As well as offering excellent vacuum performance with low noise levels, the RV is designed to better handle harsh application and last longer.
Particulates (dust), condensible vapours (water vapour, chemical and solvent vapours), high inlet operating pressures and/or high ambient temperatures are often requirements for small laboratory or even industrial pumps.
The combination of materials of construction inside the pump, the internal design and the manufacturing process - which are all unique for the RV pump - have allowed the RV to be considered as the most robust, reliable and longer-lasting pump in its class by customers worldwide.

Dust is not good in oil-sealed rotating machinery, and can lead to lack of lubrication and premature wear.

RV pumps have are supplied with an inlet seal and integrated inlet mesh filter assembly. Optional ITF20K inlet dust filters can be used for harsher duties.

Oil ways in the pump mechanism are up to 5 times larger in diameter compared to other pumps in the market, and help reduce the chance of blockage and subsequent lack of lubrication.

High ambient temperatures can cause oil to break down (oxidise) and lose its lubricating properties, leading to premature pump wear.

RV pumps have an efficient air cooling system with a large fan, a quality motor with high temperature bearing grease, and uses high quality Ultragrade 19 oil which resists oxidation.

Vapours condensing in pump oil leads to poor lubrication, increased wear of moving parts and loss of vacuum performance.

The RV is designed to run hot and has a two open position gas ballast valve to allow the highest gas ballast flowrates of any similar sized pump. The RV pump has great flexibility to operate on applications as a high-vacuum mode or as a high-throughput mode.

All two-stage pumps have to "compromise" the oil lubrication system to achieve good ultimate vacuum, but if the pump is operated at high inlet pressure or with high vapour loads, the high vacuum stage will suffer from oil starvation and high rates of condensation of vapours in the oil. Edwards unique "Mode Selector Switch", in combination with gas ballast position GB2, allows the pump to handle the highest vapour loads of any pump in its class without any wear or loss of lubrication.

Most pumps give some form of protection against air or oil-suckback on power failure, but designs and effectiveness vary considerably.

The RV uses a simple and effective fast-acting mechanism that closing the inlet valve in less than half a second. The valve has "controlled" opening on power startup so that the system vacuum will never see a pressure surge on startup.

The combination of the above gives the best anti-suckback protection of any pump in its class.