VAC-7S Abrasive Recovery System with CS-500 Dust Pre-separator, Complete Set

Contracor VAC-7S – High-Performance Abrasive Recovery System with CS-500 Dust Pre-Separator

The Contracor VAC-7S abrasive recovery system with CS-500 dust pre-separator is a high-performance, electrically powered vacuum recovery system for collecting, cleaning, and reusing used abrasive media. The system was specifically developed for mineral abrasive media that can generate increased dust and a higher proportion of unusable fine particles during blasting.

The VAC-7S combines a powerful side-channel blower with a freestanding CS-500 dust pre-separator, a highly efficient cascade cleaner, an integrated cartridge filter, and automatic blast pot refilling. The recovered abrasive media is therefore conditioned in several stages before it returns to the blasting process.

With a drive power of 7.5 kW, a recovery capacity of up to 3.5 metric tons per hour, and a maximum suction hose length of 10 meters, the VAC-7S is suitable for professional stationary blast rooms with increased requirements for suction performance, dust separation, and abrasive cleaning.

Your Benefits at a Glance

• ✅ Specifically developed for reusable mineral abrasive media
• ✅ Increased suction and cleaning performance
• ✅ High-performance 7.5 kW side-channel blower
• ✅ Freestanding CS-500 dust pre-separator
• ✅ Highly efficient cascade cleaner
• ✅ Multi-stage separation of abrasive media, dust, and fine particles
• ✅ Recovery capacity of up to 3.5 metric tons per hour
• ✅ Integrated high-performance cartridge filter
• ✅ Automatic pulse jet cleaning of the filter element
• ✅ Automatic refilling of the blast pot
• ✅ Reduced consumption of new abrasive media
• ✅ Reduced dust load in the material cycle
• ✅ Lower disposal and cleaning costs
• ✅ Compact design for stationary blast rooms
• ✅ Ideal for Contracor Z-200 series blast pots

📦 Package Contents

• Contracor VAC-7S vacuum abrasive recovery system
• High-performance 7.5 kW side-channel blower
• Freestanding CS-500 dust pre-separator
• Manual emptying of the dust pre-separator
• Highly efficient cascade cleaner
• Integrated high-performance cartridge filter
• Automatic pulse jet filter cleaning
• Abrasive storage container
• Device for automatic refilling of the blast pot
• Floor hopper with grating
• 4 m abrasion-resistant rubber suction hose
• Suction hose inner diameter 63.5 mm (2½")

Technical Specifications

Dimensions (mm)

Multi-Stage Abrasive Reconditioning

The VAC-7S conditions used abrasive media in several coordinated stages. First, the material is collected through the floor hopper and transported via the suction hose to the freestanding CS-500 dust pre-separator.

In the CS-500, coarse dust, light contaminants, and unusable fractions are separated from the material stream. The reusable abrasive media then passes to the cascade cleaner, which provides further intensive separation of usable abrasive media from remaining fine particles.

The integrated cartridge filter performs fine separation of dust particles contained in the airflow. The cleaned abrasive media is then collected in the storage container and automatically returned to the connected blast pot.

Increased Suction and Cleaning Performance

The VAC-7S is equipped with a powerful 7.5 kW side-channel blower. Compared with the VAC-5S, the system therefore provides increased suction performance and additional capacity for demanding recovery tasks.

The more powerful drive supports pneumatic material transport through the suction line and ensures reliable conveyance of the used abrasive media to the dust pre-separator and recovery unit.

Combined with the cascade cleaner, the VAC-7S provides not only increased suction performance but also more intensive conditioning of the recovered abrasive media.

CS-500 Dust Pre-Separator

The freestanding CS-500 dust pre-separator is designed specifically for applications with increased dust generation. It is located upstream of the main filter unit and provides initial separation of dust, fine particles, and unusable fractions.

Pre-separation significantly reduces the dust load on the downstream cartridge filter and helps prevent an excessive proportion of spent fine particles from returning to the abrasive cycle.

Material separated in the CS-500 is collected in a separate chamber and emptied manually. The required emptying intervals depend on the abrasive type, dust content, and daily operating time.

• ✅ Pre-separation of large amounts of dust and fine particles
• ✅ Separation of usable and unusable material
• ✅ Reduced load on the cartridge filter
• ✅ Reduction of spent fine particles in the abrasive media cycle
• ✅ Manually emptied collection chamber

Highly Efficient Cascade Cleaner

After pre-separation in the CS-500, the recovered abrasive media is further conditioned in a highly efficient cascade cleaner. The material falls in a controlled manner through an airflow that separates lighter fractions from the heavier, reusable abrasive media.

Dust, abrasion residue, broken grains, and other light contaminants are removed from the material stream. The cleaned abrasive media then enters the storage container.

This intensive cleaning supports a more uniform composition of the recovered material and can contribute to more reproducible blasting results, a more consistent blast pattern, and lower dust generation during subsequent operation.

Integrated Cartridge Filter with Pulse Jet Cleaning

The VAC-7S features a high-performance cartridge filter with a filter area of 7.5 m². The polyester filter medium removes fine dust particles from the airflow.

