Scott Equipment Company • COVAL Vacuum Solutions
COVAL Intelligent Vacuum Pumps for Modern Automation
Reduce Compressed Air Consumption. Improve Process Reliability. Add Visibility with IO-Link & Fieldbus.
A practical guide to ASR vs ASC, communicating vacuum, and complete vacuum system delivery through Scott Equipment Company.
On this page:
• Where Traditional Vacuum Falls Short
• IO-Link & Fieldbus Vacuum Control
COVAL Introduction
Vacuum is a core technology in automation—supporting packaging, material handling, pick-and-place, CNC tending, and robotic EOAT. In many systems, however, vacuum generation is still treated as a fixed utility: air runs continuously, performance feedback is limited, and troubleshooting happens only after downtime or quality issues.
COVAL’s intelligent vacuum pump families—LEM, LEM+, LEMAX, LEMAX+, LEMAX IO, and LEMCOM—focus on two outcomes engineers care about: controlled air consumption and repeatable handling performance. Depending on the series, you can also add modern diagnostics through IO-Link or industrial fieldbus, enabling faster commissioning and more efficient maintenance workflows.
Related overview: Introducing COVAL Vacuum Solution
Where Traditional Vacuum Systems Fall Short
Vacuum-related issues often present as tooling problems—missed picks, inconsistent holds, longer cycle times, or unexplained air usage. In practice, many of these symptoms trace back to how vacuum is generated and controlled.
Air Runs When It Shouldn’t
Continuous vacuum generation consumes compressed air even after the part is secured.
Limited Process Feedback
Without visibility into vacuum level, leaks and cup wear are hard to diagnose quickly.
Integration Complexity
External regulators, switches, and valves add wiring, plumbing, and commissioning time.
Intelligent vacuum reduces waste by controlling air consumption and consolidating vacuum functions into compact, point-of-use modules.
ASR vs ASC Explained: Two Approaches to Air Savings
COVAL’s intelligent vacuum platform is built around two air-saving strategies. Both improve efficiency and stability, but they are optimized for different handling conditions.
ASR (Air Saving Regulator) — LEM & LEM+
ASR regulates supply conditions to support efficient venturi performance while minimizing unnecessary air use. It’s a strong fit when you want stable performance and simpler integration without adding external regulation hardware.
• Best-fit: packaging, general automation, porous or variable materials, higher flow requirements
• Engineering benefit: fewer external components and simplified point-of-use installation
• Business outcome: reduced compressed air cost and faster commissioning
• Optimizes supply pressure to improve venturi efficiency. Ideal for general automation and porous material handling that typically operates at 30-55% vacuum.
ASC (Air Saving Control) — LEMAX & LEMAX+
ASC actively controls air consumption based on vacuum demand. Once target vacuum is achieved, the system reduces or stops air use and reactivates only as needed to maintain holding force. This is especially valuable in airtight handling where stable holds are achieved quickly.
• Best-fit: airtight products, sealed cartons, metal sheets, glass, smooth surfaces
• Engineering benefit: adaptive control improves repeatability in changing conditions
• Business outcome: greater energy savings potential and improved process consistency
• Actively monitors and adjusts air usage based on vacuum demand. Strong fit for airtight applications that operate effectively at 55-80% vacuum.
Selection tip: ASR is often the right starting point for porous or high-flow applications. ASC typically delivers maximum efficiency when airtight holds can be achieved and maintained with minimal air input.
IO-Link & Fieldbus Vacuum Control: Make Vacuum Visible
As automation architectures become more data-driven, vacuum performance is increasingly expected to be measurable and configurable—not a black box. Communicating vacuum helps reduce troubleshooting time, standardize commissioning, and support maintenance decisions with real operating data.
LEMAX IO — IO-Link Communicating Vacuum
LEMAX IO pairs ASC-style efficiency with IO-Link communication so vacuum behavior can be monitored and adjusted through the control system. This supports consistent setups across machines and reduces manual tuning at the pump.
