Air Liquide Austria GmbH has introduced a hydrogen version of the R5 ATEX oil-lubricated rotary vane vacuum pump from Busch Vacuum Solutions at its Schwechat site near Vienna. The installation is designed to meet the requirements of the Austrian VEXAT regulation on workplace explosion protection in gas filling areas handling combustible gases.
The new pump is deployed in an explosion-protected filling area and complies with Austria’s VEXAT regulation, which implements the European ATEX Directive 1999/92/EC. The project reflects how equipment manufacturers and industrial operators are responding to tighter regulatory requirements in environments where explosive atmospheres may occur.
Supporting Technical and Medical Gas Supply
Air Liquide Austria is part of the Paris-headquartered Air Liquide Group and specialises in the production and distribution of technical gases and related services. From its Schwechat facility, the company supplies standard technical and medical gases as well as customised gas mixtures to customers across sectors including medical, chemical, automotive and electronics.
The site’s portfolio also includes welding accessories and dry ice. Part of the CO₂ bottled during production is sourced from fermentation processes and classified by the company as “sustainable CO₂.” Alongside environmental considerations, operational safety remains a central priority at the facility, particularly in areas where combustible gases are handled.
Adapting to VEXAT Requirements
The Austrian VEXAT regulation introduced more stringent requirements for systems operating in potentially explosive atmospheres. For Air Liquide Austria, this meant updating vacuum technology used in critical filling processes to ensure continued compliance.
The company has worked with Busch for many years and selected the hydrogen version of the R5 ATEX vacuum pump for this application. Commissioning took place in March 2024, shortly after the product’s market launch in January 2024.
Vacuum in Combustible Gas Filling Processes
The vacuum pump forms part of the filling process for combustible gases. During operation, the required gas mixture is set via the system control. The pipework is then evacuated using the vacuum pump to check for leaks and ensure the desired ultimate pressure can be achieved.
Gas cylinders are opened and evacuated before undergoing several purge cycles. The target gas is introduced and then suctioned out again, with multiple cycles used where necessary to remove residual gases from previous fillings. The evacuation process takes place at a defined vacuum level of approximately 50 hPa (mbar), and the pump is used three to five times per filling cycle.
The unit is permanently integrated into the filling line and mounted on a conveyor console, allowing easy access for maintenance. The previously installed vacuum pump will be overhauled and retained as a redundancy system. Other Busch rotary vane vacuum pumps, including oxygen versions for medical gas processing, are already in operation at the Schwechat site.
Maintenance and Long-Term Collaboration
Maintenance of the vacuum system is largely carried out in-house. Weekly visual and filter checks are complemented by an annual oil change to maintain operational safety. Where required, the pumps are returned to the manufacturer for general overhaul.
The partnership between Air Liquide Austria and Busch has developed over many years. “The long-term partnership with Busch is very good. The company was able to provide us with solutions that no other vacuum supplier offers,” says Engineer Marc Geiss, Plant Manager of Air Liquide Austria GmbH in Schwechat. Engineer Erwin Weinzinger, technician at Air Liquide Austria GmbH, adds: “I have been working with Busch for 29 years and am very satisfied.”
About the Busch Group
The Busch Group is a global manufacturer of vacuum pumps, vacuum systems, blowers, compressors and gas abatement systems. Its brands include Busch Vacuum Solutions and Pfeiffer Vacuum+Fab Solutions, with gas abatement systems previously offered by centrotherm clean solutions now integrated into the Pfeiffer portfolio.
The group provides vacuum, overpressure and abatement solutions for industries including food, semiconductors, analytics, chemicals and plastics. This includes the design of tailored vacuum systems and access to a worldwide service network.
Headquartered in Maulburg, Germany, the family-owned company employs more than 8,000 people in 45 countries. The Busch Group operates 23 production plants across China, the Czech Republic, France, Germany, India, Romania, South Korea, Switzerland, the United Kingdom, the United States and Vietnam, and reports annual consolidated revenue of close to €2 billion.
