Vacuum Pumps & Blowers
Not every low-pressure application needs a compressor
Vacuum and low-pressure air are essential to many production processes, but they’re often better served by purpose-built equipment than by tapping off a compressed air ring main. Running a compressor at low pressure to supply a blower application wastes energy. Using compressed air through an ejector to generate vacuum is convenient for small applications, but inefficient at scale. J&J Air Systems supply industrial vacuum pumps & blowers alongside our compressor range, and can advise on the right technology for your process.
We are authorised distributors of Elmo Rietschle vacuum and blower products, part of the Gardner Denver group, and service equipment from all major manufacturers including Busch, Becker and Edwards.
Discuss your application with us →
Why specify dedicated vacuum and blower equipment
Vacuum pumps
Industrial vacuum pumps create negative pressure for a wide range of manufacturing and process applications. Common uses include:
- Vacuum clamping and work holding on CNC routers and machining centres
- Pick-and-place systems in packaging and assembly automation
- Vacuum forming and thermoforming
- Degassing and drying processes
- Medical and laboratory applications
- Suction cup handling in printing and sheet-fed processes
- Freeze drying and pharmaceutical processing
Rotary vane
Available in oil-lubricated and dry-running versions. The most widely used vacuum technology across general industry, robust, economical and easy to maintain. Elmo Rietschle V-Series covers a wide performance range for both vacuum and combined pressure/vacuum applications.
Claw vacuum pumps
Dry, contact-free operation with internal pre-compression for high efficiency. The Elmo Rietschle C-Series claw pumps offer lower energy consumption than traditional rotary lobe designs, with low noise levels and minimal maintenance requirements. Well suited to packaging, food and pharmaceutical applications.
Liquid ring pumps
The right choice for humid, wet or aggressive process gases where other technologies would be damaged or degraded. The Elmo Rietschle L-Series liquid ring pumps maintain consistent operating characteristics and offer excellent corrosion resistance, making them well suited to chemical processing, biogas and wet vacuum applications.
Screw vacuum pumps
Dry-running screw technology for high vacuum in a single stage. The Elmo Rietschle S-Series offers high water vapour tolerance, short evacuation times and low noise, and is suitable for drying, distillation, packaging and industrial processes requiring deeper vacuum levels.
Industrial blowers
Where you need high-volume low-pressure air (typically below 1 bar), a dedicated blower is significantly more energy-efficient than a conventional compressor running at reduced pressure. Common applications include:
- Pneumatic conveying of bulk materials: powder, granules, pellets
- Aeration in water and wastewater treatment
- Aquaculture tank aeration
- Air knife drying and cooling on production lines
- Combustion air supply
- Textile and paper handling
- Biogas and anaerobic digestion
Side channel blowers
The Elmo Rietschle G-Series side channel blowers are virtually maintenance-free, with no internal parts requiring lubrication. Available across a wide performance range up to 3,000 m³/h with differential pressure up to 1,000 mbar. Adjustable speed via external or integral inverter. The standard choice for pneumatic conveying, vacuum lifting and low-pressure process air.
Rotary lobe blowers
Roots-type positive displacement blowers for applications requiring higher pressure differentials and stable, pulse-free flow. Commonly used in wastewater aeration, bulk conveying and biogas handling. Robust modular designs with frequency control available for variable flow requirements.
Which technology is right for your application?
The choice between side channel, rotary lobe and centrifugal blower technology depends on your required flow rate, pressure differential, duty cycle and whether pulsation in the delivered air is a concern. Contact us with your application details and we’ll specify the right unit.
Industry applications
Food and beverage
Vacuum packaging, modified atmosphere packaging, bottle filling, tray sealing and product handling all rely on vacuum. Dry-running and oil-free vacuum pumps are available where air contact with product or primary packaging requires it. Blowers are used for pneumatic conveying of ingredients and air knife drying of packaging lines.
Printing and packaging
Sheet-fed printing presses use vacuum for paper feed and transport. Packaging machinery uses vacuum for film handling, label application and suction cup pick-and-place. Blowers supply positive pressure for pneumatic conveying of packaging materials between process stages.
Plastics and manufacturing
Vacuum forming, thermoforming and blow moulding all require reliable vacuum supply. CNC routing of plastics, composites and timber uses vacuum clamping tables to hold workpieces without mechanical fixturing. Blowers convey plastic pellets and granules between hoppers and injection moulding machines.
Pharmaceutical and laboratory
Freeze drying, filtration, distillation and solvent handling all require controlled vacuum. Oil-free and chemically resistant pump technologies are available for aggressive solvents and sterile applications. Central vacuum systems serving multiple laboratory points of use are a common installation.
Water and wastewater treatment
Rotary lobe blowers are the standard technology for diffused aeration in activated sludge treatment, delivering large volumes of air at low pressure continuously and reliably. Side channel blowers serve smaller installations and tank aeration in aquaculture.
General manufacturing and automation
Vacuum clamping, pick-and-place, end-of-arm tooling on robots, and parts handling conveyors are all common vacuum applications across assembly and light manufacturing. We can advise on centralised vacuum systems as an alternative to multiple point-of-use ejectors.
Service and maintenance
We carry out planned maintenance and reactive repairs on vacuum pumps and blowers from all major manufacturers, including Elmo Rietschle, Busch, Becker and Edwards. A regular service schedule is the most cost-effective way to avoid unplanned downtime; vacuum pump failures often give warning signs that a trained engineer will catch before they become breakdowns.
Genuine and quality aftermarket parts are held in stock for most common makes and models, including oils, filters, vanes and shaft seals. We can usually turn round a service visit within 24 to 48 hours for customers within our service area.
Talk to us about your application
Whether you need a single bench-top vacuum pump, a central vacuum system for a production facility, or a blower for a conveying or aeration application, we’ll specify the right equipment and handle supply, installation and ongoing service. We cover London, the Home Counties and surrounding areas.
Call: 0800 027 8442 | Email: [email protected]