• Real-time vacuum status and diagnostic visibility
• Remote parameterization (setpoints, control behavior, alarms)
• Simplified commissioning and repeatability across builds
LEMCOM — Industrial Fieldbus Communicating Vacuum
LEMCOM is designed for industrial networks where vacuum needs to integrate directly into machine-level communication. It supports scalable architectures (including modular islands) that align with modern machine design.
• Fieldbus integration to support centralized control strategies
• Cleaner machine builds through standardized networked components
• Faster troubleshooting with visibility at the control layer
Practical ROI: communicating vacuum reduces time spent diagnosing intermittent holds, leaks, and cycle instability—especially across multi-station systems.
Automation Applications Where Intelligent Vacuum Adds Value
Intelligent vacuum becomes most valuable in systems where compressed air cost, cycle time, or reliability is measurable—and where downtime creates meaningful production impact.
Packaging & Cartoning
Improve pick stability, reduce air usage, and shorten changeover/commissioning time.
Material Handling
Maintain reliable holds across varying part sizes and surface conditions while controlling air consumption.
CNC Tending
Reduce missed picks and improve repeatability with vacuum mounted close to the part and monitored performance.
Pick-and-Place Automation
Shorten vacuum generation time and improve system stability in high-cycle applications.
Sheet / Panel Handling
ASC-based control helps maintain holds efficiently on airtight surfaces with reduced air input.
Multi-Station Systems
IO-Link/fieldbus visibility simplifies troubleshooting and supports standardization across stations.
We Build It, You Install It: From Components to Complete Vacuum Assemblies
Intelligent vacuum performance depends on correct selection and integration: material type (porous vs airtight), required flow/cycle time, cup selection, line routing, and the level of control/communication needed. Scott Equipment Company supports complete solutions—not just components.
Through our We Build It, You Install It program, we can deliver vacuum solutions configured for your application and ready to install: We Build It, You Install It™
Correct Selection & Sizing
Match vacuum technology to material, flow demand, and cycle time to stabilize performance.
Pre-Configured Assemblies
Reduce in-house plumbing and wiring with assemblies designed for installation and serviceability.
Faster Commissioning
Standardize setups and shorten debug time, especially across multi-station or repeat builds.
Outcome: fewer integration surprises, less engineering rework, and faster time-to-production.
Intelligent Vacuum in Robotic Cells and EOAT
Vacuum is often a deciding factor in robotic cell reliability: response time, hold stability, and recoverability from variation matter. Intelligent vacuum adds controllability and feedback that supports both engineering performance and operational uptime.
Explore how Scott Equipment Company supports complete robotic automation, EOAT, and integration: Robotic Solutions
EOAT Performance
• Installation close to the part reduces lag and improves response
• ASC improves efficiency once target vacuum is achieved
• Diagnostics reduce time spent on intermittent pick issues
Technical FAQ
What is an intelligent vacuum pump?
An intelligent vacuum pump is designed to actively manage vacuum generation and provide usable feedback (vacuum level, alarms, control state). It helps reduce compressed air consumption while improving repeatability and diagnostics.
How do ASR and ASC differ in practice?
ASR focuses on regulating supply conditions for efficient, stable venturi performance. ASC actively controls air usage based on vacuum demand, reducing or stopping air once target vacuum is achieved and reactivating only as needed to maintain holding force.
When should I consider IO-Link vacuum?
IO-Link is a strong fit when you want consistent machine-to-machine configuration, faster commissioning, and better service workflows. It’s especially helpful when troubleshooting intermittent holds, leaks, or process variation across stations.
What information is needed to size a vacuum pump correctly?
Key inputs include material porosity (porous vs airtight), part surface condition, number and type of suction cups, required cycle time, line length, and required flow. Those parameters determine the best-fit approach (ASR vs ASC) and whether communication is beneficial.
What does “We Build It, You Install It” mean for vacuum systems?
It means Scott Equipment Company can deliver configured vacuum assemblies designed around your application requirements—reducing integration effort and shortening commissioning time.
Talk to an Engineer
If you’re evaluating vacuum solutions for a new project or upgrading an existing process, Scott Equipment Company can help review the application, recommend the right COVAL series (LEM, LEM+, LEMAX, LEMAX IO, or LEMCOM), and support a complete system approach through We Build It, You Install It™.