When your operation needs to move chemicals, wastewater, viscous fluids, or process liquids reliably and safely, the pump you choose matters. FTI Air air-operated diaphragm pumps by Finish Thompson are a proven solution used across industrial, chemical, agricultural, and sanitary applications worldwide. Alsco Industrial carries the FTI Air product line so you can get the right pump for your application from a single, experienced source.
What Makes FTI Air Pumps a Smart Choice
FTI Air pumps run on compressed air rather than electricity, which makes them inherently safer in chemical environments and far easier to install and relocate than motor-driven alternatives. There are no motors to wire, no seals to replace, and no complex controls to program. Connect an air line, connect your process piping, and the pump is ready to work.
A few things set FTI Air apart from other air-operated diaphragm pumps on the market:
Built-in reliability. The non-stalling air valve at the heart of every FTI Air pump has fewer moving parts than competing designs, which means less to wear out and less to maintain. Every pump ships factory-tested for vacuum, leakage, and operability before it ever reaches your facility.
Simple maintenance. Wear parts are individually replaceable without special tools. When a diaphragm or check ball needs to be swapped, it is a straightforward job that does not require sending the pump out for service.
Handles fluids other pumps cannot. FTI Air pumps are self-priming, can run dry without damage, and handle viscous fluids, abrasive slurries, and shear-sensitive materials that would damage other pump types. They can also operate fully submerged, which makes drum and tank unloading straightforward.
Five-year warranty. FTI Air backs every pump with a five-year warranty on materials and workmanship, one of the strongest warranties in the diaphragm pump market.
Installation Flexibility That Fits Your Operation
One of the strongest practical advantages of FTI Air pumps is how adaptable they are to different installation situations.
Because they run on compressed air, FTI Air pumps can be placed wherever compressed air is available, without routing electrical conduit or locating near a panel. This makes them a good choice for remote locations, temporary setups, or facilities where adding electrical infrastructure is not practical.
They are also portable. A pump on a cart with a quick-disconnect air fitting can be moved between drums, tanks, or work areas in minutes, making FTI Air a useful utility pump in addition to a fixed-installation pump.
Connection options are broad. Depending on the model and size, FTI Air pumps are available with threaded NPT or BSP connections, ANSI/DIN/ISO flanged connections for piped systems, and tri-clamp sanitary connections for food and pharmaceutical service. Suction and discharge ports can be configured in end or center locations to match your piping layout, in horizontal or vertical orientation. This range of options means FTI Air pumps can integrate into existing systems without costly adapters or piping modifications.
FTI Air pumps also support three distinct suction configurations that give you options most pump types cannot offer:
Flooded suction. When the fluid source is above the pump, FTI Air handles flooded suction conditions without issue, making them a natural fit for tank outlets, gravity-fed systems, and process lines where the pump sits below the supply vessel.
Suction lift. FTI Air pumps are self-priming and can draw fluid from below, with suction lifts of up to 28 feet wet depending on the model and diaphragm material. This makes them usable in situations where the pump cannot be positioned at or below the fluid level.
Submerged operation. FTI Air pumps can operate fully submerged in the fluid being pumped, which is ideal for drum and tank unloading, sump drainage, and any application where getting the pump down to the fluid is the most practical approach.
Flow and pressure are adjusted simply by regulating the air supply. There are no impellers to trim and no drives to program. If your process requirements change, the pump adapts with a turn of a regulator.
