Robust & Reliable Oil-Free Piston Vacuum Pumps
Thomas-Like Engineering, Cost-Effective Excellence
Find Your Ideal Piston Pump
Quality & Cost-Effective Solutions
AP 650
- Flow rate: 65 L/min
- Vacuum: -90 kP
- Motor power: 150 W
AP 2600
- Flow rate: 260 L/min
- Vacuum: -93 kP
- Motor power: 580 W
AP 3200-50
- Flow rate: 300 L/min
- Vacuum: -93 kP
- Motor power: 300 W
- Tank size: 50 Liters
Engineered for Purity and Reliability
Proven Performance Across Industries
Medical & Dental
Laboratory & Analysis
Printing & Paper Handling
Environmental Technology
Electronics & Pick-and-Place
Food & Beverage
Finding the Perfect Oil-Free Vacuum Solution
Your Comprehensive Selection Guide
An oil-free (or dry) piston pump is a positive displacement pump that uses durable, low-friction piston seals, typically made from PTFE or carbon composites, instead of oil for lubrication and sealing. This design ensures that the vacuum or pressure stream remains 100% free of oil contamination, which is critical for medical, laboratory, and food-grade applications.
Oil-free operation is achieved through advanced material science. Instead of relying on oil, the pump uses a precision-machined piston fitted with a self-lubricating seal (cup) made from a specialized PTFE (Teflon) compound or a carbon/graphite composite. This seal slides within a smooth, hard-coated cylinder. The bearings in the motor and drivetrain are sealed and greased for life, ensuring no lubricants can enter the air path.
Their primary applications are where air purity is mandatory. This includes:
Medical & Dental: Breathing air compressors, dental suction, autoclaves, and aspirators.
Laboratory: Vacuum filtration, gas sampling, mass spectrometry, and vacuum ovens.
Food & Beverage: Beverage dispensing, food processing machinery, and vacuum packaging for sensitive products.
Printing & Paper: Paper transport via suction cups, air blast for sheet separation, and bookbinding machines.
Electronics: Pick-and-place machines for handling sensitive components.
Zero Contamination: The processed air is 100% free of oil particles, protecting sensitive products and processes.
Reduced Maintenance: Eliminates the need for oil changes, oil monitoring, and the disposal of used oil and oily condensate.
Versatility: Most models can be used to generate either vacuum or pressure, often in the same unit.
Flexible Installation: Since there is no oil sump, the pumps can often be mounted in any orientation.
The lifespan of the piston seals is highly dependent on the application, specifically the duty cycle, operating temperature, and vacuum/pressure level. Under standard operating conditions (e.g., 8 hours/day, at room temperature), high-quality PTFE seals typically last between 8,000 and 10,000 operating hours before a service kit is required. For continuous 24/7 operation, this interval will be shorter.
Yes, they can handle water in vapor form effectively. The pump's heat will typically keep the moisture as a gas, which is then passed through and exhausted. However, they are NOT designed to pump liquid water. Ingesting a "slug" of liquid can cause immediate damage (hydraulic lock). For applications with potential liquid carryover, an inlet liquid separator or knockout pot is mandatory.
Piston pumps generally offer higher flow rates and can achieve higher pressure levels than diaphragm pumps of a similar size. They are typically more robust for industrial applications. Diaphragm pumps, however, are often preferred for their hermetically sealed design, making them excellent for handling corrosive or very precious gases where zero leakage is critical.
Most single-stage oil-free piston pumps achieve a maximum vacuum level between 150 and 200 mbar absolute (approx. -80 kPa to -85 kPa gauge). This is less deep than an oil-sealed pump but is more than sufficient for the vast majority of applications they are designed for, such as holding, lifting, and general suction.
Yes, absolutely. The outlet port provides a clean, oil-free source of compressed air. They are often referred to as "compressor/vacuum pumps" for this reason. Typical maximum pressure is around 1.0 to 1.5 bar (15 to 22 psig), which is ideal for applications like air blast, actuation, and aeration.
Beyond flow and pressure, the most critical factors are duty cycle and thermal management. Because the pump relies on air for cooling, continuous 24/7 operation in a hot, poorly ventilated room will drastically reduce seal life. It is crucial to match the pump's duty rating to the application's demands and ensure adequate airflow around the unit. Process gas compatibility with the seal and valve materials is also essential.
Yes. While standard models use aluminum heads and PTFE seals, we offer customized solutions. For mildly corrosive environments, components can be chemically coated or anodized. For more aggressive applications, pump heads and valve plates can be specified in 316 Stainless Steel, with piston seals made from specialized composite materials to handle specific chemical vapors.
It is the single most important factor. The friction from the dry-running piston seal generates significant heat. This heat must be effectively dissipated by the cooling fan and the cooling fins on the cylinder. If the pump overheats due to poor ventilation or exceeding its duty cycle, the piston seal will degrade rapidly, leading to a loss of performance and premature failure.
