CleanRooms articles from February 2004

CleanRooms archives from February 2004

Good corporate citizens unite: following the California energy crunch, cleanroom operators are rallying to tame the HVAC beast. It's time to join the fight.(Special Report)(Heating, Ventilation, & Air Conditioning)(Editorial)
February 1, 2004... The California energy shortage of a few years ago opened the eyes of many in the business of running cleanrooms. Today, a small but growing cadre of cleanroom managers, as well as an application research team from the Lawrence Berkeley...

Homing in on life science Cleanroom issues.(Clean Zone)(events)(Brief Article)
February 1, 2004... ORLANDO, FLA. -- Day two and three of the CleanRooms East/PDA SciTech Summit next month will feature a cornucopia of conference sessions that will cover everything from decommissioning controlled environments to determining wiper efficiency and...

Philips, E Ink launch world into paperless era with pliable LCD.(Liquid Crystal Display)
February 1, 2004... AMSTERDAM -- Purveyors of paper may potentially be perturbed once Philips Electronics starts mass-producing a slim, book-sized panel that will let consumers download newspapers, magazines and other print media. The Dutch firm announced in...

Experts: spin coat design put workers at risk.
February 1, 2004... SANTA CLARA, CALIF. -- While the spin coater has been described as make-shift ingenuity, two plaintiff witnesses in the cleanroom cancer case against IBM Corp. and one semiconductor equipment design engineer say a phonograph-like contraption...

IBM begins cancer suit defense, yields points.
February 1, 2004... SANTA CLARA. CALIF. -- The plaintiffs in the cleanroom cancer suit against IBM Corp. have rested their case, and at press time, Big Blue was ready to present a defense that will challenge testimony from former company nurse, Audrey Misako...

Re-discover energy efficiency ... now.(View Point)(Editorial)
February 1, 2004... What happened to that refreshing fuel-efficient zeitgeist that put Honda Civics, Volkswagen Rabbits and Toyota Tercels into millions of American driveways following the fuel crisis of the mid-1970s? It was the "gas crunch" scare that had us...

University takes cue from Aladdin for 'magical' wafer levitation.(News)
February 1, 2004... MUNICH -- When it came to finding a new way to handle meticulously patterned wafers without ever touching the somewhat sterile substrates, the Technical University of Munich found inspiration in Aladdin's magic carpet and developed a method of...

Good bacteria a blow to foodborne pathogen's gut.(News)
February 1, 2004... FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. -- Scientists from the U.S. Department of Agriculture's (USDA) chief scientific research agency have found several promising intestinal bacteria that could protect live chickens from salmonella, campylobacter and other...

Eye on Asia.(Newse)
February 1, 2004... Cha-ching for China BEIJING -- China's economy grew a surprising 9.9 percent in the final quarter of last year, the country's National Bureau of Statistics reported in late January, signaling a quick recovery from SARS-induced economic...

Mad cow disease corralling continues in northwest.(News)
February 1, 2004... WASHINGTON D.C -- North America continues to grapple with a food safety problem that turned Europe upside-down nearly three years ago: Bovine Spongiform Encephalopathy (BSE), a.k.a. mad cow disease. At press time, investigators from the...

Where's that SIA cancer study?(On the Beat)(Semiconductor Industry Association)(Brief Article)(Editorial)
February 1, 2004... For nearly five years; the Semiconductor Industry Association (SIA) says it has been trying to determine whether there is concrete evidence of increased cancer risk for people working in cleanrooms. [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] The SIA even...

Cleaning system ensures one swell FOUP.(News)(Front Opening Unified Pod)
February 1, 2004... AUSTIN, TEXAS -- Like many involved with contamination control, Bob Groves, project leader at International Sematech, worries about what he can't see because he knows what you can't see can kill your product. As the semiconductor industry...

Establishing an RFP for outsourcing cleanroom cleaning: if you're preparing to contract with an outside cleaning service, get ready to do your homework.(Basics)
February 1, 2004... There comes a time when each department is asked to consider outsourcing some segment of its operations; typically, the operation in question is a manufacturing process or facility service that could be performed more efficiently by outside...

Huntair, GE attempt to turn the tables on FFU thinking.(Huntair Inc., GE Industrial Systems)(fan filter units)
February 1, 2004... CORVALIS, Ore. -- If the future of fan filter units (FFU) is one that includes much greater energy efficiency, then two companies appear to be on the right path. Huntair and GE Industrial Systems recently unveiled what they dub the "next...

