The Xtra Vacum 175

May 2007

The Xtra Vacum 175
J. White, a senior product manager at XtraVacum, was excited as he lifted the prototype of a dry piston vacuum pump out of its shipping carton. Management of XtraVacum's new parent company, KPO GmbH, had decided to test its ability to penetrate new market segments within the United States (U.S.). Whereas KPO marketed the 125 under its own name as a platform product to the scientific laboratory and health care segments, XtraVacum would sell it as a derivative product in previously untapped application segments. The division’s vice president, L. Will, had named White to head up a team charged with finding new segments for and then commercializing the 125. White looked forward to the challenge. Success would bring recognition from KPO's senior management. As he placed the steel gray device on his desk, White recited to Will all the product information he could recall. “The Xtra Vacum 175 Dry Piston Vacuum Pump is a fractional horsepower, injection-molded aluminum pump, with a pumping speed of 1.6 cubic feet per minute (CFM). The pump weighs 16.5 pounds. The Xtra Vacum 175 is a reconfigured compressor outfitted with a screen over its input nozzle to catch contaminants. Because it is a compressor, the Xtra Vacum 175 can run longer and cooler than conventional vacuum pumps. This enables the Xtra Vacum 175to function more efficiently at lower pressure levels than competing products. And, the fact that it is injection-molded means that it has fewer working parts than more traditional models. In contrast to conventional pumps, the Xtra Vacum 175 is oil-free. XtraVacum Will sell the 125 to its network of wholesalers for $400, with a suggested resale price of $500.” “Will, this product along with the XtraVacum reputation for precision, reliability, and durability make us the ‘Mercedes’of vacuum pumps in the U.S.”, White