Pfeiffer Vacuum+Fab Solutions

Before an experiment reaches space, it first has to survive a vacuum chamber on Earth. Imagine a control room monitoring experiments aboard the International Space Station (ISS): Screens flicker with streams of data, displaying live tracking of samples like conductive metals as they are melted, cooled, and observed under microgravity in space to investigate their behavior. On Earth, gravity would interfere with such experiments in multiple ways, introducing unwanted influences and masking the true behavior of the metal samples/ Scientists use ultra-high vacuum (UHV) conditions of 10⁻⁸ hPa or even higher to test everything, all before a single component ever leaves the ground. Without this step, experiments aboard the International Space Station or on sounding rockets would be flying blind. What makes this work so compelling is what vacuum actually does: it removes interference. On Earth, gravity would interfere with such experiments in multiple ways, introducing unwanted influences and masking the true behavior of the metal samples: convection currents stir up the molten material, heavy components sink, while lighter ones rise. The applications go far beyond today's missions. Scientists are already testing additive manufacturing processes in vacuum chambers that simulate what future astronauts on Mars may one day do routinely: produce spare parts on board, layer by layer, without waiting for a resupply mission from Earth. Vacuum technology rarely  gets the spotlight. But it underpins nearly every major breakthrough in space research. What other enabling technologies do you think deserve more recognition in the space industry? #SpaceResearch #PfeifferVacuumFabSolutions #Aeronautics

Not all efficiency losses are visible. But they are there: 🔻 Leaks 🔻 Heat 🔻 Wear And they’re costing you more than you think. 🏁 Learn how smart maintenance keeps your vacuum system race-ready: efficient, reliable, and built to last. 🗓 May 21, 2026 🕒 Session 1: 10 am CEST (Berlin, Germany) / 5 pm JST (Tokyo, Japan) 🕒 Session 2: 5 pm CEST (Berlin, Germany) / 10 am CDT (Chicago, USA) Includes: 15 min live Q&A with our experts - get your questions answered. 👉 Take the driver's seat: https://lnkd.in/ex8MkAP6

A leaking O-ring connection in a vacuum system. No room for tightening the screws further. Grease applied in good faith. And yet the process is contaminated. The frustrating part: the grease itself was not wrong. The environment was. 👉Swipe to see the four reasons why greasing an O-ring can help – and four reasons why it can make things worse. Small amounts of grease from the seal inevitably evaporate and distribute throughout the vacuum side. In research applications, that contaminates the experiment entirely. Once flanges reach metal-to-metal contact, tightening the screws only stresses the joint. Grease becomes the next logical step. When vacuum is used in the backing range with high gas flows and low temperatures – especially when also using oil-lubricated vacuum pumps – a little grease does no harm and can even help. But carry that same habit into a high-cleanliness system and you have a problem. What we call the cleanliness-first rule: before considering using the grease, ask how clean the vacuum needs to be. That single question changes the decision completely. In demanding environments, grease is absolutely taboo so as to avoid any contamination. When it is appropriate, the layer should be wafer-thin and almost dry to the touch to get the best performance from both the grease and the O-ring. What is the biggest mismatch you have seen where a best practice from one system became a disaster in another? #Grease #PfeifferVacuumFabSolutions #Maintenance

Your vacuum system might be running… but is it running efficiently? Hidden losses often go unnoticed: ▪️A small leak driving up energy use ▪️Rising temperatures reducing performance ▪️Substandard parts accelerating wear These effects don’t stay small - they compound. 🏁 In this webinar, we break down where efficiency is really lost during operation and how the right maintenance approach keeps costs down and performance high. 🗓 May 21, 2026 🕒 Session 1 (EN): 10 am CEST (Berlin, Germany) / 5 pm JST (Tokyo, Japan) 🕒 Session 2 (EN): 5 pm CEST (Berlin, Germany) / 10 am CDT (Chicago, USA) Includes: Live Q&A with our experts - get your questions answered. 👉 Take the driver's seat: https://lnkd.in/ex8MkAP6

