The Falcon Dry Series from Faridabad-based Falcon Vacuum Pumps & Systems offers a complete range of dry vacuum pressure pumps. The range covers all applications in the printing industry, including offset printing, paper folding machine, diary-making, case-making, perfect binder and automatic die-cutting. 

Established in 1981 by Tarlochan Singh, the company started as TKB Industries, as an engineering workshop which manufactured tractor parts. Later, it started manufacturing printing machine components, and shifted to vacuum pumps in 1995. 

“We launched our vacuum pumps in 1995 because of customer demand. We started with two motors per month. Today, we make around 6,000 pumps per annum for printing, packaging, pharma, dairy, wood, vacuum forming, oil filtration, and vacuum conveying,” says Amarpreet Singh, the second-generation of the family-owned business.

Used for pick and place applications, these pumps are based on rotary vane technology. Graphite vanes are used to generate vacuum. The pumps are targeted at offset printing, packaging and book-binding industries.
“The pumps work as an accessory to the main machine,” Singh says. “Our pumps provide more vacuum and air for better printing speed in the presses.” 

Using the pumps 
Singh says, with its continuous design upgrades, the downtime of the equipment has been reduced to almost zero. “We win on the basis of servicing the network and product quality. Customers trust the Falcon brand,” he adds.

The company has more than 25,000 installations in India. It also exports the pumps to the neighbouring countries, including Sri Lanka, Bangladesh, Sharjah, as well as the African countries.

"In India, the company has more than 10,000 customers, including the likes of Thomson Press, IPP, Replika Press, Kala Jyothi, Vikram Print & Pack, Multivista Global, Lovely Offset, and SFA Prints, among others. 

Singh says for a product like this, customers usually look for the product quality and after-sale service.

850 pumps last year
“The USP of the product is robustness, long life, trouble-free productivity, and low maintenance cost,” Singh says. He adds that the unique characteristic of the product is its unmatched graphite vanes life.

The components of the product include electric motor, metal, cast iron, and aluminium. 

Singh says while there are other domestic and imported pumps available in the market, the Falcon pumps are preferred for its quality and after-sales service. “We have three people in after-sales service, and we offer same day delivery services in South India as well," he adds.

Now, the company is doing die-casting as compared to sand-casting in earlier versions to increase quality, finish and performance. 

Singh said the product is very easy to use. Even a printing press operator can install it. He adds that as printing shopfloor workers are aware of the product, no additional training is required. However, the company offers a one-year performance guarantee with every installation. 

Singh suggests that print shopfloors need to be more clean, neat and organised. “For reducing the downtime on our pumps, we recommend timely cleaning of filters and greasing of bearings,” Singh says.
The company sold around 850 pumps last year, and wants to up the numbers to 1,000 in FY 21-22. “We offer guarantees on the performance life of the graphite vanes,” he concludes.