At Great Lakes Vacuum, we manufacture and service vacuum pumps and mechanical boosters.  In fact, we specialize in rebuilding and repairing industrial vacuum pumps and boosters, with a particular focus on rotary piston pumps.  These pumps are the workhorses of many demanding industries, delivering consistent performance under harsh conditions. Below are some of the major industries and applications where rotary piston vacuum pumps play a vital role.

Lyophilization (Freeze Drying)

Rotary piston pumps are essential in lyophilization processes, where pharmaceuticals, biologics, and food products are dried under vacuum. Their ability to quickly achieve deep vacuum levels ensures product stability, extended shelf life, and preservation of sensitive compounds.

Advanced Materials (Super Alloys)

Manufacturing super alloys requires extremely clean and controlled environments. Rotary piston pumps support processes like alloy refining and casting by maintaining high-vacuum conditions that prevent contamination and improve material strength and performance.

Electron Beam Welding

In electron beam welding, components are joined in a high-vacuum chamber. Rotary piston pumps provide the vacuum foundation necessary for electron beam focus and precision, ensuring strong, defect-free welds for aerospace, defense, and medical applications.

Thermal Processing (Heat Treating)

Heat treating processes like hardening, annealing, and tempering often require controlled vacuum environments. Rotary piston pumps maintain these conditions, allowing for consistent treatment of metals with minimal oxidation and contamination.

Metalizing

In decorative and functional metalizing, thin layers of metal are deposited onto surfaces such as glass, plastic, or paper. Rotary piston pumps maintain stable vacuum levels, ensuring uniform coatings used in packaging, optics, and automotive parts.

Thin Film Coating

Industries such as optics, electronics, and solar manufacturing rely on thin film coatings applied under vacuum. Rotary piston pumps enable precise film deposition by sustaining the required vacuum pressure throughout the coating process.

Leak Detection

Leak detection systems often use rotary piston pumps to evacuate test chambers. Their reliability and ability to reach low pressures make them ideal for detecting leaks in critical components such as fuel systems, refrigeration units, and semiconductor devices.

Vacuum Investment Casting

This process, widely used in aerospace and turbine industries, requires a high-quality vacuum environment to produce defect-free castings. Rotary piston pumps remove gases and prevent porosity, ensuring strong, high-integrity metal parts.

Vacuum Induction Melting (VIM)

In VIM, metals are melted under vacuum to produce alloys with tight chemical specifications. Rotary piston pumps help maintain the vacuum conditions that prevent oxidation and ensure high purity during melting and solidification.

Vacuum Arc Remelting (VAR)

For critical aerospace and medical materials, VAR is used to refine alloys under vacuum. Rotary piston pumps sustain the environment needed for controlled solidification, eliminating impurities and structural defects in the final product.

Vacuum Cooling in Agriculture

In the agricultural industry, vacuum cooling is used to rapidly lower the temperature of produce, extending shelf life and preserving quality. Rotary piston pumps provide the vacuum necessary to draw out heat and moisture efficiently.

Conclusion

Rotary piston vacuum pumps are indispensable across a wide range of industries, from pharmaceuticals and agriculture to aerospace and advanced manufacturing. At Great Lakes Vacuum, we manufacture rotary piston pumps; we also ensure our customer’s critical pumps remain reliable and efficient through expert repair, rebuild, and service.