To grease or not to grease? After an extended period of use, the connections sealed by O-rings in a vacuum system may no longer be completely leak-free, and tightening the screws further does not help. One possibility to improve the seal is to grease the O-ring. But is this a good idea, or could this small change actually cause more problems than it solves in the vacuum application? What is the purpose of an O-ring❓ The purpose of an O-ring is to fill and compensate for any unevenness between two metallic sealing surfaces, such as flanges. This requires the flanges to be smooth and O-ring compression of approximately 20 to 30 % of its size. Less than this will mean that the connection is not leak-tight; more than this could result in the O-ring being crushed and therefore compromised. Why do O-rings lose their tightness❓ O-rings normally have a long lifetime under proper conditions. Leaks usually develop for two reasons: ▪️Contamination introduced during installation: This can include dust, oils from the fingers, or even residues from disposable gloves. The contamination can often be resolved by opening the connection, carefully but thoroughly cleaning the O-ring, and resealing it. Lint-free gloves are essential during handling and installation to ensure that further residues are not introduced. ▪️Frequent opening and closing: Although O-rings are designed to provide a resealable connection, repeated movement can scratch or deform the sealing surface, allowing air into the system. In more demanding applications, failure can be the result of the material itself degrading. The choice of O-ring material is decisive here; perfluoro-elastomers are usually the most chemically resistant. 👉Stay tuned! The full technical breakdown of the grease dilemma follows on Thursday. #ORings #Maintenance #LeakPrevention #PfeifferVacuumFabSolutions #TipsandTricks

In every lab, there’s a silent enabler: the vacuum pump. Yet it’s often overlooked, 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. Optimizing these invisible aspects of laboratory infrastructure is key to ensuring test result integrity, regulatory compliance, increasing sample throughput and long-term efficiency. Connect with our experts to configure the ideal vacuum solution for your processes and lab environment➡️ https://lnkd.in/dyEXvQmH #LaboratoryEquipment #VacuumTechnology #LabEfficiency #Laboratory #PfeifferVacuumFabSolutions

Day 2 at SEMICON Southeast Asia 2026 in Kuala Lumpur. At booth 1718, the Pfeiffer team is showcasing technologies designed to support the most demanding semiconductor manufacturing environments. ▪️Engineered for the most demanding semiconductor applications, UltiDry ensures clean, contamination-free operation while remaining energy-efficient even when handling corrosive gases, aggressive by-products, and heavy powder loads. ▪️To help semiconductor manufacturers achieve higher yield and process reliability, Pfeiffer offers solutions for advanced contamination management and proactive maintenance that will also be presented at the booth. ▪️The 3D fab model showcases how the technologies from Pfeiffer interconnect across an entire semiconductor facility, giving visitors a tangible sense of how the complete portfolio supports every stage of production. 👉Visit the team at booth 1718, Level 1, at MITEC, Kuala Lumpur, from May 5 to 7 to discover how advanced vacuum and abatement technologies enable modern semiconductor manufacturing. #SEMICONSEA #Semiconductor #VacuumTechnology #SemiconductorManufacturing #PfeifferVacuumFabSolutions

Open or closed container testing – does it really make a difference? In CCIT, helium leak detection is considered the gold standard. But the reliability of your results depends on one key factor: 👉 Do you test open or closed containers? ▪️Open containers → controlled helium concentration, high accuracy ▪️Closed containers → real production conditions, but potential uncertainty Understanding this difference is critical when moving from R&D to production. In our upcoming webinar, we will: ✔ Compare open vs. closed container testing ✔ Explain the risks of tracer gas concentration changes ✔ Introduce OES as a non-destructive alternative for closed systems 📅 Sessions: 🕒 10:00 CEST 🕒 17:00 CEST 👉 Register here: https://lnkd.in/eWSUHzxd #CCIT #Pharma #LeakDetection #QualityAssurance #PharmaceuticalManufacturing

With programs active in over 30 countries, Girls’ Day has become a worldwide benchmark for overcoming stereotypes that can influence future career choices. For Girls' Day 2026, we hosted 36 participants eager to explore career paths beyond traditional expectations. Through direct engagement with technical teams and exposure to real-world applications, participants broadened their perspectives and challenged common stereotypes about career choices. By opening our doors to young minds, we aim to demonstrate the diversity and excitement of technical professions. These opportunities to talk and learn are helpful for supporting girls as they consider future paths in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics. #STEM #WomenInTech #BuschGroup #TechCareers #GenderDiversity