Pneumatic Conveying Tubing & Components

Resin pellets, bulk powder, sealed carriers. Different materials, same truth: if the tube network isn't right, nothing downstream works.

Pneumatic Conveying

The Tube Is the System

Pneumatic conveying moves material through enclosed tubing using air pressure or vacuum. What's inside the tube varies widely: abrasive mineral powders, fragile polymer pellets, sealed document carriers traveling at speed. The tube network doesn't just connect point A to point B. It is the system. Every bend radius, wall thickness, interior surface, and joint either keeps things moving or quietly works against you.

Bulk material systems and carrier pneumatic systems operate very differently, but both depend on the same thing: a clean, consistent internal path. H-P Products supplies tubing, bends, fittings, and couplings for the full range of pneumatic conveying applications, and has been the primary tube supplier for carrier pneumatic systems since the industry began.

Why H-P for Pneumatic Conveying
Tube + Pipe, Full Range Tube from 1.5" to 10" OD. Pipe from 1" to 8" NPS. Carrier tube from 2.25" to 6" OD plus PVC.
Wrinkle-Free Mandrel Bending Smooth bore through every bend. Critical for carrier systems and any application where interior surface matters.
Interior Treatments Available Shot peening, porcelain lining, and ceramic coating coordinated through H-P and shipped ready to install.
In-Stock + Custom Capability Standard catalog parts ship fast. Custom configurations happen in the same facility.
Collection of pneumatic conveying tubing, bends, fittings, and couplings Pneumatic Conveying System Components
Collection of carrier pneumatic tubing, bends, and fittings Carrier System Components
Components

What Goes Into the System

01

Tubing & Pipe

The backbone of every conveying line. Standard tubing from 1.5" to 10" OD in 11, 12, 14, and 16 gauge. Pipe from 1" to 8" NPS in Schedule 5, 10, 40, and 80. Carbon steel, stainless steel, aluminum, and galvanized steel. Standard 20-foot lengths, cut to spec on request.

For carrier pneumatic systems, metal tubing from 2.25" to 6" OD, plus 4" x 7" OD oval tubing and PVC at 4.625" OD x 4.385" ID. Straight and expanded end configurations across the full range.

Pneumatic conveying tubing and pipe in carbon steel, stainless steel, and aluminum
02

Bends & Elbows

Short radius (1.5x OD), standard radius (2.5x OD), and long radius bends with extended centerline radii available. Smooth, wrinkle-free mandrel bends in 30, 45, 60, and 90 degree configurations. Expanded or straight end options. Available in tube and pipe across all material families.

A wrinkle on the inside wall of a bend is invisible from the outside. In a bulk system, it catches material and accelerates wear. In a carrier system, it stops a capsule mid-transit. Either way, it costs you. Every bend we supply is mandrel-formed for a clean, consistent bore.

Wrinkle-free mandrel bent elbows for pneumatic conveying and carrier systems
03

Fittings

Conveying lines don't run in straight paths. Every split, merge, and direction change needs a fitting that keeps airflow moving and material where it belongs.

Standard catalog includes laterals (30 and 45 degree), wyes, parallel wyes, tees, mitered elbows, reducing couplings, female and male adapters, and plate flanges. For carrier pneumatic: segmented elbows, tees, wind gates, bypasses, twists, and caps. Available with expanded or straight ends to match your joining method.

Pneumatic conveying fittings including laterals, wyes, tees, and carrier pneumatic components
04

Custom Configurations

Not every installation maps to a catalog. Tight clearances need non-standard radii. Retrofits require transition pieces between tube and pipe sizes. Manifolds with multiple pickup points need to be fabricated as a single assembly. Offset bends, flanged stubs, and special end treatments all happen on the same floor as standard production.

Send the drawing, the sketch, or the problem. We will quote it.

Custom fabricated pneumatic conveying tubing and assemblies
Couplings & Methods of Joining INSTALOK, Compression, Eliminator, Super Grip, Cam & Groove, slip couplings, and shrink sleeves for every joining scenario.
View Couplings
Pneumatic Conveying & IVAC Catalog Complete specs, dimensions, and part numbers for bulk conveying components.
Download PDF
Carrier Pneumatic Catalog Metal and PVC tubing specs for carrier tube systems.
Download PDF
Special Services

Interior Surface Treatments

Standard tubing works for most applications. When it doesn't, interior treatments extend service life, reduce material degradation, and solve wear problems before they start.

