Industry

Vacuum pumps for packaging machines

In chamber and thermoforming packaging machines, tray sealing machines and tray sealers, vacuum removes the air from the pack before it is sealed; removing the oxygen extends the shelf life (Atlas Copco, Elmo Rietschle, Leybold). In secondary packaging, suction cups grip cartons and bags, erect them and palletise them (Becker, Busch). Below you can see which series the manufacturers themselves name for these tasks – 724 models from 5 manufacturers.

Compare 724 modelsSee the applications

  • 724Models
  • 71Series
  • 5Manufacturers
  • 7Applications
Packaging machine with conveyor belt
Packaging machine with conveyor belt

In short

Packaging: vacuum pumps – the key facts

  • Chamber machinesFor floor-standing chamber machines, Becker names the U5 with 40 to 360 m³/h and ultimate pressures of 1 to below 0.1 mbar, the U5 O2-PACK down to 0.5 mbar, and for tabletop chamber machines flat pumps with 4 to 40 m³/h. Busch names more than 3 million R5 pumps in the packaging market.
  • Residual oxygenBecker names the evacuation vacuum as the variable that determines the residual oxygen in the pack. Leybold describes that the air removed before sealing protects aroma and texture, and Elmo Rietschle names the removal of oxygen as the reason for a longer shelf life.
  • Can manufacturingWhen non-magnetic aluminium beverage cans are formed, conveyed and coated, vacuum holds and moves the cans; Atlas Copco names 200 to 400 mbar(a) and 1,200 to 3,000 m³/h for this with the GHS VSD+ and the LRP 700 to 1000 VSD+.
  • Secondary packagingFor tubular bag, cartoning and palletising systems, Becker names VTLF, VT and SV in sizes from 2 to 500 m³/h. For cartoning machines, Busch names suction cups that erect cartons by vacuum, and MINK, SAMOS, SECO and TYR for pick & place.

Applications

Packaging: what vacuum pumps are used for

For each application: what the vacuum does and which series the manufacturers name for it. The information comes from the manufacturers’ own pages.

Vacuum packaging in chamber machines

The bag or film lies in the vacuum chamber, and the air is removed before sealing (Busch, Leybold). For floor-standing chamber machines, Becker names the U5 with 40 to 360 m³/h and 1 to below 0.1 mbar, and for tabletop chamber machines the flat O6, O5 and U 5.40 with 4 to 40 m³/h; Elmo Rietschle names the V-VCB 20 and 25 with 20 to 26.5 m³/h and 2 mbar (abs.) for installation in small chamber machines. For rotary chamber machines with the highest throughput, Leybold names DRYVAC with RUVAC, for fresh meat and large pieces of cheese.

More on Vacuum packaging in chamber machines →

Modified atmosphere packaging (MAP)

After evacuation, the air is replaced by a protective gas mixture; thermoformers and tray sealers are evacuated and flushed with gas (Busch, Leybold). Elmo Rietschle names the S-VSI 300 OXY, which extracts gases with an increased oxygen content, Leybold names the NOVADRY as approved for O2 MAP, and Becker names the U5 O2-PACK for floor-standing chamber machines with optional MAP.

More on Modified atmosphere packaging (MAP) →

Thermoform packaging and blisters

The bottom film is formed into a tray, the pack is thermoformed and evacuated at the sealing station (Busch). In the inline thermoformer, Becker distinguishes between forming, evacuation and control vacuum and names U5 with 65 to 360 m³/h, RBP with 500 to 2,400 m³/h and BCV with 100 to 600 m³/h at 50 to 200 mbar; the vacuum also forms blister cavities.

