Pfeiffer Vacuum+Fab Solutions Becomes Official Global Supplier of ITER Flanges
14.11.2025
After a one-year evaluation period, Pfeiffer now offers ITER flanges to support the world’s largest fusion energy research project. The ITER organization has officially qualified Pfeiffer as a recommended supplier of ConFlat, ISO, ITER, and many more flange styles for use in US ITER hardware procurements.
Photo: Busch Group
ITER: A global collaboration for the future of fusion energy
ITER is the world’s largest fusion energy research project, investigating the scientific and technological feasibility of nuclear fusion energy as a large-scale, safe and carbon-free power source. In the ITER research center located in Cadarache, Southern France, scientists from 35 different countries work together in the framework of this international collaboration.
Vacuum technology is essential at ITER, as the massive vessel and cryostat must be evacuated to ultra-high vacuum to create the clean environment required for stable plasma. This also places exceptional demands on the connections, the flanges, to keep the system safe in the event of an emergency. Safety Important Components (SIC) – components that are critical to maintain the secure state of ITER – require special ITER-style flanges that ensure reliable sealing and monitoring options.
Commitment to quality and precision
The qualification process involved regular inspection and quality checks, alongside documentation. With the successful qualification of Pfeiffer as a flange supplier, the company can further support the ITER project with its high-quality vacuum solutions. Pfeiffer has also provided the vacuum system, including turbomolecular vacuum pumps, for the ITER nuclear fusion reactor.
“By meeting ITER’s strict requirements, we show that Pfeiffer can deliver components that comply with the highest technological and safety standards, giving customers confidence, reducing risks, and enabling smooth project execution even in the most demanding research environments,” said Rüdiger Timmermann, managing director at Pfeiffer in Göttingen.