Pneumatic conveying systems are basically quite simple and are eminently suitable for the transport of powdered and granular materials in factory, site and plant situations. The system requirements are a source of compressed gas, usually air, a feed device, a conveying pipeline and a receiver to disengage the conveyed material and carrier gas.

The system is totally enclosed, and if it is required, the system can operate entirely without moving parts coming into contact with the conveyed material. High, low or negative pressures can be used to convey materials.

A wide variety of materials are handled in powdered and granular form, and a large number of different industries have processes which involve their transfer and storage.
Some of the industries in which bulk materials are conveyed include agriculture, mining, chemical, pharmaceuticals, paint manufacture, and metal refining and processing. 

In agriculture very large tonnages of harvested materials such as grain and rice are handled, as well as processed materials such as animal feed pellets. Fertilizers represent a large allied industry with a wide variety of materials. A vast range of food products from flour to sugar and tea to coffee are conveyed pneumatically in numerous manufacturing processes.