Pfeiffer Vacuum+Fab Solutions, a member of the global Busch Group, will exhibit its latest analytical vacuum technologies at the 74th American Society for Mass Spectrometry (ASMS) Conference in San Diego, May 31 through June 4, 2026. The company's booth will feature six products across five categories spanning vacuum generation, measurement, and flow control — a breadth of coverage that underscores how much of a modern mass spectrometer's performance hinges on the systems surrounding the instrument itself.
The ASMS annual conference draws 6,300 to 7,000 scientists and instrument specialists and serves as a primary launch venue for new analytical hardware. For lab managers responsible for MS uptime and infrastructure, the vacuum-component side of the exhibit hall deserves as much attention as the instrument launches.
Editor's Note: Vacuum infrastructure is one of the most consequential — and frequently overlooked — variables in mass spectrometry performance. As MS instruments grow more sensitive and compact, the demands on their supporting vacuum systems have intensified, pushing vendors to deliver solutions that balance precision, serviceability, and footprint. Pfeiffer Vacuum+Fab Solutions' showcase at ASMS 2026 reflects that pressure, offering lab managers a timely opportunity to evaluate whether their current pump and gauge infrastructure is keeping pace with their instruments.
Why vacuum quality directly determines MS data integrity
Mass spectrometers cannot function without stable, clean vacuum conditions. Every stage of the analytical process — ionization, ion transfer, mass analysis, and detection — operates within a specific pressure window, and deviations from those windows translate directly into elevated background noise, degraded sensitivity, and unreliable quantitation.
A 2024 review published in Mass Spectrometry & Purification Techniques summarized the fundamental dependency clearly: vacuum systems reduce molecular collisions that cause ion fragmentation and signal interference, and their integrity is a prerequisite for accurate measurement across all ionization modes, from electron ionization to electrospray. That dependency becomes more operationally acute as labs push instruments toward higher sensitivity thresholds and as MS systems shrink into more compact, field-deployable formats.
The mass spectrometry market was valued at approximately $6.68 billion in 2025 and is projected to reach $14.09 billion by 2035, growing at a CAGR of roughly 7.74%. Within that market, vacuum pump components in the clinical mass spectrometry segment specifically are forecast to register the highest growth rate among instrument subsystems, at a projected CAGR of 14.5% through 2031. For lab managers, this trajectory means vacuum infrastructure is becoming an active procurement and planning consideration, not just a maintenance line item.
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For a practical guide to selecting the right vacuum technology for your lab's needs, Lab Manager's independent vacuum pump purchasing guide is a useful starting point.
What Pfeiffer is showing at ASMS 2026
Pfeiffer's ASMS exhibit centers on six products across five categories, each addressing a distinct layer of the mass spectrometry vacuum stack.
| Product | Type | Primary role in MS workflows |
|---|---|---|
| HiScroll | Oil-free scroll pump | Backing/roughing pump for clean fore-vacuum generation |
| HiPace 10 Neo | Turbomolecular pump | High-vacuum stage for compact and mobile MS systems |
| HiCube 80 Neo | Complete pump unit | Integrated turbopump system for R&D environments |
| RPT 010 | Vacuum gauge | Wide-range pressure measurement and process monitoring |
| IKT 11 | Vacuum gauge | Precise vacuum measurement and system diagnostics |
| E-series valves | Flow control valves | System isolation, safety, and gas flow management |
Each product is described in more detail below.
HiScroll oil-free scroll pump
The HiScroll is a dry, hermetically sealed scroll pump available in pumping speeds from 6 to 20 m³/h. Its oil-free design eliminates the contamination risks associated with oil-sealed rotary vane pumps — a meaningful advantage in laboratories where hydrocarbon contamination at the fore-vacuum stage can migrate into the analytical system and affect results. The pump features intelligent control via RS-485 or ProfiNet interfaces, enabling RPM regulation and situation-specific fan control through connection with turbopumps or higher-level controllers, with adaptive fan management that minimizes noise and extends maintenance intervals.
For MS labs transitioning away from oil-based backing pumps, the HiScroll represents a clean-room-compatible alternative without sacrificing pumping speed.
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HiPace 10 Neo turbomolecular pump
The HiPace 10 Neo is positioned as the smallest high-power turbopump on the market and is a key product for portable and mobile mass spectrometer platforms. It uses Pfeiffer Vacuum Laser Balancing technology, which minimizes mechanical imbalance and results in low noise and vibration levels during operation. A mechanical bearing system with oil-lubricated ceramic ball bearings ensures reliable operation even when subjected to rapid movements or vibrations, and its small footprint makes it well-suited to highly integrated analytical instruments such as those used in mass spectrometry, electron microscopy, or portable field systems.