  • BeckerU, U4, U O2-PACK, VADS, BCV, RBP
  • BuschR5, MINK also names COBRA, PANDA and PUMA for the sealing station, and SAMOS, SECO and TYR for blisters
  • Elmo RietschleS-VSI, S-SVT lists vacuum forming and blister packs without a description

More on Thermoform packaging and blisters →

Carton erectors, palletisers and pick & place

Suction cups lift and fold cartons, place products in trays and palletise bags, folding boxes and bottles (Busch, Becker). For pick & place, Becker names KVT, VT and SV and a case study with 20,000 maintenance-free operating hours, and for vacuum lifters SV side channel blowers with 195 to 1,250 m³/h and −290 to −440 mbar as well as BCV claw pumps. Atlas Copco names holding, lifting and transporting with GHS 1202 to 2002.

More on Carton erectors, palletisers and pick & place →

Filling and closing

Before filling with gas or liquid, the container is evacuated so that filling is clean, dry and free of bubbles (Leybold). For beer bottling, Leybold names repeated evacuation and flushing with CO2 at up to 80,000 bottles per hour with DRYVAC, and for vacuum filling machines SOGEVAC for small and NOVADRY for large machines. Becker names the evacuation of tubes, bottles and containers during filling.

  • LeyboldDRYVAC, SOGEVAC, NOVADRY, CLAWVAC
  • Beckernames evacuation during filling only as an application
  • Elmo Rietschlenames filling and closing machines with precise vacuum control, without a series

More on Filling and closing →

Holding cans, bags and plates

In can manufacturing, a vacuum plate holds the can during trimming and draws it onto mandrels and plates for coating and printing; Atlas Copco names 200 to 400 mbar(a) and 1,200 to 3,000 m³/h for this. Becker names the fixing of film bags and sacks during filling as a vacuum clamping application.

More on Holding cans, bags and plates →

Degassing before packaging

Gas inclusions in pastes and liquids are removed under vacuum; Becker names this for sauces, juices and oils against foam and oxidation, and for pasta for shelf life, with VADS and, with a high gas load, U5 or U4 with RBP. Leybold names beverage degassing with CLAWVAC, NOVADRY and DRYVAC.

More on Degassing before packaging →

Manufacturers and series

Packaging: 5 manufacturers, 71 series

Listed are the series the manufacturer itself names for this industry. “Show only …” sets the filter of the product overview.

Product overview

Packaging: all 724 models compared

Use the filters on the left to narrow the selection – by manufacturer, technology and the models’ key figures, for 50 or 60 Hz.

Atlas Copco DBD series 6 models

DBD 90Pumping speed 91 m³/h 50 Hz110 m³/h 60 HzUltimate pressure 650 – 700 mbarRated motor power 1.1 – 1.5 kW 50 Hz1.3 – 1.7 kW 60 HzVariants 2
DBD 180Pumping speed 181 m³/h 50 Hz218 m³/h 60 HzUltimate pressure 550 – 600 mbarRated motor power 3 – 4 kW 50 Hz3.5 kW 60 HzVariants 2
DBD 240Pumping speed 236 m³/h 50 Hz285 m³/h 60 HzUltimate pressure 550 – 600 mbarRated motor power 4 – 5.5 kW 50 Hz4.8 – 6.5 kW 60 HzVariants 2
DBD 310Pumping speed 310 m³/h 50 Hz374 m³/h 60 HzUltimate pressure 600 mbarRated motor power 5.5 kW 50 Hz6.5 kW 60 HzVariants 1
DBD 390Pumping speed 390 m³/h 50 Hz466 m³/h 60 HzUltimate pressure 600 mbarRated motor power 7.5 kW 50 Hz9 kW 60 HzVariants 1
DBD 430Pumping speed 430 m³/h 50 Hz519 m³/h 60 HzUltimate pressure 600 mbarRated motor power 7.5 kW 50 Hz9 – 11 kW 60 HzVariants 2

