BIBUS AG
About us
BIBUS AG has been your trusted partner for technical solutions for over 75 years.
With extensive expertise in industrial automation, we help manufacturers optimize material handling and production processes through innovative vacuum automation and conveying technologies.
As the Swiss partner of Piab, a global leader in vacuum technology, we combine our expertise with innovative products to deliver solutions for robotic grippers, end-of-arm tooling, as well as lifting, handling, and vacuum conveying. From automated pick-and-place applications to the efficient transport of powders and bulk materials, our solutions help increase productivity, enhance process reliability, and improve workplace safety.
Meet our experts and discover how smarter handling and conveying solutions can unlock new efficiency in your production.
Products & services
Expert interview: Vacuum technology is the future for the food and pharmaceutical industries
In modern industry, particularly in the pharmaceutical and food manufacturing sectors, the demands for precision and purity are constantly increasing. In the following interview, Mr Gille, Team Leader for Vacuum Conveying at BIBUS AG, explains why closed conveying systems now play a key strategic role in automated production environments. Mr Gille, at first glance, the handling of powders and bulk materials seems like a standard procedure. Why, then, is this issue becoming increasingly complex in modern production environments? This impression is misleading. Powders and granulates form the basis of many sensitive products in the food and pharmaceutical industries. With increasing regulatory requirements and growing product customisation, the demands on process stability, traceability and hygiene are also rising significantly. At the same time, the processes behind the scenes must also become more precise, efficient and, above all, controllable. Today, material flow is no longer purely a logistical issue, but an integral part of quality assurance. Conveyor systems must therefore not only transport materials, but also ensure reproducible, contamination-free and validatable processes. Which industries are driving this development? Are we seeing new fields of application here? Read the full interview now and gain concrete insights from real-world practice.
Vacuum conveyors for powders and bulk materials
Vacuum is used to great effect in the conveyance of dry powder products through specialised pipe systems. Piab’s vacuum conveying systems are constructed from high-quality materials. In the production of food, pharmaceuticals and chemical products, there are requirements for the highest possible standards of safety, hygiene and operation. Piab’s piFLOW® conveyors were developed in response to the strict requirements for operational safety and hygiene in the food, pharmaceutical and chemical industries. Piab conveyors are ATEX dust-compliant.
piCOBOT® Electric
Fully electric vacuum generation; no compressed air infrastructure required. Its light weight and compact dimensions allow it to be mounted directly onto the cobot’s tool flange. Maximised energy efficiency across all components and functions. The power supply from the cobot arm is sufficient to drive the gripper unit. The elimination of air hoses simplifies installation and allows for completely unrestricted movement of the cobot arm. Plug & play software and interface available for UR e-series and Fanuc CRX. Compatible with piCOBOT® programming accessories – such as tool changers, docking stations and gripper tools. Generic electrical interfaces with multiple mounting options are available to suit any other cobot or small industrial robot.
Autotuning – the art of SMART vacuum conveying
Industry 4.0 requirements find their way in every production step and become a regular demand by users to improve process knowledge, efficiency, product quality and traceability. Particularly, when manufacturing tablets, safety and security play a major role in this quest for reduction of variables. Based on its Industry 4.0 technology piSMART, Piab developed the autotuning concept for its vacuum conveyors. As it becomes ever important to ensure the ingredients are conveyed in a controlled manner to dosing and mixing equipment,the autotuning feature of the new piFLOW® SMART vacuum conveyor automizes the process of powder and bulk conveying. Based on its renowned COAX® ejector technology, the piFLOW® SMART is pre-programmed with advanced algrorithms to eliminate complex manual timer settings and allows continuous adaptive automatic fine tuning of the conveying process as well as recipe handling. Equipped with advanced sensor technology, it optimizes and increases throughput up to 50% higher compared to conventional conveyor systems. Smart electrical control data collection and analysis for overall process optimization, and real-time adjustment become part of the daily routine. In addition, the new piFLOW®SMART vacuum conveyor is equipped with further elements that allow easier and safer product handling. They are among others, automatic filter cleaning, multiple filter shock, material safety blockage function and antistatic filters and seals upon request. For usage in the pharmaceutical and food industries all material in contact with the conveyed product fulfil the requirements of FDA and EC No. 1935/2004 and designed according to USDA guidelines. Piab’s experts are available at both shows – Hannover Fair and Powtech – to provide further insights and discuss the benefits of how the new piFLOW® SMART can bring to every specific customer application.
