Edwards’ new nEXT turbomolecular vacuum pump has been shortlisted for the prestigious ‘Technical Innovation of the Year’ award at the 2011 Pump Industry Awards which will be presented at the Hilton Hotel in Coventry, England, on March 23.

The accolade is given to the most innovative pump, pumping system or other pump-related product introduced onto the market within the last 12 months.

The turbomolecular vacuum pump is critical to scientific instruments, including electron microscopy and mass spectrometry systems and is integrated into the equipment to create the right environment for scientists to perform detailed material analyses. The compact design means the pumps fit together neatly in high product density applications.

The nEXT pumps use innovative technology to offer high performance and reliability in a compact size, as well as easy user serviceability. The pumps also feature a green mode which helps users reduce their carbon footprint and save energy costs.

Key innovation
The key innovation is a novel compact metal spring damper which supports the lower mechanical bearing. This significantly reduces vibration transmitted to the pump body and as a result the pumps do not need high-speed balancing during manufacture or service. It also enables pumps to be serviced by the user in situ which minimises downtime and significantly reduces operating costs. This is a major advantage because ordinarily turbomolecular pumps are returned to a service centre for service.

Edwards’ nEXT pumps are also available in a variant suitable for sensitive electron microscope applications. For these applications, ‘L’ variant pumps have an even lower vibration signature and reduced levels of radiated magnetic field.