The portable MS use case is increasingly relevant. As analyzers move into clinical, environmental, and forensics field settings, the vacuum subsystems need to tolerate the physical demands of transport while maintaining performance on arrival.
HiCube 80 Neo vacuum pump unit
The HiCube 80 Neo is a complete plug-and-play pump station combining a turbopump with intelligent control electronics in a single unit. Designed for R&D environments where setup flexibility matters, the system offers customizable integration options without requiring users to source and configure turbopump and backing pump separately. For lab managers managing instrument build-outs or supporting interdisciplinary research teams, the all-in-one form factor reduces both procurement complexity and the risk of compatibility issues between pump components.
RPT 010 and IKT 11 vacuum gauges
Vacuum measurement is often a weak point in older MS installations, where gauges may lag the sensitivity or range needed for modern instruments. The RPT 010 and IKT 11 together provide precise pressure monitoring across a wide range, supporting both process control and system diagnostics. Accurate gauge data is also increasingly important for predictive maintenance programs, where real-time pressure monitoring can flag vacuum degradation before it affects analytical results.
E-series valves
The E-series valves round out the system-level offering, handling isolation, flow control, and safety functions. In multi-chamber MS systems, where different pressure regions must be independently controlled and isolated, reliable valve performance is not a peripheral concern. Valve failures in analytical vacuum systems can cause instrument venting, extended recovery times, and, in worst cases, detector damage.
Pfeiffer's position in the analytical vacuum market
Pfeiffer Vacuum+Fab Solutions is a member of the Busch Group, and as of September 2025, the brand absorbed the gas abatement systems previously offered under the centrotherm clean solutions name, consolidating the group's semiconductor and analytical vacuum portfolio under a single brand identity. The Busch Group operates manufacturing plants across 11 countries and employs more than 8,000 people globally, with an annual consolidated revenue of approximately 2 billion euros.
Pfeiffer's presence at ASMS follows a series of industry-facing events in 2025 and early 2026, including appearances at SEMICON Southeast Asia, SEMICON Taiwan, and SEMICON Korea. The company was honored with a Recognition Award at SEMICON Korea 2026 for contributions to semiconductor industry advancement. While most of that activity targets semiconductor manufacturing, the underlying vacuum platforms cross over into analytical instrumentation, and the ASMS appearance signals Pfeiffer's continued investment in the laboratory analytics market.
Also on hand at ASMS will be specialists in Pfeiffer's SplitFlow turbopump technology, which is engineered specifically for next-generation mass spectrometer system design. For OEMs and research groups building custom MS platforms, that access to application engineering expertise may be as valuable as the hardware on display.
What this means for your mass spectrometry lab
The Pfeiffer lineup at ASMS 2026 is worth evaluating from two distinct angles. For labs running existing MS systems, the HiScroll and the gauge portfolio are the most operationally relevant products: cleaner backing vacuum and better pressure monitoring are upgrades that can improve data quality and reduce downtime without requiring instrument replacement.
For labs planning new MS installations or evaluating portable and field-deployable platforms, the HiPace 10 Neo and HiCube 80 Neo are worth examining. As instruments become more compact and mobile, vacuum subsystem choices made at the design or procurement stage have long-term consequences for both performance and serviceability.
The ASMS conference itself remains one of the best environments for evaluating vacuum infrastructure alongside instrument performance. ASMS 2026 brings together leading companies, universities, and laboratories to explore emerging trends including real-time analysis, miniaturized MS systems, and high-throughput workflows. Pfeiffer's complete suite approach — pump, gauge, valve, and control — reflects an understanding that those trends place new and compounding demands on the components most labs have historically taken for granted.
For broader context on the analytical instrumentation landscape heading into ASMS season, Lab Manager's coverage of new products from ASMS 2025 provides useful background on where MS instrument development is heading.
Pfeiffer Vacuum+Fab Solutions will exhibit at booth 223 at the San Diego Convention Center. More information is available at pfeiffer-vacuum.com.
References
- Evelyn, G. (2024). Vacuum systems in mass spectrometry: Enhancing analytical precision. Mass Spectrometry & Purification Techniques, 10, 226. https://www.longdom.org/open-access/vacuum-systems-in-mass-spectrometry-enhancing-analytical-precision-106255.html
- SNS Insider. (2026, March). Mass spectrometry market size, share & growth analysis 2035. https://www.snsinsider.com/reports/mass-spectrometry-market-3835
- MarketsandMarkets. (2025). Clinical mass spectrometry market size & growth forecast to 2031. https://www.marketsandmarkets.com/Market-Reports/clinical-mass-spectrometry-market-234108367.html