Automatic pulse jet cleaning uses short bursts of compressed air to clean the filter cartridge. Dust adhering to the filter surface is dislodged so that airflow and suction performance remain as constant as possible.

Because the CS-500 and cascade cleaner remove material upstream, the cartridge filter is exposed to less coarse dust and material. Nevertheless, the filter element must be inspected regularly and replaced when required.

Automatic Refilling of the Blast Pot

The conditioned abrasive media is collected in the integrated storage container mounted directly on or above the Contracor Z-200 blast pot.

As soon as the blast pot can be refilled, the cleaned abrasive media automatically falls from the storage container back into the pot. This largely eliminates manual collection, transport, and refilling of the recovered material.

Automatic refilling reduces interruptions during blasting and supports an economical, largely closed-loop material cycle.

Up to 3.5 Metric Tons of Recovery Capacity per Hour

The VAC-7S achieves a recovery capacity of up to 3.5 metric tons per hour. This makes the system suitable for professional stationary blast rooms with regular volumes of mineral abrasive media.

Actual recovery performance depends on abrasive type, grit size, bulk density, moisture content, dust load, hose length, hose routing, and differences in elevation.

The complete set includes a 4-meter-long abrasion-resistant rubber suction hose with an inner diameter of 63.5 mm. The maximum intended suction hose length is 10 meters.

Economical Reuse of Mineral Abrasive Media

Even with mineral abrasives, a technically reusable portion of the material may remain after blasting. Without suitable recovery and cleaning technology, this portion is often disposed of together with dust and unusable material.

The VAC-7S separates reusable fractions from spent material and automatically returns the cleaned portion to the blast pot. This can reduce the need for new abrasive media.

At the same time, manual cleaning work, internal material transport, and the volume of abrasive media requiring disposal are reduced.

• ✅ Reduced consumption of new abrasive media
• ✅ Reuse of suitable portions of mineral abrasive media
• ✅ Reduced disposal volume
• ✅ Less manual cleaning work
• ✅ Automated return to the blast pot
• ✅ Reduced interruptions during blasting
• ✅ More intensive conditioning through the cascade cleaner
• ✅ Reduced load on the main filter through the CS-500

Floor Hopper with Grating

The floor hopper included in the complete set serves as the central collection point for used abrasive media. Material lying on the shop floor is swept or shoveled into the hopper and then extracted by the vacuum unit.

The integrated grating traps larger foreign objects and prevents them from entering the suction hose and downstream system components.

This protects the suction line, dust pre-separator, cascade cleaner, and filter unit from coarse contamination and possible damage.

Suitable Abrasive Media

The VAC-7S was developed specifically for the recovery of reusable mineral abrasive media. Whether a particular material is suitable for multiple blasting cycles depends on grain stability, contamination, moisture content, and condition after blasting.

As a maximum size reference, the manufacturer specifies a grit size up to G40, approximately 0.30 to 0.80 mm. In addition to grit size, particle shape, bulk density, and flow characteristics influence conveying and separation performance.

The abrasive media must be dry and sufficiently free-flowing. Damp, clumped, or heavily contaminated material can reduce recovery performance and cause blockages.

Optional Handheld Suction Tube

A handheld suction tube with support wheels and a handle is available as an option for flexible collection of abrasive media over larger floor areas. The accessory is supplied with a 10-meter-long PU suction hose.

The handheld suction tube enables targeted cleaning of areas that cannot be reached directly via the stationary floor hopper. The support wheels make it easier to guide and reduce physical effort.

The handheld suction tube is not included in the standard VAC-7S package.

🔧 Applications

• Stationary blast rooms
• Blast rooms using mineral abrasive media
• Applications with increased dust generation
• Steel construction and metal fabrication
• Vessel and plant construction
• Mechanical engineering
• Automotive and commercial vehicle manufacturing
• Rail vehicle manufacturing
• Shipyards and maritime maintenance
• Surface preparation before coating and painting
• Removal of rust, scale, and old coatings
• Processing of large steel structures
• Retrofitting existing Contracor Z-200 blast pots

Operating Requirements

A suitable three-phase power connection with 3~ 380 to 420 V / 50 Hz is required to operate the VAC-7S. A suitable compressed air supply is also required for automatic pulse jet cleaning of the cartridge filter.

The system must be installed on a level surface with sufficient load-bearing capacity. The system weight of approximately 480 kg must be considered when planning the installation site and during transport and installation.

Suitable routing must be provided between the floor hopper, CS-500, recovery unit, and blast pot. Sufficient space should also be available for manual emptying of the dust pre-separator, filter maintenance, and access to the system components.

Maintenance and Care

Regular maintenance is essential for sustained suction, separation, and recovery performance. In particular, the CS-500 dust pre-separator, cascade cleaner, cartridge filter, pulse jet cleaning system, and suction hoses should be checked regularly.

The CS-500 collection chamber must be emptied manually depending on the amount of dust and operating time. Delayed emptying can reduce separation performance and increase the load on downstream components.

