ABS vs Metal Construction

ABS, also known as acrylonitrile-butadiene styrene, is a very common type of Polyethylene/ Polypropylene used to make light, rigid and durable injection-molded products for a variety of uses. When used in the construction of central vacuum canisters, it is specifically molded to improve impact resistance, toughness and most importantly heat resistance. 97% of all vacuum companies use ABS injection molding, and 50% of central vacuum companies have already switched over to using either full ABS or a combination of metal and ABS in the past 5 years. Central vacuums with ABS canisters are made to last a lifetime. Injection-molded plastic ABS materials are also used in products like motorcycle/ bicycle/football helmets, piping, automotive parts and even furniture. In fact, micron-sized particles of ABS materials are sometimes used in ink, which makes the color appear much more vivid.

Before any ABS production even starts, all of the components are put through a series of rigorous tests and are subjected to enormous stress and strain that exceeds typical residential household use. ABS is globally recognized for it's durability and longevity and is used in a large number of products. When applied to central vacuums, it helps greatly reduce the decibel level of a unit, making for a quieter operation. It also gives you an advantage over metal because the canister is much lighter, so taking it down to change a bag or dump it out becomes much easier. And because of it's vibration-free construction it's much less likely to fall or drop down from the rest of the unit due to excessive vibration, which would cause dents in a metal canister. The companies who have put ABS material to work in their vacuums have already recognized the futuristic advantages over metal designs, and all the benefits using ABS has to offer. The German engineered Miele Vacuum Cleaner Company, Bosch Vacuums, and Sebo are some of the finest household portable vacuums in the world, and they use ABS material in their vacuums. Dyson, Hoover, Eureka, Oreck, Electrolux, Kenmore, Riccar, and Simplicity all use ABS materials in their vacuums as well. This isn't your child's toy material!

Some companies still use 20g metal as a sign of durability and strength. Metal canisters tend to be much heavier and more difficult to deal with. The vibrations caused by the metal design will increase the decibel level and make the vacuum unit much louder. Metal constructed central vacuum canisters are essentially trash cans. They dent and scratch easily, rust, corrode and gather fingerprints. Metal material and paint over metal may start to chip over time and flake off. Metal is also susceptible to rust in some cases, which in time can cause problems with hinges and latches. Heavy metal canisters tend to vibrate quite a bit, and may also vibrate themselves right off of the mounting bracket, falling on the floor and possibly causing dents and scratches. Certain manufacturers use both metal and ABS materials in combination with each other to eliminate some of the weight and for additional acoustic properties. Here are two examples of using a combination of ABS and metal materials. Beam, the largest central vacuum manufacturer in the world, used to make all-metal machines. Now, Beam understands the importance of an ABS canister which creates less weight for the vacuum, helps handle the vibration better, and is resistant to cracks and dents should it fall when being emptied. AirVac also understands that using ABS material in combination with metal is to their advantage because it allows them to create a lighter, more durable canister. Some other companies that use a combination of metal and ABS are Cana-Vac, Honeywell, Vacuflo, Hoover, etc.