Behind every successful industrial solution lies more than just steel, pipes, pumps and technology. There are people who understand the application, design a solution and are prepared to work alongside the customer every step of the way.

This is the approach through which Process Vacuum and Recovery Vacuum have established their place in South Africa’s industrial and mining sectors.

ProAgri visited the team at Electra Mining Africa 2026, where it became clear that the companies’ strength lies not only in their equipment, but also in the knowledge and people behind it.

Esta van Aswegen, Managing Director of Process Vacuum, explains:

“Every one of us has a genuine passion for what we do and for the solutions we can offer our customers.”

A solution rather than just a product

Process Vacuum’s experience in vacuum technology dates back to 1986, with the company operating under the Process Vacuum name since 2007. Today, the company specialises in vacuum and compressor systems for a variety of industries and applications.

What sets the approach apart is that a standard system is not simply taken off the shelf.

Each system is designed according to the customer’s requirements. Some bare-shaft vacuum pumps are imported, but the packages are built locally, with auxiliary equipment also sourced in South Africa. Completed systems are tested to ensure that they meet the required performance specifications before being shipped to the customer.

Esta places particular emphasis on this involvement throughout the entire process:

“We walk the journey with the customer, from the initial requirement and design through to the final solution and the support that follows.”

This means Process Vacuum’s involvement does not end when a pump or system is sold. The company’s expertise extends across the application, design and support of the vacuum system, with the aim of delivering a solution that can function effectively within the customer’s actual process.

When waste becomes valuable again

It was from this expertise that Recovery Vacuum emerged.

The company was developed approximately eight years ago after existing Process Vacuum customers began requesting more specialised solutions for vacuum recovery and industrial cleaning.

Since then, systems have been supplied to industries including pulp and paper, as well as platinum and gold mines, while short-term recovery projects have also extended into agriculture, cement production and food processing.

The RecoVac® range is designed to use vacuum power to collect and recover materials. This can be particularly valuable where material accumulates beneath or alongside conveyor belts, between crushers or elsewhere in a plant. The range includes various mobile and fixed systems that can be adapted to suit the specific application.

There is, however, an important distinction: it is not always simply about cleaning.

In certain applications, the material being collected may still have value. Instead of treating spilt material or product that has escaped from a process as waste, a vacuum recovery system can collect it so that, where appropriate, it can be returned to the process or transferred to a designated collection point. Recovery Vacuum’s systems have been developed specifically around the recovery of liquids, solids, sludge and other products.

The conversation therefore shifts from industrial cleaning to something much broader: product recovery, reduced waste and a more efficient process.

Designed and built in South Africa

Another important part of the story is the local component. Recovery Vacuum’s systems are designed and built in South Africa, while Process Vacuum’s new system packages are also assembled locally.

The companies therefore combine decades of vacuum expertise with the ability to develop a solution around a specific problem – rather than trying to make the customer’s problem fit an existing product.

This is also why Esta’s words capture the companies’ approach so well: a passion for the work, combined with a willingness to walk the journey alongside the customer.

There was no shortage of large machinery and impressive technology at Electra Mining Africa 2026, but Process Vacuum and Recovery Vacuum serve as a reminder of a simple principle: the best technology is ultimately the technology that solves a real problem.

Find the right solution for your process

Whether the challenge involves vacuum generation, industrial cleaning, material recovery or a complete purpose-designed vacuum system, Process Vacuum and Recovery Vacuum can work with the customer to develop a solution around the specific application.

Contact the team on 016-362-2761 or email info@processvacuum.co.za to discuss your application. Visit Process Vacuum or Recovery Vacuum for more information about their systems and services.