Three Lines to Match Your Application
Alsco Industrial offers FTI Air pumps across three product lines:
Non-Metallic Diaphragm Pumps
Built with polypropylene or PVDF wetted components, these pumps handle aggressive chemicals, acids, bases, solvents, and other fluids that would attack metal pump bodies. Available from 1/4 inch through 3 inch with a wide range of diaphragm and seal material options to match specific chemical compatibility requirements. The right choice for chemical processing, electroplating, wastewater, and similar corrosive service. Shop Non-Metallic Diaphragm Pumps
Metallic Diaphragm Pumps
Available in aluminum and 316 stainless steel, metallic FTI Air pumps are suited for general industrial fluid transfer, abrasive slurries, and applications where metal construction is preferred. Stainless steel models are available with flanged connections and ATEX certification for use in hazardous or potentially explosive environments. Shop Metallic Diaphragm Pumps
Sanitary / FDA-Compliant Diaphragm Pumps
FTI Air's FDA-compliant line is constructed from materials certified under FDA CFR 21.177 for contact with food, beverage, pharmaceutical, and cosmetic products. These pumps come standard with tri-clamp sanitary connections and are the appropriate choice for ingredient transfer, CIP cleaning circuits, and other sanitary process applications where 3A or USDA certification is not required. Shop Sanitary Diaphragm Pumps
Common Applications
FTI Air pumps are used across a wide range of industries and applications:
- Chemical transfer and drum or tote unloading
- Wastewater and process water handling
- Electroplating and anodizing bath transfer
- Paints, inks, and coatings
- Food, beverage, and pharmaceutical ingredient transfer
- Mining and mineral slurry handling
- OEM fluid handling systems
Frequently Asked Questions About FTI Air AODD Pumps
Q: What does AODD stand for?
A: AODD stands for air-operated double diaphragm. The name describes the operating principle: compressed air drives two diaphragms alternately to move fluid through the pump.
Q: Can FTI Air pumps run dry?
A: Yes. Dry running is one of the inherent advantages of the AODD pump design. If the suction supply runs out, an FTI Air pump will continue cycling without damage until flow is restored or the pump is shut off.
Q: What air pressure do FTI Air pumps require?
A: FTI Air pumps require a minimum of 10 PSIG at the air inlet and can operate up to a maximum of 120 PSIG. Actual operating pressure is set by a regulator on the air supply line based on the flow and pressure requirements of the application.
Q: What is the maximum particle size FTI Air pumps can handle?
A: Depending on the model and size, FTI Air pumps can pass solids up to 0.38 inches (9.7 mm) in diameter. Always verify the specific model's maximum particle size against the actual solids content of the fluid being pumped.
Q: Are FTI Air pumps self-priming?
A: Yes. FTI Air AODD pumps are self-priming and can draw fluid from below the pump with suction lifts of up to 28 feet wet and over 19 feet dry, depending on diaphragm material and model.
Q: Can FTI Air pumps be submerged?
A: Yes. FTI Air pumps are capable of submerged operation, making them useful for drum unloading, sump drainage, and tank emptying applications.
Q: What connection types are available?
A: FTI Air pumps are available with NPT threaded, BSP threaded, ANSI/DIN/ISO flanged, and tri-clamp connections depending on the model and size. Center or end porting locations are selectable on most models.
Q: What warranty does FTI Air carry?
A: FTI Air pumps are backed by a five-year warranty on materials and workmanship.
Q: What is the difference between the non-metallic and metallic pump lines?
A: Non-metallic pumps use polypropylene or PVDF wetted components and are the correct choice for aggressive chemical service where metal body construction would be subject to corrosion or chemical attack. Metallic pumps use aluminum or 316 stainless steel wetted components, are available with ATEX certification for hazardous locations, and are preferred for general industrial service and applications requiring flanged connections.
Q: What makes the FDA-compliant line different from the standard non-metallic line?
A: The FDA-compliant line uses materials certified under FDA CFR 21.177 for contact with food, beverage, pharmaceutical, and cosmetic products. It comes standard with tri-clamp sanitary connections and uses FDA-approved diaphragm and ball materials. The standard non-metallic line uses the same body materials but is not configured or certified for food contact service.
Ready to Find the Right Pump?
Alsco Industrial has been supplying thermoplastic fluid handling products since 1983. Our team can help you select the right FTI Air pump based on your fluid, flow requirements, pressure, and connection needs.
Call us at 888-941-3030 or email sales@alscoind.com.
Browse the FTI Air diaphragm pump line at alscoind.com.