Pneumofore’s Rotary Vane technology was chosen as the vacuum supply for Ball Corporation’s plant in Cabanillas, inaugurated in 2018, which recently added a third production line.

To meet the growing demand for two-piece aluminium cans in the country, in 2018 Ball Packaging opened a new factory in Cabanillas, in northern Spain: a state-of-the-art, sustainable beverage can manufacturing facility, strongly committed on reducing water usage and energy consumptions.

For the supply of vacuum, Ball relied on Pneumofore. The company installed two UV50 vacuum pumps equipped with Variable Speed drive. With the vacuum level set at 270 mbar(a), the rotation speed of the Pneumofore Rotary Vane pumps can adapt to the requested vacuum flow requirements from the production in order to keep the vacuum level steady during all manufacturing circumstances.

In 2021, the plant was upgraded with a third production line and the installation of another Pneumofore UV50 VS90 vacuum pump. To optimise the working hours of the three vacuum units, a VacMan device was added. The VacMan is a unique management and control system that collects performance data from the vacuum units and controls them remotely. This device can modulate the system capacity from one UV50 VS90 at 35 Hz to three UV50 VS90 at 60 Hz, corresponding to a total vacuum capacity range from 2.000 to 10.000 m3/h.

Considering the pneumatic energy impact on the total energy cost in can factories, having machines with guaranteed constant efficiency over time is of key importance. The total cost of ownership must consider not only the purchasing price of the machine but all the service costs and the electrical power consumption over a 10-year period or even more. Pneumofore vacuum pumps are chosen for their proven low Life Cycle Cost and efficiency on the long run. Moreover, Pneumofore machines do not need overhauling and offer clear maintenance plans with no surprises or unexpected after-sale expenses.

The first Pneumofore vacuum pumps for Ball Packaging in Spain were installed in 1999: two UV30 units for the La Selva plant. The production lines were further upgraded in the following 10 years with the installation of two additional UV30 and four larger-sized vacuum pumps, model UV50. After more than 20 years, these units are still running today with steady efficiency, no extraordinary maintenance needs and the clear evidence of durability and reliability.

Thanks to their low rotation speed, low temperature and active sealing, Pneumofore Rotary Vane units are ensuring constant efficiency over two decades at the La Selva plant, resulting in more than 150.000 hours of trouble-free operation. Other vacuum technologies, such as screw machines, require the mandatory and costly air-end overhauling every 24.000 hours, which means only 3 years of operation. Their initial cheap purchasing cost turns out to be way more expensive in the after-sale.

“This explains why the Pneumofore Rotary Vane machines are the preferred solution for state-of-the-art vacuum systems in can factories around the globe, explained a spokesperson for the company. “Founded in 1923, with nearly 100 years of experience Pneumofore is at the forefront of technical solutions for can makers looking for high energy savings, reduced environmental impact and sustainable productivity.”