CleanRooms articles from August 2008

CleanRooms archives from August 2008

D'ja ever wonder?(from the editor)(Editorial)
August 1, 2008... Sometimes in the dog days of summer, with things slowing down a little bit, people on vacation, and the U.S. Congress getting ready to head out on a recess from its recess, I get to daydreaming. For example, do you ever think about what it...

Whole lotta shakin' going on.(news)
August 1, 2008... After the shaking stopped in China on May 12, officials at Intel (Santa Clara, CA) began a familiar drill. The company has a microprocessor test facility in Chengdu, some 50 miles from the epicenter of the powerful quake. According to...

FDA releases food protection plan progress report.(news)
August 1, 2008... The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) unveiled its Food Protection Plan just months ago with the intention of maintaining a safe food supply for Americans. FDA's Food Protection Plan Progress Report, released on July 2 in conjunction...

McIlvaine Co. projects strong air filtration sales.(news)
August 1, 2008... Over the next five years, there will be a 65 percent increase in air filtration product sales into the electronic fabrication industry, according to industry analyst firm The McIlvaine Co. For bioclean applications in the pharmaceutical and...

Allied Minds and UC Davis launch startup to commercialize RF technology.(news)
August 1, 2008... Allied Minds, a Boston-based pre-seed investment firm specializing in early stage university business ventures, has established RF Biocidics, Inc., to develop and commercialize a novel disinfectant and disinfestant technology invented at the...

MicroWorks expands lab and manufacturing facility.(PARTICLES)
August 1, 2008... MicroWorks Inc., a microbiology consulting and training firm, plans to expand its laboratory, manufacturing, and distribution center in Crown Point, IN, creating up to 19 new jobs by 2011. The firm, which provides its training and consulting...

M+W Zander lands nano center design gig.(PARTICLES)(international Iberian Nanotechnology Laboratory )(Brief article)
August 1, 2008... M+W Zander, an architecture, engineering, and construction management firm for high-tech facilities, has been selected by the international Iberian Nanotechnology Laboratory (INL) to design its new nanotechnology center in Braga, Portugal....

Microtest labs doubles microbial ID and analytical services.(PARTICLES)
August 1, 2008... Agawam, MA-based Microtest Laboratories has doubled its microbial identification and analytical services with the purchase of an additional MicroSeq[R] microbial identification system from Applera Corp. The MicroSeq is a state-of-the-art DNA...

HDR, CUH2A to form comprehensive science and tech design firm.(PARTICLES)
August 1, 2008... HDR Architecture and CUH2A, a science and technology design firm, have announced their intent to merge to create a "comprehensive S+T design firm." The merged company will assemble design expertise across the life sciences research, physical...

The well-dressed cleanroom: end users need to juggle product and worker protection, comfort, utility, and cost-effectiveness in making the right choices about specialist laundries and cleanroom garmenting programs.(special report)
August 1, 2008... Any tailor will tell you that the signs of quality clothing can be found in the details, and the same can be said of cleanroom garments. In this analogy, companies such as Nitritex Ltd. (Newmarket, UK) are the hightech haberdasheries,...

Minimize infection risks in biolabs with a complete review and control plan: an exposure control plan is only as effective as the understanding and compliance of the personnel who implement it, so biosafety reviews are crucial.(biosafety labs)
August 1, 2008... In the past year, there have been a number of high-profile incidents at high-containment biological laboratories (biolabs). At Texas A&M University, a laboratory worker was exposed and infected with Brucella during an aerosolization experiment....

Garments play a primary role in controlling contamination in compounding environments: consider these recommendations for evaluating, validating, and implementing a USP <797>-compliant garment program.(cleanroom garments)
August 1, 2008... The latest revision to United States Pharmacopoeia (USP) General Chapter Pharmaceutical Compounding--Sterile Preparations, was released in June 2008. The implementation of USP in compounding pharmacies in the United States has been erratic at...

RABS find an expanded role in aseptic processing: the development of a comprehensive PHSS monograph will enhance the recognition of RABS as an alternative to isolators and provide a framework for regulatory compliance.(restricted access barrier systems)
August 1, 2008... As aseptic processing and related activities follow risk-based approach initiatives, separation of the process from the most potentially contaminating source--operators and associated process personnel--becomes a key consideration. Conventional...

Protect valuable assets with explosion-proof vacuums: choosing the wrong vacuum can put your facility, processes, and personnel at risk.(vacuum systems)
August 1, 2008... In the past several years, plants across the United States have seen an increase in dust-related explosions. From sugar dust to phenolic resin, blasts in the workplace are becoming all too common. Although critically controlled...