Directional shot peened tube interior showing dimpled surface texture
Directional Shot Peening
Creates a dimpled interior surface that reduces sustained pellet-to-wall contact. Reported to produce one-third the fines or angel hair typical in untreated systems. The directional finish also hardens the tube wall, extending service life beyond non-treated surfaces. Best for: Plastics & polymer pellet conveying
Porcelain lined tube interior showing smooth glassy coating
Porcelain Lining
A glassy enamel compound applied as liquid slurry to the interior of carbon or stainless steel, then baked. Rated 6 to 7 on the Mohs hardness scale. Resists corrosion, abrasion, atmospheric pollution, and extreme weather. Available in single coat (.004-.007") or double coat (.008-.012") for lengths up to 10 feet. Best for: Corrosive & high-abrasion environments
Ceramic coated elbow showing alumina bead matrix with fiberglass wrap
Ceramic Coating
A proprietary matrix of high alumina ceramic beads and fillers, covered in a fiberglass wrap for additional structure and wear resistance. Once the original tube substrate wears through, the ceramic layer continues to provide service life. Can be applied to all materials and nearly any part configuration. Best for: Extreme abrasion, heavy mineral conveying
Materials

Available Material Families

Material selection depends on the product being conveyed, the operating pressure, the environment, and how much wear the system will see.

Carbon Steel
The workhorse for general conveying.
Strong, cost-effective, weldable. The default for most bulk conveying systems. Available with interior treatments for abrasive applications.
Stainless Steel
For corrosion-sensitive and sanitary environments.
Required in food, pharmaceutical, and chemical processing where contamination control and washdown capability are non-negotiable.
Aluminum
Lightweight with natural corrosion resistance.
Reduces structural load on overhead runs. Common in large-scale conveying systems where weight matters. Available in tube and pipe.
Galvanized Steel
Zinc-coated carbon steel for exposed runs.
Typically supplied for exposed or corrosion-prone environments. Available on tubing and bends as required.
PVC
For carrier pneumatic applications.
Standard 4.625" OD x 4.385" ID. Straight and expanded ends. Used in carrier tube systems where metal is not required. Not for bulk material conveying.
Industries

Markets Served

H-P pneumatic conveying components are installed across a broad range of material handling and carrier transport applications.

Bulk Material Conveying
Plastics & Compounding
Rubber & Tire
Food & Ingredient Handling
Chemical & Specialty Powder
Pharmaceutical
Battery Material Handling
Carrier Pneumatic
Banking & Drive-Through
Hospital & Laboratory
Pharmacy
Retail & Cash Handling
FAQ

Frequently Asked Questions

  • Tube is measured by outside diameter (OD) and specified by gauge wall thickness. Pipe is measured by nominal pipe size (NPS) and specified by schedule wall thickness. In pneumatic conveying, tube is more common for general material handling, while pipe is specified when higher pressure ratings or standardized flange connections are required. H-P supplies both, and fittings and couplings are available for either.
  • Angel hair forms when resin pellets contact internal tube surfaces at high velocity. Friction generates heat, causing pellets to smear against the tube wall. When those deposits break free, they become long filaments that clog material lines, hoppers, and processing equipment. Directional shot peening reduces this by creating a dimpled interior surface that minimizes sustained pellet-to-wall contact.
  • Three interior treatment options are available depending on the severity of the wear. Directional shot peening creates a hardened, dimpled surface that reduces fines and extends tube life in plastics conveying. Porcelain lining applies a glassy enamel rated 6 to 7 on the Mohs hardness scale, available in single coat (.004-.007") or double coat (.008-.012") for lengths up to 10 feet. Ceramic coating uses a matrix of high alumina ceramic beads with a fiberglass overwrap for the most extreme abrasion environments.
  • It depends on what you are conveying and the environment. Carbon steel is the default for most bulk systems. Stainless steel is required where contamination control or washdown matters (food, pharma, chemical). Aluminum reduces weight on long overhead runs. Galvanized steel adds corrosion resistance for exposed or outdoor installations. For carrier pneumatic, both metal and PVC tubing are available. If you are unsure, contact us with your application details and we can recommend the right material.
  • Some components cross over and some do not. Compression couplings, Eliminators, Super Grips, and Cam & Groove fittings are available in both tube OD and pipe NPS sizes. INSTALOK couplings cover both as well. Laterals, wyes, tees, and adapters are manufactured for tube and pipe separately because the wall thicknesses and ODs differ. When ordering, specify whether you are working with tube (by OD and gauge) or pipe (by NPS and schedule) so the right components ship.
  • The Pneumatic Conveying & Industrial Vacuum Components Catalog covers all standard bulk conveying tubing, bends, fittings, couplings, and accessories. A separate Carrier Pneumatic Catalog is available with specifications for metal and PVC carrier tube systems. Both are free PDF downloads.