October 3, 2023 How Have Pneumatic Tubes Enhanced Efficiency?

In this article, Aerocom take a look at how these pneumatic tubes have been incorporated into different industries and the ways in which they have enhanced operational efficiency.

The use of pneumatic tubes is now prolific in a great many businesses – so much so that it is difficult to imagine life without them. These systems are incredibly effective at moving items and paperwork around a business quickly and safely, without the need for human contact or time. They can not only save time but can also help to increase hygiene levels and keep all manner of businesses running smoothly.

What are pneumatic tubes?

Pneumatic tubes are an incredible transport system which are used to carry materials between two points safely and efficiently. The items are placed into sealed capsules or carriers which are both leak-proof and leak-resistant and made from durable, transparent material. These carriers are placed into a station which includes a dock and an interface panel. The pneumatic tubes might simply run between two points, or they may diverge into different paths, and so the user can determine where the carrier should be sent using the interface panel.

If the pneumatic tubes do take different paths, they will usually feature diverters which act like a points system on a railway line. Once the user has selected the destination for the carrier, the diverters can change the direction in which they travel as they pass through in order to ensure that they reach the correct station.

Of course, these carriers do not move by themselves, and are therefore powered by blowers. These are fans which create a difference in air pressure between the two ends of the system, sucking the carrier along the tubes at a rate of around 25 feet per second. Once the carrier reaches its desired station it can be removed and opened, and the whole process can begin again.

Pneumatic tubes uses

Pneumatic tubes were first used in the 1800s to transport mail in major cities such as London, New York, Boston, Paris and Berlin, but this declined in popularity after World War II. By the 1980s, the technology behind the pneumatic tubes systems had spread across the globe and new uses were being found for them.

No matter how far we move into the digital age, there are still physical items that need to be transported around businesses, and pneumatic tubes have proved to be the perfect way to do this. They have commonly been associated with the finance industry as a way to move cash and other sensitive documents around a bank, but they are now becoming a common sight in other types of businesses. Healthcare was one sector which was quick to pick up on the benefits of pneumatic tubes and now they are being used in everything from retail and hospitality to dairy plants.

Their popularity is thanks to the fact that materials can be moved around a business in a matter of seconds, meaning that it is not only efficient, but it also saves on manpower, freeing up employees to complete more important tasks. It also helps to prevent items from getting lost as it can only travel through the designated tube network and cannot be intercepted. The sealed carriers ensure that everything can be kept safe and hygienic, as they are not being touched and potentially contaminated by human hands.

Science

The scientific sector quickly saw the benefits of using pneumatic tubes, and they now feature in most laboratories. Often when experiments are carried out in one area and results analysed in another, there needs to be a strong line of communication that allows them to move materials around without delay or contamination, and so pneumatic tubes have proved to be the answer. This is particularly useful when dealing with harmful matter such as radioactive materials, as these should not be and cannot be carried by humans.

Pharmaceuticals

The pharmaceutical industry is another which was quick to adopt the pneumatic tube system. They can transport test samples quickly and easily and have played a significant role in the large-scale production of medicines.

Dairy

The dairy industry is one which uses pneumatic tubes a lot. This can not only move around test samples but also dairy products and can appear in the milk collection and processing sectors as well as the quality and packaging units.

Manufacturing

When large factories are moving massive amounts of goods around on a daily basis, they need to have an efficient system in place to ensure their quality standards are met and all within some very tight deadlines. A pneumatic tube system can connect all areas of the business, from research to testing, production and packaging.

Advantages of pneumatic tube systems

One of the biggest advantages of a pneumatic tube system is speed. It can ensure that paperwork and goods are moved through a business in seconds, ensuring that there are no delays in any working practices. They can cover short and long distances, often going in different directions and come in a variety of sizes, and so can be adapted to work within any business layout. New technology now means that each carrier can now be tracked during its journey, monitoring its progress and allowing for data reporting and tracing.

The network of tubes can be tucked away out of site, whilst many businesses choose to make a feature out of them, turning them into a working form of modern art throughout their building. As there is no way to interfere with the contents of a tube until it has reached its designated station, there is much reduced risk of contamination or theft, making it a favourite choice across so many industries.

Pneumatic tubes have proved to be a great way to co-ordinate businesses and have made it easier than ever for different areas to connect and work together. This seemingly simple idea has revolutionised a great number of businesses, helping to make many of their processes much more streamlined, and therefore profitable too.

Subscribe to Industry Today