Maintenance is minimal and straightforward. The primary task is replacing the piston seal(s) and valve flappers using a designated service kit at the recommended service interval. Additionally, the cooling fan and intake filter should be inspected and cleaned regularly to ensure they are free of dust and debris, which could impede cooling and airflow.
The most common indicators are a noticeable degradation in performance. This can manifest as:
The pump takes significantly longer to reach its target vacuum level.
The pump can no longer achieve its specified maximum vacuum.
The pump runs noticeably hotter than usual or has a change in its operating sound.
Yes, but performance will be affected. At higher altitudes, the less dense air reduces the pump's cooling efficiency and its mass flow rate. The pump may need to be de-rated, or a larger model may be required to achieve the same sea-level performance. It is critical to inform our engineers of the installation altitude during the selection process.
Challenge: Overheating. Solution: Correctly sizing the pump for the duty cycle and ensuring at least 15 cm (6 inches) of clear space around the pump for ventilation.
Challenge: Particulate Ingestion. Solution: Always use a high-quality inlet filter to prevent solid particles from entering the cylinder, which can score the cylinder wall and destroy the piston seal.
Challenge: Noise. Solution: While quieter than many industrial pumps, they can be placed in an acoustic enclosure (ensuring proper ventilation) for noise-sensitive environments.
Starting against a pre-existing vacuum (or pressure) requires very high starting torque from the motor. Standard motors may struggle or trip their thermal overload protector. For applications requiring frequent starts under load, the pump must be fitted with a high starting torque motor or a solenoid-operated relief valve that momentarily vents the line to atmosphere at startup.
A standard piston uses a traditional crankshaft and connecting rod to drive the piston in a linear motion, making it robust and suitable for larger, higher-flow industrial models. A rocking piston (or "wobble" piston) has the piston cup attached directly to a large bearing on an eccentric motor shaft. This creates a "wobbling" motion that drives the piston. This design is very compact and has fewer parts, making it extremely common and reliable for smaller-to-medium-sized pumps.
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Why Choose Us
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Proven Reliability
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High-quality Materials
Cost-effectiveness
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Select Your Desired Models
Technical Specifications & Datasheets
| Model | Pumping Speed (L/min) |
Vacuum (Kp) |
Connection (Diameter, mm) |
Motor Power (W) |
Noise (dB) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| AP-400 | 40 | -90 | 8 | 85 | 58 |
| AP-400H | 20 | -95 | 8 | 85 | 58 |
| AP-650 | 65 | -90 | 8 | 150 | 58 |
| AP-650H | 35 | -95 | 8 | 150 | 58 |
| AP-900 | 110 | -90 | 10 | 200 | 60 |
| AP-900H | 60 | -98 | 10 | 200 | 60 |
| AP-1300 | 130 | -92 | 10 | 280 | 60 |
| AP-1300H | 65 | -98 | 10 | 280 | 60 |
| AP-1500 | 150 | -92 | 10 | 280 | 58 |
| AP-1500H | 75 | -98 | 10 | 280 | 58 |
| AP-2000 | 200 | -93 | 10 | 450 | 60 |
| AP-2000H | 100 | -98 | 10 | 450 | 60 |
| AP-2600 | 260 | -93 | 12 | 580 | 68 |
| AP-2600H | 135 | -99 | 12 | 580 | 68 |
| AP-3200 | 300 | -93 | 12 | 300 | 72 |
| AP-3200H | 150 | -99 | 12 | 300 | 72 |
| AP-4800 | 460 | -95 | 12 | 650 | 68 |
| AP-4800H | 230 | -99 | 12 | 650 | 68 |
Insights and Clarifications on Our Products and Services
FAQs
We provide a 12-month limited warranty for our distributors. This warranty becomes effective from the loading date as indicated on the Bills of Lading for sea shipments.
For other delivery methods, the warranty period starts from the shipment date from our factory.
Typically, we take about 3 to 4 weeks. But if we have everything ready in stock, we might get it to you in just 2 weeks!
Our minimum order (MOQ) requirement is set at USD 4,000 to adequately cover fixed logistics and handling expenses.
Nevertheless, we welcome orders of smaller quantities, even as little as one piece, from new customers for testing purposes, provided that the freight expenses are borne by the client.
Absolutely, we offer OEM services to meet your branding requirements, including custom nameplates and tailored packaging solutions.
Remarkbl stands as China’s premier and most seasoned manufacturer of oil-sealed rotary vane vacuum pumps. As its strategic partner, Elitevak manages all export activities efficiently.
We prefer wire transfers (T/T) – 30% upfront and the balance before we ship your order. If we’re racing against time and the lead time is under 3 weeks, we’d appreciate full payment upfront. It just helps speed things up!