Cleanroom doors & pass-throughs.(product spotlight)
August 1, 2008... The transfer of product or equipment from one area to another presents a prime opportunity for a contamination event to occur. Doors and pass-throughs specifically designed for clean processing environments can help maintain necessary...

Ductless fume hoods.(new products)
August 1, 2008... The Purair ductless fume hood line from Air Science USA provides operator safety and exceeds OSHA, ANSI, and all relevant international standards. Completely portable and self contained, these hoods are designed to protect lab personnel from...

Cleanroom gowning racks and benches.(new products)
August 1, 2008... Cleanroom gowning racks from Eagle MHC, now available in freestanding or wall-mounted configurations, are constructed from heavy-gauge 304 stainless steel. Freestanding models are 24 in. wide and available in single, dual, and cantilever...

Disposable dosing system.(new products)
August 1, 2008... Bosch Packaging Technology's Prevas disposable dosing system is designed for installation on liquid filling lines for vials, ampoules, and syringes. The system features a completely disposable product path and incorporates a bulk product bag, a...

Single-use/small-scale vessel utility tower system.(new products)
August 1, 2008... TruViu[TM] PLSS, a vessel utility tower system for pilot and small-scale production applications, expands on the RDPD system to include more I/O capability and NEMA 4X enclosures. The system is designed to provide a flexible and plug-and-play...

Controlled environment ceiling grid and panels.(new products)
August 1, 2008... BarrierSystem[TM] grid and ceiling panels are now available from Chicago Metallic Corp. A complete ceiling solution for controlled environment facilities, BarrierSystem combines BarrierGrid[TM] suspension grid and assemblies as well as...

Polypropylene flow hood.(new products)
August 1, 2008... Flow Sciences, Inc. (FSI) has engineered a flow hood with framed polypropylene sides for improved chemical resistance. Traditionally, FSI designs and manufactures flow hoods with clear acrylic, tempered glass, and stainless steel with a...

Electrochemical gas detectors.(new products)
August 1, 2008... The Draeger Guardian gas detection system for the semiconductor industry uses economical, electrochemical sensor technology for detecting hazardous gas leaks, such as hydrochloric acid and vapors at low concentrations, where byproducts can...

Cleanroom energy analysis.(new products)
August 1, 2008... Poor cleanroom system design--such as systems wasting energy by cooling ambient air to remove moisture, and then heating it back up again, and poor ducting that results in excess system pressure--is a major cause of excessive energy...

Hybrid membrane for dust bags.(new products)
August 1, 2008... DuPont's Hybrid Membrane Technology (HMT) fiber is now available for air filtration bag applications for industrial and commercial manufacturing. The fibers capture up to 10 to 15 times more dust and particulates in the air compared to...

Resonance probe for NMR.(new products)
August 1, 2008... Varian's new OneNMR[TM] probe for double resonance NMR (nuclear magnetic resonance) applications involving liquid-state samples enables users to employ a single probe rather than switching probes for different applications. The probe is...

Validation support for pharma water systems.(new products)
August 1, 2008... The new 5000TOC Sensor Validation Support Package from Mettler-Toledo Thornton helps achieve a fully qualified (IQ/OQ) system for total organic carbon (TOC) measurements in pharmaceutical water production systems. It guides the operator through...

Miniature data loggers.(new products)
August 1, 2008... Dwyer Instruments has released the MTL Series miniature USB data loggers for temperature, humidity, and dewpoint. The data loggers measure and record accurate readings in a wide range of applications. Sampling intervals and high/low alarm...

Aseptic filling/sterilization of containers.(new products)
August 1, 2008... GEA Procomac's FDA-compliant aseptic filling technology for PET uses peracetic acid in liquid form to sterilize containers. Full recovery of sterilizing solution and rinsing water is built into the system to reduce consumption of chemicals. FDA...

Microplate photometer.(new products)
August 1, 2008... The Multiskan FC microplate photometer has a comprehensive range of built-in and optional quality, verification, and self-diagnostic tools. The patented optical design, together with the built-in self-diagnostics tools and autocalibration...

Latex-free glove.(new products)
August 1, 2008... Microflex Corp.'s non-latex Tranquility[TM] is a white examination glove that balances comfort and protection. Tranquility[TM] gloves conform to the hand, providing high tactile sensitivity and wet or dry grip for everyday use. Since they are...

