A method of securing a distributor plate (328, 314) to a backing plate (326, 312) of a chromatography column by generating an internal vacuum therebetween, said method comprising the steps of: a) providing a chromatography column comprising: a tube in contact with an adapter assembly and a base assembly to define a cavity therebetween; said cavity being in fluid connection with the exterior of the column via a closable adapter port and/or a closable base port; the adapter assembly and/or the base assembly being movable within said cavity; at least one of said adapter assembly and said base assembly comprising a backing plate (326, 312) in contact with a distributor plate (328, 314) to define an air pocket (313, 323) therebetween; said air pocket (313, 323) being in fluid connection with the cavity via a closable passage (315, 325) in the distributor plate (328, 314) of the adapter assembly and/or the base assembly; b) closing said passage (315, 325) in the adapter assembly and/or the base assembly; c) moving the adapter assembly and/or the base assembly towards each other to remove air from the cavity; d) closing the port (321, 311) in the adapter assembly and/or the base assembly; e) opening the passage (315, 325) in the adapter assembly and/or the base assembly; f) moving the adapter assembly and/or the base assembly away from each other to remove air from the air pocket (313, 323); and g) closing the passage (315, 325) in the adapter assembly and/or the base assembly to secure the distributor plate to the backing plate. a) providing a chromatography column comprising: a tube in contact with an adapter assembly and a base assembly to define a cavity therebetween; said cavity being in fluid connection with the exterior of the column via a closable adapter port and/or a closable base port; the adapter assembly and/or the base assembly being movable within said cavity; at least one of said adapter assembly and said base assembly comprising a backing plate (326, 312) in contact with a distributor plate (328, 314) to define an air pocket (313, 323) therebetween; said air pocket (313, 323) being in fluid connection with the cavity via a closable passage (315, 325) in the distributor plate (328, 314) of the adapter assembly and/or the base assembly; a tube in contact with an adapter assembly and a base assembly to define a cavity therebetween; said cavity being in fluid connection with the exterior of the column via a closable adapter port and/or a closable base port; the adapter assembly and/or the base assembly being movable within said cavity; at least one of said adapter assembly and said base assembly comprising a backing plate (326, 312) in contact with a distributor plate (328, 314) to define an air pocket (313, 323) therebetween; said air pocket (313, 323) being in fluid connection with the cavity via a closable passage (315, 325) in the distributor plate (328, 314) of the adapter assembly and/or the base assembly; b) closing said passage (315, 325) in the adapter assembly and/or the base assembly; c) moving the adapter assembly and/or the base assembly towards each other to remove air from the cavity; d) closing the port (321, 311) in the adapter assembly and/or the base assembly; e) opening the passage (315, 325) in the adapter assembly and/or the base assembly; f) moving the adapter assembly and/or the base assembly away from each other to remove air from the air pocket (313, 323); and g) closing the passage (315, 325) in the adapter assembly and/or the base assembly to secure the distributor plate to the backing plate.