My colleague, Russ Bowman, wrote a blog about “Sound Power vs Sound Pressure vs Sound Pressure Level”. He discussed the logarithmic equations around sound. I will be discussing what happens when you have more than… More
The Power of Precision: Why EXAIR’s Adjustable E-Vac is a Game Changer
When designing a vacuum system, the “one-size-fits-all” approach rarely works. EXAIR offers two primary types of single-stage vacuum generators: the In-Line E-Vac and the Adjustable E-Vac. While both use a venturi design to create instantaneous vacuum without moving parts, choosing between them depends on how much control and “forgiveness” your application requires.
The primary difference lies in versatility and internal geometry. In-Line E-Vacs are compact, cylindrical units designed for specific, unchanging tasks.
- Variants: They come in “High Vacuum” models for non-porous materials (like glass or steel) and “Low Vacuum” models for porous materials (like cardboard).
- Limitation: Once you choose a model, its performance is fixed.
Adjustable E-Vacs allow you to “dial in” the exact vacuum level and flow rate needed.
- Versatility: By loosening a locknut and turning the exhaust, you can shift the unit’s performance to handle different weights or surface porosities.
- Durability: They feature a much larger throat diameter, which allows them to pass small solids, dust, and even liquids without clogging.
The Choice: Why Go Adjustable?
The Adjustable E-Vac is the superior choice when your production line handles either variety, or potentially contains contamination. For facilities that use a robotic arm to pick and place various items from a conveyor depending on the job, you would potentially need more than one style of In-Line E-Vac. For example, if one job requires lifting heavy, non-porous plastic containers, you would need a high-vacuum, low-flow unit; whereas if the next job is handling lightweight, porous cardboard boxes, this would require a low-vaccum, high-flow unit.
By choosing the Adjustable E-Vac, you can tune for porosity: Increase the vacuum flow with a quick adjustment to overcome the “leakage” inherent in cardboard. In addition to this, if the surface is less than pristine, the larger throat diameter will have no trouble passing the dirt and debris.
If you’re ready to integrate these tools, several kits and individual units are available:
- EXAIR Adjustable E-Vac Vacuum Generator 840008: A compact 8 SCFM model, ideal for smaller pick-and-place tasks.
- EXAIR Adjustable E-Vac Vacuum Generator 840015: A mid-range 15 SCFM unit for higher flow requirements.
- EXAIR E-Vac Adjustable Vacuum Generator Deluxe Kit 842030: A complete solution including the pump, an assortment of vacuum cups, tubing, a filter separator, and a pressure regulator.
- EXAIR E-Vac Deluxe Kit 842060M: A high-capacity 62.7 SCFM kit featuring a straight-through muffler, perfect for environments with heavy particulate.
If you would like to find out more, give us a call!
Al Wooffitt
Application Engineer
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Twitter: @EXAIR_AW
People of Interest: Henri Coanda 1886 – 1972
Being in the compressed air industry for over 35 years, you come across many interesting people from the past that have created laws that we are still using today. Henri Coanda is one of those people.
Henri Coanda was a prominent Romanian inventor and aerodynamics pioneer. In 1910, Henri and his Italian counterpart, Gianni Caproni, began a partnership to construct an experimental aircraft which was later called the Coanda-1910. The Coanda-1910 was unlike any other aircraft of its time as it had no propeller; instead, it sported an oddly shaped front end with built-in rotary blades arranged in a swirl pattern. These blades were driven by an internal turbine screw that would suck air in through the turbine while exhausting the gases out of the rear, propelling the plane forward. This initial jet engine was quite impressive for the time, but sadly nobody believed it would ever fly, and it is believed that it never did achieve flight. Coanda is not credited with the invention of the jet engine, but his technology spurred the future of aviation into the future.
Henri spent his time developing the turbo-propeller drive system of his 1910 Biplane during World War 2. After it ended, Henri began furthering his research on the Coanda Effect which would become the basis for several investigations into entrained and augmented flow of fluids. It states that a fluid adheres to and follows a contour which creates low pressure. Later, in 1969, Henri would spend the last of his days in Romania serving as Director of the Institute for Scientific and Technical Creation. Henri died on November 25, 1972, in his hometown of Bucharest.
Henri Coanda passed away on November 25, 1972, in his hometown of Bucharest. Here at EXAIR, we have used the Coanda Effect to apply it to several of our products. This helps to amplify total airflow by using less compressed air. Thus, saving you money. The most notable products are our Air Amplifiers, Air Wipes, Standard Air Knives, and Full-Flow Air Knives, which are some of the most efficient products of their kind. If you would like to speak more about how EXAIR can benefit your pneumatic system, one of our Application Engineers can help you determine the best solution.
John Ball
Application Engineer
Email: johnball@exair.com
Twitter: @EXAIR_jb
Supporting The Next Generation of Engineers
A while back, I was lucky enough to spearhead a donation from EXAIR to The University of Cincinnati’s 1819 Innovation Hub Makerspace. For the past several years, we have been sponsoring the UC Combat Robotics club, which uses the Makerspace to build its bots and learn more about the applications of its course of study. This facility is open to all students who attend the university. The course of study does not matter; the desire to learn appropriate usage of equipment and a determination to create are all that is needed.