Atlas Copco DBDt series 17 models

DBDt 70Pumping speed 65 m³/h 50 Hz76 m³/h 60 HzUltimate pressure 560 mbarRated motor power 1.5 kW 50 Hz1.75 kW 60 HzVariants 1
DBDt 110Pumping speed 110 m³/h 50 Hz130 m³/h 60 HzUltimate pressure 800 mbarRated motor power 0.85 kW 50 Hz0.95 kW 60 HzVariants 1
DBDt 120Pumping speed 120 m³/h 50 Hz145 m³/h 60 HzUltimate pressure 500 – 760 mbarRated motor power 1.1 – 4 kW 50 Hz1.3 – 4.6 kW 60 HzVariants 2
DBDt 140Pumping speed 139 m³/h 50 Hz168 m³/h 60 HzUltimate pressure 700 mbarRated motor power 2.2 kW 50 Hz2.6 kW 60 HzVariants 1
DBDt 150Pumping speed 150 m³/h 50 Hz180 m³/h 60 HzUltimate pressure 670 mbarRated motor power 2.2 kW 50 Hz2.55 kW 60 HzVariants 1
DBDt 170Pumping speed 165 m³/h 50 Hz195 m³/h 60 HzUltimate pressure 480 mbarRated motor power 5.5 kW 50 Hz6.3 kW 60 HzVariants 1
DBDt 210Pumping speed 215 m³/h 50 Hz259 m³/h 60 HzUltimate pressure 600 – 650 mbarRated motor power 3 – 4 kW 50 Hz3.5 – 4.8 kW 60 HzVariants 2
DBDt 230Pumping speed 230 m³/h 50 Hz275 m³/h 60 HzUltimate pressure 610 – 660 mbarRated motor power 3 – 4 kW 50 Hz3.45 – 4.6 kW 60 HzVariants 2
DBDt 310Pumping speed 312 m³/h 50 Hz376 m³/h 60 HzUltimate pressure 600 – 750 mbarRated motor power 4 – 5.5 kW 50 Hz4.8 – 9 kW 60 HzVariants 3
DBDt 320Pumping speed 320 m³/h 50 Hz380 m³/h 60 HzUltimate pressure 580 mbarRated motor power 5.5 kW 50 Hz6.3 kW 60 HzVariants 1
DBDt 420Pumping speed 416 m³/h 50 Hz502 m³/h 60 HzUltimate pressure 600 – 650 mbarRated motor power 5.5 – 7.5 kW 50 Hz6.5 – 9 kW 60 HzVariants 2
DBDt 520Pumping speed 518 – 520 m³/h 50 Hz620 – 625 m³/h 60 HzUltimate pressure 570 – 650 mbarRated motor power 7.5 – 11 kW 50 Hz8.6 – 12.6 kW 60 HzVariants 4
DBDt 660Pumping speed 657 m³/h 50 Hz793 m³/h 60 HzUltimate pressure 550 – 650 mbarRated motor power 11 – 15 kW 50 Hz13 – 17 kW 60 HzVariants 2
DBDt 800Pumping speed 804 m³/h 50 Hz970 m³/h 60 HzUltimate pressure 550 – 700 mbarRated motor power 11 – 15 kW 50 Hz13 – 22 kW 60 HzVariants 3
DBDt 900Pumping speed 903 m³/h 50 Hz1,089 m³/h 60 HzUltimate pressure 600 – 650 mbarRated motor power 15 – 18.5 kW 50 Hz17 – 22 kW 60 HzVariants 2
DBDt 1010Pumping speed 1,007 m³/h 50 Hz1,216 m³/h 60 HzUltimate pressure 600 – 700 mbarRated motor power 18.5 – 22 kW 50 Hz22 – 26 kW 60 HzVariants 2
DBDt 1110Pumping speed 1,110 m³/h 50 Hz1,310 m³/h 60 HzUltimate pressure 560 – 700 mbarRated motor power 12.5 – 20 kW 50 Hz14.5 – 23 kW 60 HzVariants 2

Atlas Copco DBS series 29 models

DBS 70Pumping speed 74 m³/h 50 Hz89 m³/h 60 HzUltimate pressure 850 – 900 mbarRated motor power 0.37 – 0.55 kW 50 Hz0.42 – 0.65 kW 60 HzVariants 2

