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Laboratory Vacuum Solutions

Whether you are running a mass spectrometer, freeze dryer, or glove box – vacuum plays a hidden but critical role. Pfeiffer Vacuum+Fab Solutions offers clean, quiet, and energy-efficient vacuum solutions that ensure reliable and accurate results, driving quality assurance across all laboratory applications.

The role of vacuum in laboratory processes

Creating reliable vacuum conditions in a laboratory is far more complex than simply connecting a vacuum pump. Vacuum plays an essential role in many laboratory applications, including mass spectrometry, filtration, freeze drying, glove boxes, and analytical instrumentation. In each case, it is essential to achieve accurate, reproducible results and maintain process stability.

Quiet, clean, and efficient, our lab vacuum solutions reduce noise, cut energy consumption, and require almost no maintenance – allowing you to focus fully on your work.
Despite its importance, vacuum supply is often treated as a secondary component–rarely evaluated with the same scrutiny as the instruments it supports. However, even minor deviations in pressure or background contamination can compromise quality assurance processes, introduce measurement uncertainty, or lead to increased maintenance needs.

Challenges in maintaining a stable laboratory environment

Vibration, acoustic noise, and oil mist – whether contaminating the chamber through backflow or escaping into the lab air via the exhaust – can all limit the performance of lab setups. In addition, poor integration into confined spaces may reduce overall system efficiency. As laboratory operations become increasingly automated and multifunctional, vacuum systems must deliver stable performance across a range of operating conditions – with minimal manual adjustment.

Optimizing these invisible aspects of laboratory infrastructure is key to ensuring test result integrity, regulatory compliance, increasing sample throughput and long-term efficiency.

Vacuum applications in the laboratory

Mass spectrometry: Clean and quiet vacuum for reliable results

Mass spectrometry depends on precise vacuum conditions across multiple pressure stages. While turbomolecular vacuum pumps generate high and ultra-high vacuum inside the instrument, backing pumps ensure stable forevacuum – and typically run continuously near the user.

Conventional oil-lubricated vacuum pumps are widely used in laboratory environments due to their relatively low acquisition costs and robustness.

However, they can introduce challenges: Noise, vibration, and the risk of contamination can affect both lab performance and working conditions. Scroll vacuum pumps and diaphragm vacuum pumps from Pfeiffer deliver clean, oil-free operation with very low noise, minimal vibration, and almost no maintenance requirements.

For labs with high-throughput measurements, reliable forevacuum is essential for consistent data quality and uptime. With dry, quiet systems, you protect your instrument and optimize your working environment.

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Solutions for lab freeze drying

Freeze drying processes place high demands on vacuum stability and contamination control. Pressure fluctuations or oil traces can lead to inconsistent drying curves, product loss, or compromised batch integrity – particularly in pharmaceutical and biotech applications.

Pfeiffer offers oil-free scroll and diaphragm vacuum pumps that deliver the required pressure stability, clean operation, and low-maintenance performance. For enhanced process safety, our portfolio includes sterilizable vacuum gauges for cleanroom environments and residual gas analyzers (RGA) to monitor potential contamination sources, such as oil or refrigerant leaks from cooling systems.

Together, these solutions help maintain reliable process conditions, prevent downtime, and support validated, GMP-compliant operation – while reducing energy consumption and improving working conditions in the lab.

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Vacuum pumps for glove boxes

Glove boxes require stable and clean vacuum conditions to protect air-sensitive processes – whether in materials science, battery development, or pharmaceutical handling. Yet many labs still use rotary vane vacuum pumps placed under each glove box, often with oil trays to catch leakage. These setups are noisy, prone to contamination, and require frequent cleaning.

Pfeiffer offers dry, oil-free alternatives such as HiScroll vacuum pumps, which drastically reduce both maintenance and background noise – down to 45 dB compared to 65 dB for typical rotary vane vacuum pumps. For applications involving reactive media, chemical-resistant versions are available.

The result: a cleaner lab environment and a more comfortable workspace.

