Piab Vakuum

Vacuum conveyors for powder & bulk

Vacuum is used with great advantage in conveying dry powder products through dedicated pipe systems. Piab's vacuum conveying systems are built of high quality material. When producing food, pharmaceuticals and chemical products there are demands on the highest possible degree of safety as to hygiene and operation. Piab's piFLOW® conveyors have been developed as an answer to the severe requirements of operational safety and hygiene in the food, pharmaceutical and chemical industries. Piab conveyors are ATEX Dust compliant.

Ergonomic handling solutions

Ergonomic handling solutions are available to meet the demands of all kinds of applications and can lift almost any type of product; parcels, baggage, sacks/bags, boards, glass, kegs/barrels, bottles, food, stone, windows etc. Depending on its purpose it is available in various number of combinations. With standard, as well as custom made suction feet with its high-quality suction cups, you can lift almost everything. As is proven to reduce strain injuries, being user friendly as well as keeping top quality promises, it will increase productivity of the application.

COAX® technology

Piab vacuum pumps/generators are predominately based on the patented COAX® technology. COAX® is an advanced solution for creating vacuum with compressed air. Based on Piab’s multistage technology, COAX® cartridges are smaller, more efficient and more reliable than conventional ejectors, which allow for the design of a flexible, modular and efficient vacuum system. A vacuum system based on COAX® technology can provide you with three times more vacuum flow than conventional systems, allowing you to increase speed with high reliability while reducing energy consumption. COAX® cartridges exist in several sizes (MIDI, MINI & MICRO) and models (Bi, Pi, Si, Ti & Xi), making them suitable for every application. The technology ensures excellent performance at both low and high feed pressures. Pumps based on COAX® technology can operate within the feed pressure range of 0.17 to 0.60 MPa.

piFLOW®p - now with higher flow pumps

piPREMIUM 600-1600 is a line extension of the previous piPREMIUM family which has been available in size 100-400. The target for the extension is the food and pharma industries who need higher capacity.

Autotuning – the art of SMART vacuum conveying

Industry 4.0 requirements find their way in every production step and become a regular demand by users to improve process knowledge, efficiency, product quality and traceability. Particularly, when manufacturing tablets, safety and security play a major role in this quest for reduction of variables. Based on its Industry 4.0 technology piSMART, Piab developed the autotuning concept for its vacuum conveyors. As it becomes ever important to ensure the ingredients are conveyed in a controlled manner to dosing and mixing equipment,the autotuning feature of the new piFLOW® SMART vacuum conveyor automizes the process of powder and bulk conveying. Based on its renowned COAX® ejector technology, the piFLOW® SMART is pre-programmed with advanced algrorithms to eliminate complex manual timer settings and allows continuous adaptive automatic fine tuning of the conveying process as well as recipe handling. Equipped with advanced sensor technology, it optimizes and increases throughput up to 50% higher compared to conventional conveyor systems. Smart electrical control data collection and analysis for overall process optimization, and real-time adjustment become part of the daily routine. In addition, the new piFLOW®SMART vacuum conveyor is equipped with further elements that allow easier and safer product handling. They are among others, automatic filter cleaning, multiple filter shock, material safety blockage function and antistatic filters and seals upon request. For usage in the pharmaceutical and food industries all material in contact with the conveyed product fulfil the requirements of FDA and EC No. 1935/2004 and designed according to USDA guidelines. Piab’s experts are available at both shows – Hannover Fair and Powtech – to provide further insights and discuss the benefits of how the new piFLOW® SMART can bring to every specific customer application.

The piLIFT® SMART, vacuum lifting on new levels

Smarter, more energy-efficient, quieter, ergonomic by design, and utilising the same principles of physics as all vacuum lifters, Piab’s piLIFT® SMART represents a paradigm shift as the market’s first Industry 4.0 ready vacuum lifter. The piLIFT® SMART takes ergonomic vacuum lifting to a new and higher level, essential for meeting our customers’ needs and to ensure the continued development and success of their industries. Smart data features based on internet connectivity enable Piab’s piLIFT® SMART vacuum lifter to deliver on the promises of Industry 4.0. Sensing and monitoring movements and responding quickly to user intentions, the user-friendly vacuum lifter will lift and weigh loads simultaneously, collect and log data, making process statistics and analyses immediately accessible to the user through web platform log-in. As ergonomics is at the heart of all Piab vacuum lifters, every aspect of the piLIFT® SMART has been designed with ergonomics and natural movements in mind. From the shape of the handle (enabling right and left handed use), the hand guard and the possibility to grip from the side and to rotate objects, to the placement of variable speed controls and a minimised operating sound level, the design of the piLIFT® SMART has been guided by ergonomics and the wellbeing of users. Significantly reducing the risk of staff injuries, Piab vacuum lifters can reduce the load on the operator’s body by more than 80 percent, whilst at the same optimising productivity. In fact, the addition of low energy consumption, minimal sound levels and smart data features enables the quick and intuitive piLIFT® SMART to elevate vacuum lifting to a higher level where it reigns supreme.