Filter Monitoring Enables Preventive Maintenance
In vacuum conveying, filters are critical for maintaining system performance and product quality. Over time, filters become clogged. This can lead to reduced conveying capacity and subsequently inefficient energy consumption as the vacuum pump still consumes the same amount of compressed air or electricity while material transportation has decreased. Users gain real-time insight into the condition of their filters with the help of Filter Monitoring. This allows them to optimize equipment use and intervene only when necessary. This ensures the conveyor maintains optimal capacity without increased air or energy use, resulting in measurable energy savings and reduced environmental footprint. Unplanned downtime and reactive maintenance can be both costly and resource-intensive. Filter Monitoring addresses this by enabling predictive maintenance. Users are informed about the filter status, so they can schedule maintenance before problems arise. This proactive approach minimizes the risk of sudden stoppages, and reduces downtime. This helps facilities avoid resource-heavy interventions and keep the production running smoothly. An unnoticed clogged or broken filter may result in several hours of downtime. Even a single instance of an unexpected equipment failure can result in significant production and financial losses. Filter Monitoring pays for itself by preventing just one such incident. Well-maintained filters help sustain the designed conveying capacity, maximizing throughput and minimizing the risk of reduced performance. Filter Monitoring supports a consistent, reliable output and ensures that filter servicing happens before clogging impacts production. Support your zero-waste and ESG goals with Filter Monitoring! Automated alerts and real-time monitoring avoid unnecessary filter changes and emergency maintenance, leading to lower maintenance costs and fewer wasted resources.
piFLOW®p - now with higher flow pumps
piPREMIUM 600-1600 is a line extension of the previous piPREMIUM family which has been available in size 100-400. The target for the extension is the food and pharma industries who need higher capacity.
COAX® technology
Piab vacuum pumps/generators are predominately based on the patented COAX® technology. COAX® is an advanced solution for creating vacuum with compressed air. Based on Piab’s multistage technology, COAX® cartridges are smaller, more efficient and more reliable than conventional ejectors, which allow for the design of a flexible, modular and efficient vacuum system. A vacuum system based on COAX® technology can provide you with three times more vacuum flow than conventional systems, allowing you to increase speed with high reliability while reducing energy consumption. COAX® cartridges exist in several sizes (MIDI, MINI & MICRO) and models (Bi, Pi, Si, Ti & Xi), making them suitable for every application. The technology ensures excellent performance at both low and high feed pressures. Pumps based on COAX® technology can operate within the feed pressure range of 0.17 to 0.60 MPa.
Improve automation acceptance by conveying bulk solids with Piab´s new product series
The automation level in the food, pharmaceuticals, and chemicals markets is developing rapidly due to the adaptation of new solutions globally. The acceptance is increasing thanks to the obvious benefits of automation, such as improved product hygiene and employee safety. Heightened consumers' expectations and legislative agency regulations also force manufacturers to re-evaluate their processes, but there are still some reasons why they choose not to invest. Currently, manufacturing plants often consist of separate silos of automation where process steps are not entirely connected. One of the main concerns against the adaptation is the organisation's lack of acceptance of new technologies. A high fluctuation rate and the scarcity of trained, competent operators or technicians makes it difficult to take the leap. Therefore, all new equipment introduced must be as user-friendly as possible in order to decrease employee onboarding time and to reduce the possibility of human error. Piab has taken all the above requirements into account when they developed their new product series, called the piFLOW® Batch Volume Optimisation, besides their standard piFLOW® vacuum conveyor range. The Batch Volume Optimisation functionality is easy to maintain, compliant with industry standards, and enhances productivity dramatically. The vacuum conveyor takes solids from a pickup point and releases them into a receiving vessel or a piece of equipment in batches. Batch Volume Optimisation features a level sensor. Once the conveyor is filled up by each cycle, the sensor automatically triggers the release process. This way, operators can set the conveyor up quickly, and the automatic level sensing adds an extra layer of safety, which protects the equipment from unplanned maintenance.