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Intelligent vacuum supply – from a single pump to a central system

Laboratory vacuum can be configured in multiple ways, depending on your application requirements, infrastructure, and goals.

In a one-to-one setup, each instrument is connected to its own dedicated vacuum pump – ideal for maximum independence and control.

For large-scale labs or multi-room facilities, a central vacuum system may be the ideal choice. In such setups, the vacuum supply is completely decoupled from the lab environment and managed via a central unit, ensuring vacuum through the entire building.

A clustered configuration is more efficient, with one or two pumps supplying vacuum to multiple instruments within the same lab. At Eurofins Umweltanalytik GmbH, this approach enabled up to eight mass spectrometers to operate using just two HiScroll vacuum pumps – reducing noise, energy consumption, and maintenance.

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Key components for lab vacuum

Lab vacuum setups must meet practical demands – noise, cleanliness, performance, and integration flexibility. Pfeiffer offers a complete portfolio of dry and oil-lubricated backing pumps, pressure monitoring solutions, and integrated accessories to support efficient, stable operation in any lab environment.

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Backing pumps


The choice of backing pump has a direct impact on lab performance, sound pressure levels, contamination risk, and service effort. Pfeiffer Vacuum+Fab Solutions offers both dry and oil-lubricated technologies, tailored to your application needs and infrastructure. Dry vacuum pump technologies For labs prioritizing clean operation and low maintenance, dry vacuum pumps offer clear advantages:

Scroll vacuum pumps (HiScroll):
  • Quiet (~45 dB), oil-free, and low vibration. Ideal for glove boxes, mass spectrometry, and multi-instrument setups.

Diaphragm vacuum pumps (MVP):
  • Chemically resistant and compact, suited for filtration, aspiration, and freeze drying.

Multi-stage roots vacuum pumps (ACP):
  • High pumping speed for freeze drying or central systems. Often used in clustered lab setups.

Rotary vane vacuum pumps (oil-lubricated) (SmartVane, DuoVane):
  • While many labs are transitioning to dry systems, rotary vane vacuum pumps remain a cost-effective option – particularly for standard workflows or where budget is critical. New-generation models offer reduced sound pressure level for a more user-friendly operation.

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Vacuum monitoring and control


Intelligent accessories – such as pressure sensors, controllers, and integrated diagnostics – help labs automate vacuum levels, monitor process conditions, and ensure reproducibility. These components support both individual and central setups.

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Turbomolecular vacuum pumps


Turbopumps are essential for generating high and ultra-high vacuum in laboratory equipment such as mass spectrometers, gas chromatographs, and electron microscopes. The HiPace and SplitFlow models from Pfeiffer are widely integrated by instrument manufacturers to ensure vacuum stability, fast evacuation times, and low background noises.

While these vacuum pumps are typically part of the instrument design and not selected by the end user, they play a crucial role in system performance. With over 500,000 turbopumps installed worldwide, Pfeiffer Vacuum+Fab Solutions is a trusted partner in high-vacuum technology.

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Learn more about laboratory vacuum

What is meant by laboratory vacuum?

Laboratory vacuum refers to the use of reduced pressure to enable and control scientific processes. Although often invisible, it is a crucial component in nearly every lab environment.

Whether laboratory staff is operating a mass spectrometer, handling air-sensitive samples in a glove box, preparing materials on a Schlenk line, operating an electron microscope, or managing freeze drying and sterilization, reliable vacuum conditions keep these systems running accurately and safely.

Vacuum enables reproducible results, clean operation, and process stability. It is our goal to make this invisible infrastructure as convenient, quiet, and maintenance-free as possible – so researchers can focus on the science, not the system.

What are typical vacuum requirements in scientific laboratories?

Labs need vacuum systems that are clean, quiet, and stable. Key requirements include:

  • Precise pressure control for accurate and reproducible results
  • Oil-free operation to prevent contamination
  • Low noise and vibration to improve working conditions
  • Minimal maintenance to ensure continuous operation
  • Compact footprint for easy integration into confined lab spaces

Why is a stable vacuum level critical for quality assurance?

