Vacuum leak detection with an acoustic camera
When a vacuum system does not hold vacuum, suction cups drop parts, a vacuum table does not hold the panel or a packaging machine leaves seals incomplete. We locate vacuum leaks with an acoustic camera while the system is running.
Measurement work 149 €/h excl. VAT (min. 2 h) · report included · Finland, abroad and ships by arrangement
Signs of a vacuum leak
- The vacuum pump runs continuously or overheats
- Vacuum does not reach the target or drops quickly
- Suction cups drop parts
- The vacuum table does not hold the panel
- Packaging machine seals or vacuum fail
- Cycle time increases because vacuum takes longer to build
What we survey
We survey the vacuum network's pipes, joints, hoses, valves and actuators as well as pump and tank connections. Typical targets include suction cups on robots and lifters, vacuum tables on woodworking and panel machines, vacuum packaging machines, central vacuum systems and vacuum sewage (vacuum toilet) systems, for example on ships.
The method suits the rough and process vacuum typically used in industrial vacuum systems. Tightness testing of high-vacuum systems (e.g. vacuum chambers) requires a helium leak detector – we do not offer that.
How does the acoustic camera find it?
In a vacuum leak, outside air is drawn into the system through a gap. The flow produces ultrasound in the same way as a compressed air leak, and the acoustic camera shows the spot as a coloured sound map on the image.
With vacuum, the pressure difference is at most about one bar, so the sound of a vacuum leak is weaker than that of a comparable compressed air leak. We therefore survey from closer range and go through the system methodically joint by joint. The system must be running at its normal vacuum.
How the survey works
Preliminary information and estimate
Tell us about the site, the system, its operating pressure or vacuum and the size of the area. We estimate the survey time and send a cost estimate.
Survey during operation
We walk the system's pipework, joints, hoses, valves and equipment with the acoustic camera. The system must be pressurised or running – there is no need to stop production.
Findings tagged and photographed
Each finding is marked on site with a numbered tag and photographed so that it is easy to find for repair.
Report
You receive a report with the findings on a floor-plan map, an image of each finding, severity 1–3 and a recommended action. The report is included in the price and can be delivered in English or Finnish.
Repair
Repairs can be offered case by case depending on the site – or your own maintenance team can carry them out based on the report. A follow-up survey verifies that the leaks have been fixed.
Who is it for?
Woodworking and panel industry
CNC vacuum tables and vacuum lifters.
Food and packaging industry
Vacuum packaging, thermoforming machines and vacuum lines.
Robotics and automation
Suction cups, ejectors and grippers.
Ships
Vacuum sewage systems and other vacuum lines on board.
Plastics and composites
Vacuum forming and vacuum bagging.
Engineering workshops
Vacuum grippers, lifters and machine vacuum lines.
Report
Every survey comes with a report, included in the price. The report follows the same structure as our compressed air leak survey reports and can be delivered in English or Finnish.
- Floor-plan map with numbered markers. Each finding is marked on a plan of the site (or a general arrangement drawing of the vessel). The number matches the tag attached on site.
- Image of each finding. The finding is circled in the acoustic camera image, so whoever does the repair finds it immediately.
- Severity 1–3. 1 = minor, monitor; 2 = moderate, repair as planned; 3 = major or a safety risk, repair immediately.
- Recommended action. What to do at each location and in which order – the most severe first.
The images are from an example compressed air leak survey report (company, images and figures are illustrative). The example PDF is in Finnish – your report can be delivered in English. Reports for other systems have the same structure; for compressed air leaks the estimated cost of the leaks per year is also calculated.
Price
Sites vary a lot, so pricing is based on time spent. Several systems can be surveyed on the same visit – for example the compressed air network, gas lines and a vacuum system.
| Measurement work (minimum 2 h) | 149 €/h |
|---|---|
| Report (English or Finnish) | included |
| Travel in Finland | Zone-based in Southwest Finland and Kanta-Häme, elsewhere in the estimate |
| Outside Finland and on ships | Travel, accommodation and travel time quoted per job |
Prices exclude VAT. VAT is applied according to the applicable rules (for example, the reverse-charge mechanism may apply to VAT-registered business customers in other EU countries) and confirmed in the quote. You receive a cost estimate before ordering.
Leak repairs: in Finland, compressed air leak repairs 86 €/h excl. VAT plus parts; other repairs case by case.
Ask whether acoustic imaging suits your site
Tell us about the site and what you want to find out, and we will tell you honestly whether an acoustic camera will help – and if it will not, we will say so.
+358 43 211 0516Cost estimate
Request a cost estimate – vacuum leaks
Tell us about the site or vessel, its size, the location (country, city or port) and what you want to find. We estimate the survey time and usually send a cost estimate on the same or the next working day.
+358 43 211 0516Mon–Fri 8:00–16:00 (Finnish time)
Frequently asked questions
Can an acoustic camera find a vacuum leak?
Often, yes – when the system is running. In a vacuum leak, air is drawn into the system through a gap, and the flow produces ultrasound. The sound is weaker than with compressed air because the pressure difference is at most about one bar, so we survey from closer range and methodically.
Can you survey a ship's vacuum sewage system?
Yes, by arrangement. Vacuum toilet and sewage systems leak in the same way as industrial vacuum systems, and the acoustic camera can locate leaks in pipework, valves and connections while the system is in use.
Do you test vacuum chambers or high-vacuum equipment?
No. In high vacuum the leak rates are so small that a helium leak detector is used. The acoustic camera is suited to industrial vacuum systems where vacuum is continuously generated by a pump or ejector.
Do you repair the leaks you find?
Repairs can be offered case by case depending on the site, and the price is agreed separately. In Finland, compressed air leak repairs are charged at 86 €/h excl. VAT plus parts. Your own maintenance team or ship's crew can also carry out the repairs based on the report.
How much does an acoustic imaging survey cost?
Measurement work is 149 €/h excl. VAT, minimum 2 hours, and the report is included. In Finland, travel costs are zone-based in Southwest Finland and Kanta-Häme and quoted elsewhere. For assignments outside Finland and on ships, travel, accommodation and travel time are quoted per job before you order.
Acoustic imaging for other systems too
Several systems can be surveyed on the same visit. All acoustic imaging applications · ships and marine
Compressed air leaks
Compressed air leak survey during production: findings with severity and the estimated cost of the leaks per year.Read moreGas leaks
Nitrogen, argon, CO2, helium and other pressurised gas pipework – including shielding gas lines in welding shops.Read moreSteam leaks
Leaks in steam lines, valves, flanges and condensate lines – located from a safe distance.Read more