The History of the Vacuum Industry and Vacuum Pumps

Understanding the origins of the vacuum industry requires us to delve deep into ancient history. Around 375 BC, the Greek philosopher Democritus proposed a groundbreaking idea: the universe is made up of tiny particles called atoms, and between these atoms exists empty space—a form of micro-vacuum. According to Democritus and his teacher Leucippus, this empty space enabled atoms to move, rearrange, and interact, forming the basis for changes in physical matter. These early thinkers were among the first to conceptualize the idea of a vacuum.

Although this atomic theory laid foundational insights, it was not widely accepted at the time. Aristotle, one of the most influential philosophers of antiquity, refuted the existence of a vacuum. In his work Physics I, he argued that a vacuum—”nothingness”—could neither exist nor be defined. This belief dominated scientific thought throughout the Middle Ages.

The Turning Point: Galileo and Torricelli

Fast forward to 1613: Galileo Galilei conducted experiments in Florence to measure the weight and density of air. Using a glass flask, he estimated air density at 2.2 g/L—a value that modern science refines to about 1.2 g/L. His work marked a major shift: air was no longer considered intangible, but a measurable substance that could potentially be removed from a given space.

A major breakthrough came in 1640 with Evangelista Torricelli, a student of Galileo. Torricelli filled a glass tube (about 1 meter long) with mercury, sealed one end, and inverted it into a basin of mercury. The mercury column dropped, leaving an empty space at the top of the tube—what we now recognize as a vacuum. This experiment, known as Torricelli’s experiment, became the first successful creation of a measurable vacuum and convinced the scientific community of its existence.

While earlier attempts to prove the vacuum had limited success, Torricelli’s experiment was a milestone in natural sciences. Until 1874, this simple mercury-filled tube remained the only tool for measuring vacuum levels, reaching as low as 0.5 mmHg (or 67 Pascal).

The Enlightenment Era: Accelerated Advancements

Between 1850 and 1900, vacuum technology experienced rapid progress. The growing demands of scientific research and the rise of the incandescent light bulb pushed innovation. As industries evolved, the need for vacuum systems—especially in packaging, metallurgy, and electronics—became increasingly apparent.

The 20th Century: Industrial Integration

By the early 1900s, vacuum technology had found its way into full-scale industrial applications. The benefits of vacuum-assisted metallurgical processing gained recognition, leading to the emergence of vacuum furnaces. Over time, vacuum solutions became indispensable in a wide array of industries.

Modern-Day Applications of Vacuum Technology

Today, vacuum and vacuum pump technologies serve a critical role across numerous fields, including:

Mechanical material handling
Petroleum degassing
Gas sample collection
Concentration of aqueous solutions
Distillation and purification
Saturation of electronic components
Steel vapor degassing
Insulator production
CNC machinery and wood vacuum presses
Vacuum packaging
Central hospital suction systems
Medical vacuum pumps
Heat treatment and drying
Vacuum casting
Freeze-drying (used extensively in pharmaceutical industries for vaccine and antibiotic production, as well as for preserving skin and blood plasma)

BioLab Market Vacuum Industries

At BioLab Market Vacuum Industries, we proudly manufacture a wide range of vacuum pumps and provide tailored solutions for professionals and manufacturers in need of reliable vacuum systems. As one of the leading providers in the industry, we aim to offer the most efficient technologies and recommendations to help our partners grow.