Vacuum desiccator.(new products)
August 1, 2008... The Secador Techni-Dome 360 vacuum desiccator from Bel-Art Products is now available with two polypropylene stopcocks that offer the flexibility of using multiple gases or faster cycle times between vacuum and release. Each stopcock accepts...

Enhanced high-shear processor.(new products)
August 1, 2008... Microfluidics' latest version of its model M-110EH Microfluidizer[R] high-shear processor, the M-110EH-30, comes standard with a diamond interaction chamber and provides an average flow rate (with water) of 330 ml/min at 30,000 psi process...

Curved-tip dispensing syringe.(new products)
August 1, 2008... Qosina's new dispensing syringe with a revolving curved tip (Part #33032) is suited for dispensing viscous materials into tight spaces requiring precise application. The 1-in. curved syringe tip is fitted onto the syringe body with a...

Vacuum cleaning evaluation.(new products)
August 1, 2008... Incorporating an industrial vacuum cleaner into daily maintenance plans results in much more than just a clean plant. It can save money, increase product integrity, and even save lives. Nilfisk CFM offers a no-obligation facility assessment...

Chemical-resistant Y-strainers.(new products)
August 1, 2008... Constructed entirely of fluoropolymers, Kynar[R] PVDF (polyvinylidene fluoride) Y-strainers are now available exclusively from Micromold Products for chemical process industries, especially pharmaceuticals, semiconductors, and water treatment,...

12-in. glove with added splash protection.(new products)
August 1, 2008... Kimberly-Clark Professional has added a new 12-inch offering to its line of Kimtech Science Sterling nitrile exam gloves that provides added splash protection at the cuff. The latex-free and static-dissipative gloves provide the protection of...

Seals for critical process equipment and environments.(new products)
August 1, 2008... The Pneuma-Seal[R] Type 10X mesa-topped inflatable seal series creates a more positive barrier and withstands higher pressure differentials than conventional serrated designs. It is well suited for such tasks as door seals on sterilizers,...

Potable water hose.(new products)
August 1, 2008... Flexaust Saniflex[TM] potable water hose is constructed from a plastic helix supported PVC that is lightweight and flexible for easy installation in tight spaces. Featuring a smooth inner surface to keep water flowing, this IAPMO-compliant hose...

Rugged industrial keyboard and joystick.(new products)
August 1, 2008... The TKS-105a-JSTb-MODUL keyboard is used in operational environments that require high robustness and a comfortable operation of devices. The integrated joystick is suited for precise control of the cursor, to help with the fact that the user...

High-purity PVDF ventilation system.(new products)
August 1, 2008... Asahi/America's Purad ProVent high-purity PVDF ventilation system features high chemical resistance properties that make it suitable for critical exhaust applications such as solvent, acid, and caustic fumes. The Purad ProVent system is offered...

Field service vacuum.(new products)
August 1, 2008... The Menda service vacuum (Item 35846) is designed for applications requiring portability in a powerful, lightweight, self-contained unit. The service vacuum is an ESD-protected vacuum with a 110-VAC high-performance motor. One 0.3-[mu]m...

Casework and furniture products.(new literature)
August 1, 2008... VWR International, LLC, a global distributor of scientific equipment and supplies, announces the publication of its new 2008-2010 Laboratory Casework and Technical Furniture Catalog, a comprehensive collection of furniture products for the...

User's manual.(new literature)
August 1, 2008... A manual to help users navigate the changes in ASHRAE's 2007 ventilation standard is now available. The Standard 62.1-2007 User's Manual provides users with a better understanding of the design, installation, and operation requirements in...

Autoclaves and steam sterilizers.(new literature)
August 1, 2008... International PBI has released a 28-page "Autoclaves and Steam Sterilization" booklet, presenting a range of autoclaves that cover volumes from 23 to 140 L. The stainless-steel models are 10 years guaranteed. The booklet has been compiled for...

Air filter testing guidance.(new literature)
August 1, 2008... Air filter manufacturer Camfil Farr has introduced a guide to the revised ASHRAE Filter Testing Standard--The New Air Filter Standard, ASHRAE 52.2-2007, Today's Guide for "Real-Life" Product Performance. The guide details the committee-ratified...

Calendar.(Conference news)(Calendar)
August 1, 2008... SEPTEMBER 7-11 30th Annual EOS/ESD Symposium. Westin La Paloma, Tucson, AZ. For more information: www.esda.org SEPTEMBER 9-11 SEMICON Taiwan 2008. Taipei World Trade Center, Taipei, Taiwan. For more information: www.semi.org ...