Atlas Copco DBSt series 12 models

Atlas Copco DHS VSD+ series 1 model

Atlas Copco DVS series 10 models

Atlas Copco DZS series 8 models

Atlas Copco GHS VSD+ series 21 models

Atlas Copco GVS series 9 models

Atlas Copco LRP VSD+ series 3 models

Becker BCV series 7 models

Becker DVT series 4 models

Becker KVT series 4 models

Becker KVX series 4 models

Becker O series 6 models

Becker RBP series 3 models

Becker SV series 16 models

Becker T series 6 models

Becker U4 series 6 models

Becker U O2-PACK series 5 models

Becker U series 8 models

Becker VADS series 3 models

Becker VARIAIR RV series 1 model

Becker VASF series 6 models

Becker VATP series 1 model

Becker VTLF series 6 models

Becker VT series 7 models

Becker VXLF series 5 models

Becker VX series 4 models

Busch COBRA Industry series 36 models

Busch DOLPHIN series 70 models

Busch HUCKEPACK series 4 models

Busch MINK series 32 models

Busch PANDA/PUMA series 26 models

Busch R5 series 58 models

Busch SAMOS series 31 models

Busch SECO series 10 models

Busch TYR series 16 models

Elmo Rietschle C-KLR series 2 models

Elmo Rietschle C-VLR series 7 models

Elmo Rietschle C-VLU series 4 models

Elmo Rietschle G-BH1 series 25 models

Elmo Rietschle G-BH2 series 9 models

Elmo Rietschle G-BH7 series 15 models

Elmo Rietschle G-BH9 series 1 model

Elmo Rietschle G-BH100 series 1 model

Elmo Rietschle L-BL2 series 7 models

Elmo Rietschle L-BV2 series 4 models

Elmo Rietschle L-BV3 series 1 model

Elmo Rietschle L-BV5 series 5 models

Elmo Rietschle L-BV7 series 4 models

Elmo Rietschle S-SVT series 11 models

Elmo Rietschle S-VSI series 1 model

Elmo Rietschle V-KTR series 4 models

Elmo Rietschle V-VCA/VCE series 2 models

Elmo Rietschle V-VCB series 2 models

Elmo Rietschle V-VCS series 13 models

Elmo Rietschle V-VCX series 7 models

Elmo Rietschle V-VGD series 2 models

Elmo Rietschle V-VTN series 3 models

Elmo Rietschle V-VTR series 2 models

Leybold CLAWVAC series 5 models

Leybold DRYVAC series 9 models

Leybold NEO D series 5 models

Leybold NOVADRY series 4 models

Leybold RUVAC WA/WAU series 8 models

Leybold RUVAC WH/WHU series 7 models

Leybold RUVAC WS/WSU series 8 models

Leybold SCREWLINE series 2 models

Leybold SOGEVAC series 23 models

Leybold TRIVAC series 20 models

Model comparison

Models a manufacturer no longer carries in its current range are listed in its “Outdated models” section.

Selection

Packaging: choosing a vacuum pump

What the manufacturers highlight for use in this industry.

Ultimate pressure and residual oxygen

The evacuation vacuum determines the residual oxygen in the pack (Becker). For floor-standing chamber machines, Becker names 1 to below 0.1 mbar and, with the U5 O2-PACK, down to 0.5 mbar, and for tabletop chamber machines 2 mbar with O6 and O5 and 1 mbar with the U 5.40. For skin packaging, Leybold names a low pressure while the film is heated.

Cycle time

For tabletop chamber machines, Becker names flat pumps for fast evacuation in compact machines, and Elmo Rietschle names short evacuation times of the S-VSI 300 with up to 380 m³/h and 0.1 mbar (abs.). For rotary chamber machines with the highest throughput, Leybold names DRYVAC with RUVAC.

Liquids and vapours

When liquids are packaged, bags are filled at an angle or upright so that the liquid does not boil under vacuum (Busch). Busch names COBRA, DOLPHIN, HUCKEPACK and R5 for this.

