Vacuum Conservation Method

(Europa Patent Erich Pummer GmbH no. 1295859)

Stone conservation is necessary in order to stop the degradation of masonry that limestone and sandstone monuments are particularly at risk of due to frost and acid rain.

The patented "vacuum-circling strengthening process" (Europa Patent Erich Pummer GmbH no. 1295859) allows monuments, stone sculptures, facades and other free-standing and weathered objects to be preserved either in-situ or in the workshop.

Thanks to this technology, a basic principle that has been sought in stone conservation for decades can be realised: namely, that the right quantity of new bonding agent is applied to the damaged object and, above all, is injected deep into the stone. This is fundamentally important since simple surface treatment can cause the sort of follow-up damage that is all too widely seen. This damage includes cavities of just a few millimetres that become chipped after a few years, causing parts of the original surfaces of the artwork to be irreparably lost. The objects to be treated, which can be virtually of any size, are shrink-wrapped in airtight solvent-resistant film. The remaining air trapped inside the film and within the porous cavities of the stone is then drawn out with the vacuum-circling preserver so that a vacuum is created in the object itself. After a relative vacuum of 300–900 mb has been achieved, the appropriate strengthening agent (silicic-acid ester or acrylic solution) is injected via a precise dosing system, and distributed evenly and deeply into the stone thanks to the low pressure. The open pores and badly damaged areas are filled first, while the remaining pores and capillaries in the healthy and sound material take slightly longer to fill until, finally, the stone has been restored back to its even and original strength.

Effective and efficient demineralisation can be achieved using the same techniques by rinsing with demineralised water. More information in the article: "The cleaning power of water"

This conservation method is already widely accepted throughout Europe by scientists and monument conservationists. Our work has taken us beyond Austria into Germany, Croatia, Hungary and even Azerbaijan.

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Related articles

Lower Austria WKO Innovation-Award creatively into the future

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"Erich Pummer GmbH, for its innovative vacuum preservation technique in works of art made of stone, was awarded in the category of design and crafts"

Innovation Award in architectural conservation

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only available in German

"Monumento Salzburg 2012"

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Successful start for Monumento 2012 The first trade fair for conservation of historic monuments in Salzburg For three days, the spirit of times long passed imbued the halls of Messezentrum Salzburg. Experts and enthusiasts of historical artifacts enjoyed the opportunity to explore the…

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"Monumento Salzburg 2014"

16/01/2014 - 18/01/2014

Also this year, we enjoyed many visitors to our booth at the Monument in 2014 and would like to thank you this way for your interest.

Vacuum-Circling Process: A Innovative Stone Conservation Method

06/09/2016 - 10/09/2016

Science and Art: A Future for Stone: Proceeding of the 13th International Congress on the Deterioration and Conservation of Stone, Volume 2. Paisley: University of the West of Scotland. S. 931ff; by Erich Pummer

The Bernhard Remmers Award 2010

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Special award for Innovation - sponsored by the German Foundation for Monument Protection

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Memorial Day ("Tag des Denkmals")

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Application of Ethyl Silicate Based Consolidants on Sandstone with Partial Vacuum: A Laboratory Study

06/09/2016 - 10/09/2016

Science and Art: A Future for Stone: Proceeding of the 13th International Congress on the Deterioration and Conservation of Stone, Volume 2. Paisley: University of the West of Scotland. S. 955ff; by H. Siedel, J. Wichert and T. Frühwirt

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"For his work with the vacuum consolidation (VAC) Erich Pummer was honored a special prize for innovation in monument preservation, donated by the German Foundation for Monument Protection."

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When a stone restorer from Wachau, Austria, stone carver and stonemason named Erich Pummer is invited along with his team to Azerbaijan, one can assume its principals have been well informed.

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01/10/2007 - 01/10/2013

Consolidation of natural stone always goes back to one question: How do you transport the consolidant agent into the depth of the stone? New perspectives are opened by a vacuum-circuit process by which first practice experiences have already been gained. by Erich Pummer

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Who among the stone restorers is not aware of the problems when confronted with severely damaged objects that can not be preserved in the long run with traditional methods.

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20/09/2023

Only available in German.

Further references

Title Location Client Year Technologies
Holy Trinity column Tulln. Total degradation vacuum strengthening of four angels, 18th centuryTulln, Lower Austria Municipality of Tulln 2008 - 2009
Marble epitaph, Parish church, 1527Tulln, Lower Austria Parish office of Tulln 2004
Parish church Hollenburg, 5 epitaphs. vacuum consolidation v. 3 Limestone Epitaphs, 16th - 17th centuryHollenburg, Lower Austria Parish of Hollenburg 2009
Holy Cross Parish church of Gutenbrunn 3 sculptures, 4 vases on the east facade., 18th centuryGutenbrunn Heiligenkreuz, Lower Austria Holy Cross Parish office Gutenbrunn 2011
Ernstbrunn Palace, colossal vases, Abrasive sandstoneErnstbrunn, Lower Austria Reuss'sche goods Directorate Ernstbrunn 2006
Baroque pediment group guest wing North and West 4 sculptures, 4 vases, 3 ??PuttisAltenburg Monastery, Lower Austria Monastery of Altenburg 2005 - 2006
Maria column - Immaculata, Pauline church - Favoritenstraße, vacuum consolidationVienna I Magistrate of Vienna MA 7 2008
5 pcs. sculptures of Laas marble, 19th centuryMoos Palace, Bavaria, Germany Palace administration Arco-Zinneberg 2010
Balcony sculptures, four seasons, Loretto LimestoneRingstraße, Vienna Haselsteiner Family private donation 2010
Gothic baptismal fontNussdorf ob der Traisen, Lower Austria Parish of Nussdorf 2011
St. George’s fountain, reed sandstoneRothenburg o.d. Tauber, Germany Stone restoration Bauer-Bornemann, Bamberg, Germany 2005
Holy Trinity column, Sculptures, shell limestone, 18th centuryTulln, Lower Austria Municipality of Tulln 2008 - 2009
Loretto, Madonna, Loretto limestoneLoretto, Burgenland Bundesdenkmalamt Arsenal 2008
Schönbrunn Palace, column staircase, desalination, shell limestoneSchönbrunn Palace, Vienna Studio Gurtner Vienna 2007
Holy Trinity column, Sculptures, LimestoneOsijek, Croatia Hrvatski Restauratorski Zavod, Croatia 2009
Mathias church, original pillar, LimestoneBudapest, Hungary Remmers Ungarn Kft. 2007
Parish church, coat of arms cartouche, reed sandstoneKersbach, Germany Monolith GmbH, Bamberg 2010
Madonna Walfahrts church, Adneter red marbleMaria Taferl, Lower Austria Roman catholic Parish office Maria Taferl 2012
Johannes Cloister, Desalination of brick masonryStralsund, Germany Urban Renewal Society Stralsund, Germany 2012
Parish of St. Jacob, Olive figures, desalination, reed sandstoneRothenburg o.d. Tauber, Germany Stone restoration Bauer-Bornemann Bamberg, Germany 2013
Neogothic Madonna sculpture (Maria with child), 1823Stuckgasse 9, 1070 Vienna IMV - Immobilien Management GmbH 2013

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