A suction device for dental, medical and industrial purposes with a radial fan with a suction side and a delivery side. An air outlet of a centrifugal separator is connected to the suction side of the fan. At least one drive motor controlled by a control unit, and in the form of a rotating electric motor, drives the fan and the separator. A fan drive motor and a separator drive motor are arranged, uncoupled in terms of rotation, one behind the other on a common shaft fixed to the housing. The respective stators are supported by the common shaft. The rotating parts of the fan are connected to the rotor of the fan drive motor, and the rotating parts of the separator are connected to the rotor of the separator drive motor and are mounted to rotate coaxially with respect to the shaft fixed to the housing.