Oxygen-rich gases

For MAP with an increased oxygen content, Elmo Rietschle names the S-VSI 300 OXY, Leybold names the NOVADRY as approved for O2 MAP, and Becker names the U5 O2-PACK down to 0.5 mbar.

Frequently asked questions

Packaging: frequently asked questions about vacuum pumps

Which vacuum pump is suitable for chamber packaging machines?

Busch names the R5 as the standard for chamber machines, and COBRA, PANDA and PUMA for large industrial machines. Becker names U5 and U5 O2-PACK for floor-standing chamber machines and the flat O6, O5 and U 5.40 for tabletop machines, Leybold names SOGEVAC, NOVADRY and DRYVAC, and Elmo Rietschle names the V-VCB 20 and 25 for small chamber machines.

How much vacuum does a vacuum packaging machine need?

For floor-standing chamber machines, Becker names ultimate pressures of 1 to below 0.1 mbar, and for tabletop chamber machines 2 mbar with O6 and O5 and 1 mbar with the U 5.40; the evacuation vacuum determines the residual oxygen. Elmo Rietschle states 2 mbar (abs.) for the V-VCB and 0.1 mbar (abs.) for the S-VSI 300.

Which vacuum pump for thermoforming packaging machines?

For inline thermoformers, Becker names U5 with 65 to 360 m³/h, RBP with 500 to 2,400 m³/h and BCV with 100 to 600 m³/h at 50 to 200 mbar. Busch names MINK and R5 for the forming station, and COBRA, PANDA, PUMA and R5 for the sealing and evacuation station.

Which vacuum pump for modified atmosphere packaging (MAP)?

Busch names R5 and MINK, plus PANDA and PUMA; Leybold names SOGEVAC and NOVADRY, the NOVADRY being approved for O2 MAP. Elmo Rietschle names the S-VSI 300 OXY for gases with an increased oxygen content, and Becker names the U5 O2-PACK.

Which vacuum pump for carton erectors and palletisers?

For cartoning machines, Busch names MINK, R5, SAMOS, SECO and TYR, and for pick & place MINK, SAMOS, SECO and TYR. For secondary packaging, Becker names VTLF, VT and SV in sizes from 2 to 500 m³/h, and for vacuum lifters SV side channel blowers as well as BCV claw pumps.

Why does vacuum packaging extend shelf life?

The vacuum removes the air, and with it the oxygen, from the pack (Atlas Copco, Busch). Elmo Rietschle names the removal of oxygen as the reason for a longer shelf life and less contamination, and Leybold names the protection of aroma and texture.

Which vacuum pump for packaging liquids?

Busch names COBRA, DOLPHIN, HUCKEPACK and R5 and describes that bags are filled at an angle or upright so that the liquid does not boil under vacuum.

Which vacuum pump for beverage can manufacturing?

Atlas Copco names GHS VSD+ and LRP 700 to 1000 VSD+ with 200 to 400 mbar(a) and 1,200 to 3,000 m³/h: vacuum holds and moves the non-magnetic aluminium cans during forming, conveying, trimming, coating and printing.

Which vacuum pump for tray sealers and tray sealing machines?

For tray sealers, Busch names COBRA, HUCKEPACK, MINK, PANDA, PUMA and R5, and Leybold names the CLAWVAC for tray sealing. Becker names tray sealing machines on the pages of the O, U, RBP and BCV series.

Which vacuum pump for bottle filling?

Leybold names the CLAWVAC for bottle filling and the DRYVAC for beer bottling: bottles are evacuated and flushed with CO2 several times, at up to 80,000 bottles per hour. Becker names the evacuation of tubes, bottles and containers during filling as an application.

A pump at each machine or a central vacuum system?

A central system in a room of its own keeps noise and heat away from production and matches its output to the demand. Central vacuum systems are planned and built by Eugen Theis Vakuum, a company of the Ehrler & Beck group – more under Central Vacuum.

Does Ehrler & Beck also supply spare parts and service?

Yes. Ehrler & Beck offers original spare parts and accessories as well as maintenance and repair.

Which pump suits your process?

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