ESD-dissipative ceramics.(Inventor's Corner)(electrostatic discharge)(Saint-Gobain Ceramics & Plastics receives patent)(Brief Article)
February 1, 2004... This invention relates to a dense ceramics having ESD-dissipative characteristics, tunable volume and surface resistivities in semi-insulative range (10.sup.3-10.sup.11 Ohm-cm). [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] The ceramics are substantially...

Cleanroom wipers.(Inventor's Corner)(Brief Article)
February 1, 2004... Cleanroom wiper products, and the methods of preparing and using them are described in this patent. The cleanroom wipers are intended for use in cleaning up alkaline contaminants. [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] The wipers contain impregnated...

Track assembly.(Inventor's Corner)(cleanroom wall systems)(Brief Article)
February 1, 2004... The cleanroom wall system uses a universal stud design that allows a variety of wall configurations to be assembled. The stud (A) is preferably made of extruded aluminum, is rectangular in cross-section, and includes outer walls (B,C,D and...

Where there's smoke ... there's cleanroom disruption: with the introduction of higher insurance premiums and deductibles, high-tech manufacturers are on the prowl for the latest in fire suppression systems.(Fire Safety 101)
February 1, 2004... By their very nature, cleanrooms are very difficult environments in which to combat fire. The latest technologies, however, can help prevent a fire from even starting, let alone spreading. From the outset, it must be understood that fire...

Trouble-shooting parenterals via particle identification: identification of visible product particles, like protein aggregates, can form the foundation of an effective, in-process contamination control program.(Process Monitoring)
February 1, 2004... Parenterals are subject to high requirements in regards to purity. These solutions are regulated by United States Pharmacopoeia (USP) and have to be free of any visible particles (less than 50 [micro]m). The limit values for non-visible...

Highly absorbent wipers and mops.(New Products)
February 1, 2004... Anticon by Milliken's cleanroom wipers and mops are billed as the cleanest and most absorbent products of their kind, according to the manufacturer. Sterilization for use in the pharmaceutical, medical device and biotech industries is...

Online system measures endotoxin.(New Products)
February 1, 2004... Cambrex Bio Science will preview a new online endotoxin detection system that will allow in-process monitoring of fever-causing, gram-negative bacterial endotoxin in water-for-injection (WFI) systems used for production of injectable drugs,...

Portable airborne particle counter.(New Products)
February 1, 2004... Portable APC airborne particle counters are used for the detection of particulate contamination in controlled environments, or anywhere particulate contamination is a concern. Features include 0.2-micrometer particle sensitivity, ability to...

Digital photometer with sensors.(New Products)
February 1, 2004... The 2H digital photometer replaces the company's TDA-2G device and offers new features such as flow and optics sensors, integrated HEPA filter on the vacuum pump exhaust, and expanded menu items. Air Technologies Inc. Owings Mills, MD...

Sterile alcohol, disinfectants.(New Products)
February 1, 2004... A line of contamination-control supplies for cleanrooms and labs includes 70 percent sterile IPA alcohol, which is filtered to 0.2 [micro]m, bottled, and double-bagged in a Class 100 cleanroom, then gamma-ir-radiated to a sterility assurance...

Fume hoods.(New Products)
February 1, 2004... Series 1411 fume hoods are available in stainless steel, white polypropylene and fire-retardant white polypropylene. They are available in 3-, 4-, 5-, 6- and 8-ft. widths and 30-, 36- and 42-in. depths, with custom sizes also available. Various...

Garments for all applications.(New Products)
February 1, 2004... A comprehensive line of cleanroom and controlled environment working apparel include the Tyvek IsoClean and ProClean protective apparel, the Summus garment line for barrier protection and comfort, SureStep shoe covers and Gripper boot covers...

Battery-operated particle counter.(New Products)
February 1, 2004... The SOLAIR 5100+ line of laser particle counters use the latest in optical partical counting technology. Devices offer a sensitivity of 0.5 [micro]m and a flow rate of 1 cfm (28.3 LPM), with a wide dynamic range up to 25 [micro]m. Featuring a...

Bucketless floor mop.(New Products)
February 1, 2004... The EastSat bucketless floor mop is designed specifically for the cleanroom, and its built-in 52-ounce solution tank eliminates the need for a bucket and wringer. A trigger mechanism flow control releases cleaning solution on demand or...

Microbial system.(New Products)
February 1, 2004... The RiboPrinter microbial characterization system uses genetic information to provide a snapshot for automated identification and strain-level tracking in less than eight hours. RiboPrint patterns characterize environmental isolates, pathogens,...

Class 10K workstation.(New Products)
February 1, 2004... The new Class 10K workstation is designed to provide limited HEPA-filtered airflow across double-sided work areas to reduce FM contamination. The product was designed specifically for medical device assembly work, and the manufacturer claims...

