A dry vacuum offers many advantages to users from a wide range of sectors. These include longer running performance and ultimately greater efficiency in the processes. As one of the leading suppliers of speciality gases, welding accessories and automation solutions, OE Meyer from the US state of Ohio has been relying on dry vacuum technology since January of 2023. By switching to the DRY screw vacuum pumps and the oxygen resistant VARODRY HD/O2 from Leybold, the company from the Midwest of the USA has achieved significant process improvements.
Credit: Leybold
The dry DRYVAC 650 from Leybold ensures betterperformance and a longer service life.
Owned by the employees
OE Meyer has seven different locations throughout the state and is 100 percent owned by its 130 employees. The company has been providing the highest quality products and services since 1918. This credo has also helped the specialists maintain their legacy for a century. OE Meyer supplies its customers with industrial and speciality gases as well as welding and production systems. Customised solutions are aimed at industry, agriculture, the healthcare system and the gastronomy. The focus is on both young start-ups and established large companies. The Americans concentrate on general and medical gas and industrial gas filling as well as cylinder, oxygen and inert gas filling.
Problems with oil leaks
When using the previous vacuum pumps, there was a serious problem with oil leaks. ‘The oil leaks caused considerable costs on the one hand and safety risks due to slipping hazards and environmental damage on the other. The oil changes also cost around 1,600 dollars each,’ says Mitch Robinson from OE Meyer, looking back. In order to keep pace with modern operational safety and environmental standards and reduce costs at the same time, it was therefore only logical to replace the existing vacuum technology. ‘This step was a good opportunity to offer the customer OE Meyer a sustainable alternative with the dry VARODRY HD/O2 vacuum pumps,’ recalls Josh Miller from Leybold. The introduction of the dry-running DRY vacuum pumps also confirmed the change.
Certification for oxygen-rich processes
‘The investments were right across the board, and the new pumps proved to be clean, ergonomic and efficient in use,’ summarises Mitch Robinson from OE Meyer. The dry technology now eliminates oil contamination and backflow, ensuring a safe working environment. Just as importantly, the oxygen-tolerant VARODRY HD/O2 fits seamlessly into current processes and has led to greater operational efficiency and savings, for example in the filling process with medical oxygen. What's more, certification for operation with oxygen-rich processes gives employees confidence in handling dry vacuum technology.
DRYVAC dry screw vacuum pumps
The dry DRYVAC from Leybold also ensures better performance and a longer service life: it combines a higher production yield with minimised contamination risks, especially in demanding processes. In addition, the switch to DRY vacuum pumps has resulted in savings of approximately $10,000 per year in PFPE oil consumption alone. In addition, the elimination of maintenance issues during oil changes means savings of $10,000. So, despite initial concerns, operational efficiency has improved, making the entire operation cleaner and more profitable.
Effective solutions for specific problems
‘We have also had nothing but good experiences with Leybold's services so far. The customer support provided by the maintenance staff was punctual and uncomplicated,’ says Mitch Robinson from OE Meyer, describing the interaction. The employees have not only received effective solutions for their specific problems, but also insights and tips on how to improve their skills and carry out maintenance work themselves. For example, it only takes 15 minutes to change a belt on the VARODRY. ‘The bottom line is that our overall satisfaction with Leybold's products and services is high,’ says Mitch Robinson, summarizing the overall benefits.