Improve automation acceptance by conveying bulk solids with Piab´s new product series

The automation level in the food, pharmaceuticals, and chemicals markets is developing rapidly due to the adaptation of new solutions globally. The acceptance is increasing thanks to the obvious benefits of automation, such as improved product hygiene and employee safety. Heightened consumers' expectations and legislative agency regulations also force manufacturers to re-evaluate their processes, but there are still some reasons why they choose not to invest. Currently, manufacturing plants often consist of separate silos of automation where process steps are not entirely connected. One of the main concerns against the adaptation is the organisation's lack of acceptance of new technologies. A high fluctuation rate and the scarcity of trained, competent operators or technicians makes it difficult to take the leap. Therefore, all new equipment introduced must be as user-friendly as possible in order to decrease employee onboarding time and to reduce the possibility of human error. Piab has taken all the above requirements into account when they developed their new product series, called the piFLOW® Batch Volume Optimisation, besides their standard piFLOW® vacuum conveyor range. The Batch Volume Optimisation functionality is easy to maintain, compliant with industry standards, and enhances productivity dramatically. The vacuum conveyor takes solids from a pickup point and releases them into a receiving vessel or a piece of equipment in batches. Batch Volume Optimisation features a level sensor. Once the conveyor is filled up by each cycle, the sensor automatically triggers the release process. This way, operators can set the conveyor up quickly, and the automatic level sensing adds an extra layer of safety, which protects the equipment from unplanned maintenance.

Piab Bulk Bag Unloader: Reliable Performance for Everyday Industrial Needs

Piab is pleased to announce the availability of its bulk bag unloader, a robust and dependable solution designed for the safe and efficient emptying of big bags in a wide range of industrial environments. It is a product supplied by IB Verfahrenstechnik, a Brand by Piab Group. The Piab Bulk Bag Unloader is a modular emptying system engineered for universal compatibility with standard FIBCs. The system accommodates bag dimensions ranging from 950–1050 mm width to 1100–2100 mm height, making it adaptable to your existing inventory without requiring proprietary bags. The robust construction features product-contact surfaces in stainless steel (1.4301) for hygienic compliance and long service life, while structural elements are mild steel with corrosion-resistant coating. The Piab Bulk Bag Unloader is available in configurations to meet your specific operational needs. The main selection in the configurator is about their loading method: Choose the Bulk Bag Unloader with Crane/Chain Hoist for facilities requiring overhead loading systems with crane or chain hoist integration. This variant offers maximum flexibility for large-scale operations and complex layouts. The chain hoist can be lifted manually by the operator. Bulk Bag Unloader with Forklift Loading – For operations utilizing forklift feeding systems. This streamlined variant integrates seamlessly with existing material handling equipment. The Forklift Loading system operates on a principle of spring-tensioned lifting beams that automatically raise the bag as material empties, ensuring thorough discharge and minimal product residue. Both variants support loads up to 1,600 kg. Optional vibration motors are available for challenging materials prone to bridging or sticking. Multiple docking options - spectacle closures, inflating cuffs, and feed hoppers - allow configuration tailored to your specific outlet hose sizes and process requirements.

Filter Monitoring Enables Preventive Maintenance

In vacuum conveying, filters are critical for maintaining system performance and product quality. Over time, filters become clogged. This can lead to reduced conveying capacity and subsequently inefficient energy consumption as the vacuum pump still consumes the same amount of compressed air or electricity while material transportation has decreased. Users gain real-time insight into the condition of their filters with the help of Filter Monitoring. This allows them to optimize equipment use and intervene only when necessary. This ensures the conveyor maintains optimal capacity without increased air or energy use, resulting in measurable energy savings and reduced environmental footprint. Unplanned downtime and reactive maintenance can be both costly and resource-intensive. Filter Monitoring addresses this by enabling predictive maintenance. Users are informed about the filter status, so they can schedule maintenance before problems arise. This proactive approach minimizes the risk of sudden stoppages, and reduces downtime. This helps facilities avoid resource-heavy interventions and keep the production running smoothly. An unnoticed clogged or broken filter may result in several hours of downtime. Even a single instance of an unexpected equipment failure can result in significant production and financial losses. Filter Monitoring pays for itself by preventing just one such incident. Well-maintained filters help sustain the designed conveying capacity, maximizing throughput and minimizing the risk of reduced performance. Filter Monitoring supports a consistent, reliable output and ensures that filter servicing happens before clogging impacts production. Support your zero-waste and ESG goals with Filter Monitoring! Automated alerts and real-time monitoring avoid unnecessary filter changes and emergency maintenance, leading to lower maintenance costs and fewer wasted resources.

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