Daniel Hilfiker* outlines the installation of Pneumofore’s UV100 vacuum pumps at Grupo Modelo’s container glass facilities in Mexico.
Grupo Modelo, which has been part of the AB InBev Group since 2013, has installed several Pneumofore UV100 rotary vane vacuum pumps over the last six years.
The first two UV100 pumps, each delivering the capacity of 6.610 m³/h, entered operation at the Tierra Blanca plant in 2020.
Their installation resulted in substantial reductions in electrical energy consumption.
Based on verified performance data, a third unit was added to the same site in 2021.
In 2024, Pneumofore commissioned two additional UV100 units at Grupo Modelo’s facility in San Luis Potosí.
Equipped with variable speed drive and a total installed nominal power of 220 kW, the units supplied in Mexico were delivered in Hot Climate (HC) configuration, guaranteeing their performance in regions characterised by high ambient temperature and humidity.
However, in vacuum systems, the machine itself is only part of the equation; pipeline design, pressure loss control, and system engineering are decisive in determining final performance.
Pneumofore provides dedicated pipeline and system design support as part of its commitment to ensure installations operate efficiently over decades.
Productivity
The demand for consistent high-speed, high-quality glass container production continues to accelerate.
Efficient vacuum plays a decisive role, enabling optimal productivity and significantly lowering rejection rates.
Today’s inspection technologies classify more than one hundred potential defect types, spanning finish, neck, shoulder, sidewall, base, and other categories, as evidenced in leading technical studies in the sector.
While vacuum alone does not eliminate all defect modes, its contribution to forming precision, thermal stability, and process speed is acknowledged across the industry.
Continuous operations, typically running over three uninterrupted shifts, place strict requirements on equipment reliability and lifecycle efficiency.
Maintaining stable performance with minimal maintenance and without major overhauls is increasingly regarded as an operational necessity rather than an advantage.
Pneumofore rotary vane air-end.
Energy consumption
Governmental pressure to reduce industrial energy consumption continues to intensify, often coupled with incentive programmes supporting efficiency upgrades.
Replacing legacy technology, particularly liquid ring vacuum pumps, with Pneumofore’s rotary vane systems usually results in a reduction of absorbed power of 50%.
The UV Series has also proven capable of replacing rotary screw vacuum pumps, which suffer efficiency decline and require scheduled overhauls after relatively short cycles of continuous 24/7 operation.
Before every installation, Pneumofore conducts detailed energy audits and provides guaranteed performance commitments, including projected financial return.
Long-term operational experience remains the most credible reference for capital investment, especially when measured over multiple years of reliable performance.
*Daniel Hilfiker, President of Pneumofore, Rivoli, Italy
