Intelligent Vacuum Systems for Analytical and Thin Films Markets

Interview conducted by Beth EllisonJun 4 2015

In this interview, Antonio Mantilla, Technical Sales Manager at Leybold, talks to AZoM about the TURBOVAC i/iX range of high vacuum equipment.

What industry does Leybold work within? 

Oerlikon Leybold manufactures a wide variety of products, which makes us a key player in many different applications and markets. Our products are used in everything from food packaging to particle accelerators.

We are particularly strong in the analytical market, where our pumps are essential components in mass spectrometers and electron microscopes, as well as the thin film coating markets for creating high quality reflective and anti-reflective coatings on everything from automobile headlamps to the coatings on your eye glasses.

Why has Leybold developed the TURBOVAC i/iX range?

Leybold is a well-known world-wide manufacturer of high vacuum equipment, but like every other manufacturer, we had gaps in some of our lines that did not allow us to play a key role in certain applications. Playing in these markets meant coming up with a product that not only exceeded the performance and features of our previous line, but also those of our competitors.

We strive for continuous process improvement and modernization of our product portfolio while adapting new manufacturing techniques that will allow us to offer high end technology at a lower price, thus making it available to a wider audience.

What are the main differences between the TURBOVAC i and iX?

The "i" stands for intelligent, which means that the frequency converter is integrated with the pump. The frequency converter is the brain of the unit which allows it to rotate at speeds beyond that of jet engines while reading and controlling critical parameters, such as temperature, voltages, power etc. Integrated frequency converters are not new, but the extent of what has been achieved with the TURBOVAC i is considerable regarding how compact the final product actually is.

The “iX” takes the “i” a few steps further, as it integrates a PLC on the pump that will not only control the internal function of it, but can control the system around it. The “iX” has the capability to read process pressures, communicate using a wide range of interfaces and control components such as cooling fans, backing pumps, valves and heaters.

In the past, a University lab would have to buy a turbopump system and a separate PLC box to control everything. If customers wanted data logging capability and a nice interface; the size of the box (and the price) increased considerably.

Now they can get an “iX” pump which eliminates the need for that box for a price that is almost the same as the one for the standard "i" version. Because the unit can interact with a standard PC, laptop or tablet, there is no need to buy expensive displays that will only work for your turbo pump. Now you can use any tablet to run your experiments, listen to music, watch a movie, browse the web and even write your thesis.

How do the TURBOVAC i/iX systems improve on existing products?

The TURBOVAC platform offers better performance in terms of pumping speed, compression and throughput in a very compact package. The pump is designed to be extremely reliable and easy to service. It also offers a platform that is easily adaptable to different custom customer needs in terms of performance, size and interfacing. The way it is made also helps control manufacturing costs, which allows OLV to offer this kind of state of the art technology to customers that they would not have had access to before.

In what ways are the TURBOVAC i/iX different from other turbomolecular pumps on the market?  

The TURBOVAC platform offers “best in class performance” for all kinds of gases. It is also the only hybrid bearing pump that is maintenance free, which means that there are no messy oil changes and no oil contamination that will show up in your vacuum chamber (defeating the purpose of clean vacuum). Reliability, ease of use and flexibility are unmatched as well. Add Oerlikon Leybold's world class support and you have a winning combination.

How has the user experience been considered in their development?

Leybold's products and services are developed around the user. You can have the best performing pump in the market but it will not be successful if it is difficult to use, cannot be adapted to your particular needs, or cannot be supported correctly. Leybold is not only providing a line of pumps; it is our sales people working with our customers on their specific application and our highly trained support team is there to help you figure out better ways to do things.

In addition, our service team supports the customer further by ensuring that their equipment is serviced in a timely manner and for the right price. Our customers don't need to compromise - they can have their cake and eat it too.

What industries will benefit from the products?

We have developed this product with R&D (universities, research labs), analytical (OEM's and users), Coating (OEM's and users) in mind. But it has also been designed and engineered to serve the broader vacuum market. Virtually anybody who is in need a high quality, cost effective turbomolecular pump would do well to consider our TURBOVAC i and its wide range of accessories.

Why is the TURBOVAC i/iX ideal for coating applications?

The TURBOVAC i offers a very robust product that can work on strenuous applications like load-locks where cycling usually takes a toll on pumps. It can also take its share of contamination and very high gas loads while operating cool and reliably. It is also very easy to retrofit when replacing an existing pump.

How do you see your industry developing in the near future?

I believe that the vacuum industry has a brilliant future. The world is moving at a faster pace everyday and technology is pushing harder than ever to make things better, smaller, faster and at a lower cost. There is great focus on renewable energy, nanotechnology, semiconductors, medical/pharmaceuticals, food safety, homeland security and many other industries that will continue to rely extensively on vacuum technology for their critical processes.

In addition, capital equipment supporting markets and applications such as food packaging, metallurgy, high energy physics research, chemical and general manufacturing are stronger than ever and new ways of optimizing existing processes using vacuum are being developed each day.

How will Leybold be part of this change?

We at Oerlikon Leybold Vacuum understand that a company needs to be flexible enough to change with the times, trends and the general needs of customers. Successful companies are the ones that adapt quickly to the ever changing technology and our company is one of those who have seen many changes in the last 165 years and successfully pushed through.

We never stop listening to our customers and acting on what we learn from them. You can never go wrong when you combine that with hard work and dedication to our customers. That is the Oerlikon Leybold Vacuum way.

About Antonio Mantilla

Antonio Mantilla was born in Colombia, South America. He did his bachelor's and Master's in Mechanical engineering and has been involved in the vacuum industry, working for several manufacturers, for the last 13 years.

Antonio has worked in sales, applications, support and engineering in different countries, and has gathered a great deal of experience dealing mostly with projects and customers throughout the Americas.

Antonio currently lives in the greater Pittsburgh area. He has been working with Leybold Vacuum since 2010 and now leads the Sales Support, Inside Sales and Applications/ Product Support Teams of the company.