When oil-free is mandatory
Food packaging, pharmaceutical, electronics, semiconductor and clean laboratories cannot accept oil contamination. Oil-free pumps are also easier to live with in dusty, humid or frequent start-stop duty.
Selection checklist
- Confirm the target vacuum is within oil-free capability
- Check the speed curve at the actual working pressure
- Assess gas temperature and particles; add pre-filtration if needed
- Consider noise, heat rejection and maintenance access
- Compare total life-cycle cost, not only purchase price
Where cleanliness and lower ultimate pressure are both required, an oil-free backing pump with a Roots booster is often the right combination.