Vacuum fluctuations can affect test accuracy, sample integrity, and measurement repeatability. In applications like analytical instrumentation or scientific research, stable vacuum conditions ensure reliable and accurate results, forming the foundation of compliant quality assurance processes.

How do I choose the right vacuum pump for my lab?

Selecting the right vacuum pump depends on your lab’s setup, process sensitivity, and maintenance preferences.

  • Use scroll or diaphragm vacuum pumps for clean, oil-free operation
  • Choose rotary vane vacuum pumps for lower initial investment
  • For shared or central setups, consider multi-stage Roots vacuum pumps or even larger systems.

Vacuum requirements vary across laboratory settings, so pressure range, sound pressure levels, and energy efficiency should all be considered.

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What role does pressure monitoring play in lab vacuum systems?

Pressure monitoring is essential for consistent vacuum conditions, early fault detection, and ensuring reproducible experiments. Pfeiffer offers integrated sensors and control units to support vacuum regulation, equipment calibration, and long-term system monitoring across all lab setups.

What is the difference between oil-free and oil-lubricated vacuum pumps?

Oil-free pumps – such as scroll and diaphragm vacuum pumps – minimize the risk of contamination and reduce maintenance needs, making them ideal for clean lab environments.

Oil-lubricated pumps like rotary vane vacuum pumps are more cost-effective for certain applications but require regular oil changes and may introduce background contamination if not properly maintained.

Why choose laboratory vacuum from Pfeiffer?

Pfeiffer offers more than just pumps – we deliver complete vacuum solutions designed for laboratory environments. Whether you are working in scientific research, pharmaceutical quality control, or analytical instrumentation, our solutions are built to ensure test reliability, process stability, and regulatory compliance.

Key reasons to choose Pfeiffer:

  • Oil-free, low-noise, and compact designs for clean lab operation
  • Intelligent control and monitoring for better process transparency
  • Solutions tailored to laboratory quality assurance and standard operating procedures
  • Trusted by OEMs with over 500,000 turbopumps installed worldwide
  • Full range of technologies – from scroll and diaphragm to multi-stage Roots and rotary vane vacuum pumps

Our systems are engineered to reduce maintenance, improve efficiency, and simplify integration – so you can focus on results, not infrastructure.

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How to optimize your lab setup with 5 simple tips?

To optimize your lab vacuum, consider:

  • Switching to oil-free pumps to reduce maintenance
  • Reducing noise with modern low-decibel models
  • Implementing central vacuum systems for multi-user labs
  • Adding pressure monitoring for process control
  • Ensuring setup aligns with standard operating procedures and compliance standards

Does Pfeiffer manufacture laboratory equipment?

Pfeiffer does not manufacture complete laboratory instruments, but provides key components like turbopumps, backing pumps, and vacuum accessories. These technologies are integrated into laboratory equipment for mass spectrometry, gas analysis, surface science, and other applications requiring high-performance vacuum systems.

What does equipment calibration have to do with laboratory quality assurance?

Reliable vacuum measurement is essential for consistent laboratory results and a critical part of laboratory quality assurance. Over time, even high-precision gauges can drift, leading to inaccurate readings and process variability.

Regular equipment calibration ensures measurement accuracy, supports regulatory verification, and maintains traceable documentation. It also provides a strong foundation for passing internal audits and complying with quality standards.

Pfeiffer offers ISO 17025-certified calibration services for a wide range of vacuum gauges– enabling precision, compliance, and confidence in your lab's performance.

Learn more about calibration service from Pfeiffer

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At Eurofins Umweltanalytik GmbH, a central vacuum solution using two HiScroll vacuum pumps was implemented to support gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS) systems for pollutant analysis, where reliable forevacuum is essential for the integrated mass spectrometers. The oil-free pumps not only have reduced lab noise and energy consumption but also have lowered maintenance costs and heat generation – ensuring stable operation for sensitive analytical instrumentation.

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