60 Years of Leak Detection Expertise: Pfeiffer Vacuum+Fab Solutions Celebrates a Milestone

Pfeiffer Vacuum+Fab Solutions, a member of the global Busch Group, celebrates 60 years of leak detection expertise.

This milestone marks six decades since the commercialization of the company's first helium leak detector, the ASM 4, and highlights the continuous development of a portfolio that has supported demanding industrial and scientific applications around the world.

The story began in Annecy, France, in the 1960s. A request from a nuclear research and development hub required a highly sensitive solution for tightness testing in isotope enrichment for nuclear power plant fuel. Existing leak detection methods were not sufficient for the demanding process requirements, particularly because the equipment had to prevent contamination such as moisture. Drawing on strong vacuum technology know-how, the engineers developed a new type of leak detector based on mass spectrometry with helium as tracer gas: the ASM 4.

Vacuum technology as a driver
As a vacuum solution manufacturer and supplier, Pfeiffer has always benefited from the close collaboration between its vacuum technology and leak detector development teams. This strong connection has enabled the leak detector portfolio to continuously integrate technological advances from vacuum generation, helping to improve performance, cleanliness, and robustness over time.

Early developments focused on more compact and easier-to-use systems, such as the ASM 10, while maintaining high detection sensitivity. In the 1980s, turbomolecular vacuum pumps replaced diffusion vacuum pumps and liquid nitrogen traps, making leak detectors faster and more convenient to operate. In the 1990s, automatic calibration and dry primary pumping were introduced to meet the specific needs of industries such as semiconductor manufacturing. The ASM 142 later became one of the most recognized leak detectors in the market, followed by further generations designed for high performance, ease of use, and robustness.

Visit the Pfeiffer website to read the full press release.