The space puts every student through training for safety and manufacturing processes, if needed, and then the students can operate on their own. The staff in the space are often students themselves, or they are people with years of industry experience to share with the students utilizing the space. This 12,000 square-foot makerspace and fab lab is home to a variety of equipment that can all be seen on their equipment listing here. You can go in and learn how to use anything from a sewing machine or soldering iron, all the way up to a 4-axis CNC machine. If you just have an idea and desire to learn, the staff will even train you on how to make the idea come to life and do it all safely in a semi-controlled environment.
When we saw the need for safe, efficient use of compressed air in this space, EXAIR stepped in to help. We outfitted every air drop in the facility and every machine with an EXAIR VariBlast Precision Safety Air Gun w/ Chip Shield and Nano Super Air Nozzle. This will help keep all the operators safe by eliminating the risk of exceeding 30 psig dead-end pressure and also reducing the operating noise level to below the OSHA standard of 85 dBA, all the way down to 75 dBA. By keeping the entire facility uniform, they are also able to make purchasing new units easier when they are needed.
We also helped them assemble their new EXAIR Chip Trapper System to help recycle the coolant from their CNC machines and help them extend the life of their cutting fluid by being able to remove all the debris from their sumps, reducing the surface area on which bacteria can grow.
On top of both of these, we helped them to see how easy a Cold Gun is to mount onto the side of virtually any machine in their shop, even the industrial sewing machine, and showed them just how beneficial it can be. There was actually a group of students using one of the stationary belt sanders, and we were able to connect the Cold Gun to the closest air drop, use the magnet to hold it onto the housing of the sander, and position the single-point cold outlet to the contact point to keep the sandpaper and material cooler to prevent loading up of the sandpaper.
These were just a couple of the products we were able to share with them in order to help outfit their space with safe and efficient compressed air products. I’ve condensed the entire event down into a 50-second clip if you would like to watch. I feel like we need some classic Benny Hill music in the background.
I think the best part of this experience for me was the discussion that evolved as we unpacked all the items. We had already had lots of chatter back and forth around what their system is capable of and also what they plan to do with the EXAIR products. Then, as we are unpacking and discussing the capabilities, more applications started to come up. I have a feeling this is just part of what happens in this space. Ideas are born, then brought into fruition, all within these walls.
Special thanks to Benjamin Jones and his team for letting us be part of training the future leaders in the industry.
Brian Farno, MBA – CCASS Application Engineer
BrianFarno@EXAIR.com
@EXAIR_BF
Meet the Next Evolution in Industrial Cleanup: The EasySwitch Wet-Dry Vac — Now Available in ATEX
In fast-paced industrial environments, cleanup demands can change in seconds. One moment you’re recovering spilled coolant, the next you’re vacuuming metal chips or fine dust. Equipment that can’t keep up slows productivity, increases risk, and drives maintenance costs. That’s where the EXAIR EasySwitch Wet-Dry Vac changes the game — and now, with the introduction of the ATEX version, it’s ready for even the most hazardous environments.
One Vacuum. Two Modes. Zero Downtime.
The EasySwitch Wet-Dry Vac was engineered to eliminate one of the most common pain points in industrial housekeeping: switching between wet and dry cleanup.
Traditional vacuums often require time-consuming filter changes, tools, or even separate units. The EasySwitch simplifies this process with a patented, tool-free design that allows operators to transition from liquid recovery to dry debris removal in seconds.
A single latch releases the filter element for quick removal when moving to liquid mode — then reinstalls just as easily for dry applications.
Powered by Air — Not Electricity
Unlike electric shop vacs that rely on motors prone to wear, the EasySwitch operates entirely on compressed air.
This pneumatic design delivers several operational advantages:
- No motors to clog or burn out
- Maintenance-free operation
- Safe for liquid recovery
- Continuous duty capability
- Reduced risk of electrical hazards
With no moving parts in the vacuum generator, reliability increases while maintenance requirements drop — a major win for plant managers and maintenance teams alike.
Introducing the ATEX EasySwitch: Built for Explosive Atmospheres
For facilities operating in hazardous locations, standard equipment isn’t enough. That’s where the ATEX-rated EasySwitch Wet-Dry Vac comes in.
ATEX certification refers to equipment approved for use in potentially explosive atmospheres — environments where flammable gases, vapors, mists, or combustible dust may be present.
These include industries such as:
- Chemical processing
- Oil & gas
- Paint & coatings
- Food processing (combustible dust)
- Pharmaceutical manufacturing
The ATEX EasySwitch is engineered to mitigate these risks through explosion-protected design, allowing safe pneumatic vacuum operation in classified hazardous areas.
Because the EasySwitch already operates without electricity, it provides a strong foundation for hazardous-location safety — now enhanced with ATEX compliance for regulated environments.
The Bottom Line
The EasySwitch Wet-Dry Vac redefines industrial cleanup with:
- Instant wet/dry conversion
- Tool-free filter changes
- Pneumatic, maintenance-free operation
- Powerful vacuum performance
And now, with the ATEX version, it extends those benefits into the most demanding and hazardous work environments.
Whether you’re managing coolant recovery on the shop floor or maintaining compliance in explosive atmospheres, the EasySwitch platform delivers the flexibility, safety, and performance modern industry demands. If you have any questions, please reach out.
Jordan Shouse, CCASS
Application Engineer / Sales Operations Engineer