60 Years of Leak Detection Expertise

The first leak detector by Pfeiffer was invented in the 1960s. The ASM 4 used helium as the test gas. Source: Pfeiffer Vacuum+Fab Solutions.

The ASM HVM is designed for extremely sensitive leak tests in various industries. Source: Pfeiffer Vacuum+Fab Solutions.

Pfeiffer looks back on decades of technological progress in leak detection – from the first leak tester ASM 4 to the new ASM HVM.

Pfeiffer Vacuum+Fab Solutions, a member of the global Busch Group, celebrates 60 years of expertise in leak detection. This milestone marks six decades since the launch of the company's first helium leak detector, the ASM 4. At the same time, it underscores the continuous development of a product portfolio that is used worldwide in demanding industrial and scientific applications.

The story began in the 1960s in Annecy, France. A nuclear research and development center needed a highly sensitive solution for leak testing in isotopic enrichment of nuclear fuel. Existing leak detection methods were insufficient for the demanding process requirements, especially since the equipment had to prevent contaminants such as moisture. Thanks to their comprehensive know-how in vacuum technology, the engineers developed a novel leak detector based on mass spectrometry with helium as the test gas: the ASM 4.

Vacuum technology as an innovation driver

As a manufacturer and provider of vacuum solutions, Pfeiffer has always benefited from close collaboration between its vacuum and leak detection development teams. Thanks to this close connection, technological advances in vacuum generation have continuously fed into the development of leak detectors. This has significantly contributed to improving their performance, purity, and robustness over the years.

Early developments like the ASM 10 focused on more compact and user-friendly systems without compromising high detection sensitivity. In the 1980s, diffusion vacuum pumps and liquid nitrogen cold traps were replaced by turbomolecular vacuum pumps, making leak detectors faster and easier to operate. In the subsequent 1990s, automatic calibration and dry pre-vacuum generation were introduced to meet the specific requirements of industries such as semiconductor manufacturing. The ASM 142 later became one of the most well-known leak detectors on the market. Subsequent generations were designed for high performance, user-friendliness, and robustness.

Reliable leak testing across all industries

Today, leak detectors from Pfeiffer Vacuum+Fab Solutions are used wherever tightness is essential for product quality, reliable processes, and safety. Applications range from vacuum-insulated products and medical devices to battery and semiconductor manufacturing, as well as industrial quality assurance, maintenance, and research and development. Whether protecting components from moisture and contamination or preventing process losses – leak detection with test gases offers the sensitivity and reliability required for demanding testing environments.

ASM HVM: clean, mobile, and highly sensitive leak detection

Also in the anniversary year, Pfeiffer continues its tradition of technological innovation with the introduction of the new ASM HVM. This portable leak detector was developed for reliable, highly sensitive helium leak testing of medium-sized volumes in semiconductor production, R&D, and other industrial sectors where mobility, purity, and fast testing cycles are indispensable.

By combining a turbomolecular vacuum pump with a dry scroll forepump into a powerful system, the ASM HVM enables fast, oil-free tests and is suitable for use in cleanrooms. Its compact, ergonomic design, the rotating and removable color touchscreen, and the integrated tool compartment support efficient leak detection across various testing areas. “For 60 years, Pfeiffer has significantly shaped the development of test gas leak detection,” says Clotilde Lesigne, Head of Product Management Leak Detection at Pfeiffer Vacuum+Fab Solutions. “With the ASM HVM, we build on this experience and meet today's customer needs for clean, portable, ergonomic, and high-performance solutions for leak testing.”

Leak detection for future markets: an outlook

The markets of the future include data center cooling, battery production, and the hydrogen economy, which pose new demands for reliable leak testing. As these applications require solutions that ensure tightness, purity, and safety, Pfeiffer Vacuum+Fab Solutions will continue to support its customers with a steadily evolving portfolio of leak detection technologies and comprehensive application expertise.

Over the past 60 years, the company has continuously expanded its know-how to meet changing requirements. Today, customers benefit not only from a broad range of leak detection technologies, including test gas leak detection, solutions based on optical emission spectroscopy (OES) for CCIT applications, and micro-flow technologies for air-based leak testing. They also gain access to application expertise rooted in decades of experience across various industries.

Based on this foundation, Pfeiffer Vacuum+Fab Solutions supports customers throughout the entire leak detection process: from technology selection and feasibility studies to implementation in production and service. Through its global network of application laboratories, customers can access expert advice, feasibility studies, and contractual services for leak testing to find the best solution for their specific application.