Deposits or foreign objects in the cascade cleaner can impair material separation. The floor hopper, grating, and suction lines should therefore also be cleaned and inspected regularly.

• Empty the CS-500 dust pre-separator regularly
• Check the cascade cleaner for deposits
• Check the filter cartridge regularly
• Check the function of the pulse jet cleaning system
• Inspect suction hoses for abrasion and leaks
• Clean the floor hopper and grating
• Keep material flow paths free of foreign objects
• Check the storage container and automatic filling system
• Have electrical components serviced by qualified personnel

VAC-5S or VAC-7S?

The VAC-5S is an economical solution for recovering dusty mineral abrasive media. The VAC-7S adds a more powerful side-channel blower and a highly efficient cascade cleaner, making it particularly suitable where intensive cleaning of recovered abrasive media is required in addition to dust pre-separation.

Why the Contracor VAC-7S?

The Contracor VAC-7S is a powerful complete solution for stationary blast rooms where mineral abrasive media need to be economically recovered, intensively cleaned, and automatically reused.

The combination of the 7.5 kW side-channel blower, CS-500 dust pre-separator, cascade cleaner, and cartridge filter provides multi-stage conditioning of used abrasive media.

Dust and unusable fine particles are removed from the material cycle while technically reusable abrasive media is automatically returned to the Contracor Z-200 blast pot.

The system reduces manual cleaning and handling, lowers the need for new abrasive media, and supports economical operation of professional blast rooms.

FAQ – Frequently Asked Questions

What is the function of the VAC-7S?
The VAC-7S collects used abrasive media, separates reusable material from dust and unusable fractions, and automatically returns the cleaned abrasive media to the blast pot.

For which abrasive media was the VAC-7S developed?
The system was specifically developed for reusable mineral abrasive media that can generate increased amounts of dust during blasting.

What is the difference between the VAC-7S and the VAC-7?
The VAC-7S additionally features the freestanding CS-500 dust pre-separator, making it particularly suitable for mineral abrasive media that generate large amounts of dust.

What is the difference between the VAC-7S and the VAC-5S?
The VAC-7S features a more powerful 7.5 kW side-channel blower and an additional cascade cleaner, providing increased suction and cleaning performance.

What is the function of the CS-500?
The CS-500 separates dust, fine particles, and unusable fractions before they reach the main filter unit, reducing the load on the cartridge filter.

How is the CS-500 emptied?
The dust pre-separator is emptied manually. The required intervals depend on dust generation, abrasive type, and operating time.

What does the cascade cleaner do?
The cascade cleaner uses an airflow to separate remaining light contaminants and fine particles from the heavier, reusable abrasive media.

For which blast pots is the VAC-7S suitable?
The recovery system is designed for Contracor Z-200 series blast pots.

Is the Z-200 blast pot included?
No. The blast pot is not included and must be ordered separately.

What is the recovery capacity?
According to the manufacturer, the maximum recovery capacity is up to 3.5 metric tons per hour.

How long can the suction hose be?
The maximum intended suction hose length is 10 meters. The complete set includes a 4-meter-long rubber suction hose.

What is the suction hose diameter?
The inner diameter is 63.5 mm or 2½ inches.

Is the included suction hose abrasion-resistant?
Yes. The suction hose is made of abrasion-resistant rubber and is designed for pneumatic transport of abrasive media.

What is the maximum grain size that can be processed?
As a technical size reference, the manufacturer specifies a maximum grain size up to G40, approximately 0.30 to 0.80 mm.

Can every mineral abrasive be reused?
No. Reusability depends on material type, grain stability, contamination, and condition after blasting.

How is the used abrasive media collected?
The material is swept or shoveled into the floor hopper and then extracted by the vacuum unit.

What is the grating used for?
The grating traps larger foreign objects and protects the suction line and system components from coarse contamination.

How is the cartridge filter cleaned?
The filter cartridge is automatically cleaned by short bursts of compressed air using the pulse jet cleaning system.

Does the VAC-7S require compressed air?
Yes. A suitable compressed air supply is required for automatic pulse jet cleaning of the cartridge filter.

What electrical power supply is required?
A three-phase power connection with 3~ 380 to 420 V / 50 Hz is required.

What is the drive power?
The electric side-channel blower has a drive power of 7.5 kW.

How loud is the VAC-7S?
The sound pressure level specified by the manufacturer is 72 dB(A).

How heavy is the system?
The specified total weight is approximately 480 kg.

Is a handheld suction tube included?
No. A handheld suction tube with support wheels, a handle, and a 10-meter PU suction hose is available as an option.

Can the VAC-7S be retrofitted into an existing blast room?
Yes. The system is suitable for retrofitting existing stationary blast rooms, provided that a suitable Contracor Z-200 blast pot and the required utility connections are available.

Why is it worthwhile to recover mineral abrasive media?
By separating usable abrasive media from dust and unusable fines, a suitable portion of the material can be reused. This reduces abrasive consumption, disposal volume, and cleaning effort.