Validated sterile wipes.(New Products)
February 1, 2004... The company's validated sterile wipes are gamma-irradiated with Cobalt-60 to a sterility assurance level of 1[0.sup.-6] in accordance with procedures outlined in Standard AAMI/ISO 11137-Method 1. Each shipment is accompanied by Certificates of...

Facility monitoring software.(New Products)
February 1, 2004... CIMScan facility monitoring software is designed for simplified monitoring of particle counter instrumentation and key parameters in critical areas of a facility. The software provides a complete environmental monitoring solution and, according...

Garment Tracking System.(New Products)
February 1, 2004... The GTS Bar Code System, developed in coordination with the company's customers, provides a complete account history report for each garment, from installation to any repairs. It also tracks usage analysis by wearer, department and distribution...

Benchtop Crossflow System.(New Products)
February 1, 2004... The Sartoflow Slice 200 Benchtop Crossflow (TFF) System is designed around the Sartocon Slice 200 (200 cm2) Cassette. The system includes a Sartorius Slice 200 cassette holder, 500 ml reservoir and integrated magnetic stir plate, disposable...

Disposable HEPA-filtered collection container.(New Products)
February 1, 2004... SafePak is billed as the first disposable HEPA-filtered vacuum cleaner collection container designed for potent compound pharmaceutical applications. SafePak lets manufacturers safely collect, handle and dispose of potent compounds. ...

Sterile alcohols.(New Products)
February 1, 2004... TexShield Sterile 70% Isopropyl Alcohol and Sterile 70% Isopropyl Alcohol with WFI were created to maintain their sterility assurance level throughout prolonged normal use. One-liter and five-liter bottles are recyclable, and the contents can...

Woven reusables.(New Products)
February 1, 2004... The WK 3000 reusable protective apparel is woven from 100-percent filament polyester yarn with carbon filters laced into a stripe throughout the material. The durable fabric is designed to repel fluids, prevent particulation, and dissipate...

Aerosol particle sensors.(New Products)
February 1, 2004... IsoAir Plus sensors are designed to be compact, rugged and simple to install for trouble-free aerosol monitoring. Sensors, say the company, are built to provide outstanding performance in a chemically-resistant, easy-to-disinfect stainless...

Vaporized BIER.(New Products)
February 1, 2004... The VhyPer Vaporized [H.sub.2][O.sub.2] BIER (biological indicator evaluator resistometer) Vessel features multiple VHP and relative humidity set point operating parameters centered on current industry practice, and exposure kill times...

Low-cost polyester.(Product Spotlight)
February 1, 2004... The Novation line of private-label supplies includes a low-cost, high-quality 9x9-inch polyester wiper. The product is laser cut, laundered, double-bagged, and available in various quantities. The company's catalog also offers a diverse mix of...

Sterile polyester/cellulose.(Product Spotlight)
February 1, 2004... Comprised of durable hydroentangled polyester/ceullulose, and sterilized using gamma irradiation, Sterile-Sorb nonwoven wipers are designed for general purpose cleaning in sterile environments. The extra-absorbent fabric features low levels...

Nonwoven additions.(Product Spotlight)
February 1, 2004... Anticon by Milliken has added nonwoven wipers to its portfolio, including the Matrix and Captura brands. Matrix is designed to provide what the manufacturer calls "unparalleled" wiping performance, while the Captura family are billed as the...

Thermally-sealed wipers.(Product Spotlight)
February 1, 2004... ThermaSeal 60 hot-cut polyester wipers are for all-purpose cleaning in critical environments. Thermally-sealed edges provide fiber control. Products are available in 9x9-inch and 4x4-inch sizes, and feature what the manufacturer claims is good...

Validated wipes.(Product Spotlight)
February 1, 2004... Validated sterile wipes are gamma irradiated with Cobalt-60 to a sterility assurance level of 1[0.sup.-6] in accordance with procedures outlined in Standard AAMI/ISO 11137-Method 1. Each shipment is lottraceable and accompanied by Certificates...

Testing for quality assurance.(Product Spotlight)
February 1, 2004... The line of cleanroom wipers from Berkshire is subjected to test properties that contamination-control professionals identify as most critical. To ensure cleanliness, a tested wiper is "washed" in water using a biaxial shaker for five minutes....

Designing better clean labs for exact usage.(Unfiltered)
February 1, 2004... When you're moving forward in the design for a new construction or retrofit of a biotechnology lab, the key to success is fully understanding the exact usages that lab is going to have during its lifespan. Once that's in place, the selection of...