the required flow rate and vacuum level, the number of operating hours, and how the operation is run.
A decentralised solution keeps pipe runs short and makes a machine less dependent on a central supply. It also allows maintenance to be carried out per machine. With several machines running continuously, a central vacuum system can be the more attractive option. That's why DOVAC looks not just at the pump or blower, but at the installation as a whole.
Availability matters too
For a machine builder, technical suitability isn't the only thing that counts. A pump that fits perfectly on paper but isn't available can delay the build or delivery of a complete machine. That's why we also look at lead time, spare parts availability, and service over the long term.
For existing machines, we also check whether the original pump is still the most logical choice. A like-for-like replacement is possible, but sometimes a more compact, more efficient, or more readily available alternative has since become available.
Our possibilities
Air knives
An air knife dries, cleans or de-ices products and conveyor belts in a single pass, running on a blower instead of compressed air to save energy. We calculate the right combination in advance.
Side channel blowers
Side channel blowers move large air volumes, suiting aeration, conveying and porous materials. Oil-free and low-maintenance, from compact single-stage to two-stage models, including ATEX.
Vacuum pumps
Every process places its own demands on the vacuum, from a deep ultimate vacuum to dry operation. We supply the full spectrum and select the pump that fits best.
Benefits for your business
Our approach: calculating from your machine
To select the right source, we start from the required vacuum depth and flow rate, the weight to be lifted including a safety margin, the material being handled, and the available installation space in the frame. The machine's destination matters too: for export, we often recommend a multivolt motor so the same machine can be connected in both Europe and the United States. Current energy standards for motors and your machine's CE marking are part of that consideration; the manufacturers DOVAC works with are ISO-certified.
For new machine concepts, DOVAC can bring a pump or blower along to discuss the solution in concrete terms. Where needed, this is followed by a practical test, so you can assess how the technology performs in the machine and under sustained load.
• A price that fits your annual volume, agreed with the factory
• Response within 24 hours if there's a problem
• Stock we hold for you, as a call-off order or annual contract, so you draw on it whenever you need it
• Worldwide service, because the brands we represent are also represented in the countries your machines are shipped to
The same principle applies to existing machines. As the Benelux agent, DOVAC handles maintenance, parts, and replacement, without you having to approach the manufacturer directly.
What that delivers on the shop floor
A pump or blower positioned right at the machine keeps pipework short and consumption low, and limits maintenance to that one machine rather than the whole line. For you, it also means a complete product: a machine that can be installed at your customer's site as a complete system, with everything included. Easier to sell, faster to install, and no more discussion over who arranges the air supply.
Why machine builders end up at DOVAC
DOVAC gets involved in two ways. During the development phase, when you still need to determine which source fits your machine and whether it physically fits the design. And with existing machines, where maintenance is the starting point and the replacement pump follows. In practice, the collaboration often begins exactly there, and the choice falls on the same brand again for the next machine.
In doing so, we combine short lines of communication and ample stock with practical knowledge of vacuum and blower technology. We advise based on what the machine actually needs. If a simpler type is technically sufficient, we say so. The goal isn't to sell as many pumps as possible, but to select a solution that suits the machine and application for years to come.
Put your application to us
Are you building a new machine, or looking for an alternative to an existing pump or blower? Send us the application, the required vacuum or flow rate, and the key machine details. DOVAC will help think through selection, sizing, and installation, and can support a practical test where needed.
Why choose DOVAC?
Short lines and quick decisions
At DOVAC you speak directly with the technology experts, no intermediate layer: fast answers, one point of contact.
Involved early in new machines
DOVAC is involved early; with OEMs, testing runs for months before delivery follows.
We start with your application, not with a product
DOVAC starts with the application: material, dimensions and performance determine the system.
When in doubt, a demonstration first
When in doubt, the solution is demonstrated first to avoid a poor fit.
