CleanRooms articles from June 2004

CleanRooms archives from June 2004

China's cleanrooms advance.(CleanZone)
June 1, 2004... ROLLING MEADOWS, Ill. -- Horace Greeley's famous dictum about going west might be reversed today, at least as far as cleanrooms are concerned. In the latest sign of China's growing cleanroom involvement. Shanghai YingZhan Business Service...

Clean manufacturing keys 'chilling' advance in neurosurgery practice.(News)
June 1, 2004... PORTSMOUTH, N.H. -- Medical device innovator Seacoast Technologies Inc. (www.seacoasttechnologies.com) has announced the first human application of its ChillerStrip product used to create localized profound hypothermia during brain aneurysm...

Pall to appeal initial injunction on filter patent.(News)(Pall Corp.)
June 1, 2004... EAST HILLS, N.Y. -- Pall Corp. (www.pall.com) is appealing a recent ruling by the U.S. District Court of Massachusetts, which issued an order in favor of Mykrolis Corp. (Billerica, Mass.; www.mykrolis.com) on its motion for a preliminary...

In search of food-borne pathogens via filtration.(News)
June 1, 2004... CLIFTON, N.J. -- A collaborative work between separations technology vendor Whatman, Inc. (www.whatman.com) and the Food and Drug Administration (FDA; www.fda.gov) seeks to devise a faster and more accurate method of detecting food-borne...

Getting reorganized.(contamination control industry news)(Editorial)
June 1, 2004... Well, I'm officially on the job for a week. And, first of all, it's great to be back and to begin reconnecting with many of my old contamination control industry friends. There's also a lot to do and no time to waste. [ILLUSTRATION...

Intel upgrading 200-mm Arizona fab to 300-mm by using clean construction.(News)(Intel Corporation)
June 1, 2004... CHANDLER, ARIZ. -- Intel Corporation (www.intel.com) has begun a $2 billion "clean construction" project to convert a 200-mm fabrication facility to a state-of-the-art 300-mm facility here. The conversion of Fab 12, the first such modification...

Phabulous photomasks.(Particles)(Brief Article)
June 1, 2004... ROUND ROCK, TEX. -- Commercial production has begun at what is being billed as the world's most advanced semiconductor photomask production facility. DuPont Photomasks Inc.'s new Dresden, Germany campus is the keystone for the company's...

Water watchers.(Particles)(Brief Article)
June 1, 2004... VOORHEES, N.J. -- Engineering and environmental consulting firm O'Brien & Gere (Syracuse, N.Y.) is subcontracting with American Water Works Research Foundation's project on "Standard Operating Procedures for Decontamination of Water...

Vocational venting.(Particles)(The new Apprenticeship Training Center)(Brief Article)
June 1, 2004... SAN JOSE, CALIF. -- The new Apprenticeship Training Center, a state-of-the-art facility for sheet metal workers, includes an airflow test and balancing lab, computer-aided engineering software, and "clean room" ventilation training. The...

Mighty materials.(Particles)(Embedded Capacitor Material)(Brief Article)
June 1, 2004... AUSTIN, TEXAS -- 3M Electronics Solutions' Embedded Capacitor Material, which lets designers and manufacturers of high-speed digital printed circuit boards (PCB) achieve higher speeds while simplifying design, has been ramped up to volume...

Advances target health care pathogens.(News)
June 1, 2004... A strategic alliance between two infection prevention companies, and an EPA approval for a pioneering antimicrobial technology have quickened the pace to combat health care-related infections and pathogens. Infection-control services...

Extreme microbe linked to gum disease.(News)
June 1, 2004... They look a lot like bacteria and thrive in extreme environments--from submarine volcanoes to the human mouth--but until recently, scientists have not been able to connect the mysterious organisms known as archaea with a specific disease or...

Study: produce-related contamination depends on how you handle it.(News)
June 1, 2004... Veggies may be part of the four food groups, but a recent agriculture industry study indicates that when it comes to foodborne illnesss outbreaks, produce is mainly guilty by association. Strict government regulations and adoption of "good...

USP 797: sterile compounding and room design.(Life Sciences)(USP 797 guidelines)
June 1, 2004... Health care organizations that compound sterile formulations are getting a head start on compliance with the USP 797 guidelines, courtesy of the JCAHO (Joint Commission on Accreditation of Healthcare Organizations). [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED]...

What you can't see could cost you millions: an effective fight against airborne contaminants requires a combination of filters, purifiers and monitors.(Special Report)
June 1, 2004... Wafer technology may be getting better faster and smaller, but with each technology jump forward, airborne molecular contamination (AMC) seems to set the cleanroom battle a little further back. Unlike particular contamination, AMC is the...

Connection system.(Inventor's Corner)(aseptic connection system)(Brief Article)
June 1, 2004... An objective of this invention is to provide an aseptic connection system that can operate without a cleanroom, and to provide a connection means that is compatible with standard sanitary fittings common to the biotech industry. The system...

High-temperature gaseous filtration fabric.(Inventor's Corner)(Brief Article)
June 1, 2004... This pleated, stiffened filtration fabric is designed to prolong the rigidity and efficiency of commercial and industrial "baghouse" particulate collectors, particularly when installed in high-temperature applications where the gaseous...

Controlled release anti-microbial hard surface wiper.(Inventor's Corner)(Brief Article)
June 1, 2004... The wiper is designed to disinfect hard surfaces while inhibiting cross-contamination, and contains an anti-microbial agent that is slowly released when contacted by water. This allows the wiper to provide an anti-microbial solution and to...

Dry-surface cleaning apparatus.(Inventor's Corner)(Brief Article)
June 1, 2004... Surface contamination, such as micron and submicron-sized particles on semiconductor surfaces, can pose serious problems, such as device circuit failure and yield loss. The invention provides a dry-surface cleaning apparatus for converging a...

Taking disposable processing to the next level: a recent innovation extends the cost, labor and safety benefits of disposable processing to critical clarification and pre-filtration steps used in pharmaceutical manufacturing.(Biopharm Trends)
June 1, 2004... The biopharmaceutical industry has embraced disposable products since their advent in the 1970s. First introduced for small lab-scale applications, such as filtration, disposable products have since become available for almost every aspect of...

Contamination control a key element in automobile painting integrity: whether on the new-auto assembly line or in a retrofit shop, a paint booth requires contamination-control techniques and technologies that ensure a flawless, finished product.(Paint Room Technology)
June 1, 2004... The need to protect manufacturing processes from the harmful intrusion of particles goes beyond the oft-noted and much-publicized industries of semiconductor manufacturing and pharmaceutical development. While not every environment requires a...

Full-pitch FOSB.(Wafer Carriers)(Front Opening Shipping Box)
June 1, 2004... The front-opening shipping box (FOSB) is designed to protect 300-mm silicon wafers during shipping. It also protects wafers from particles, molecular contamination, shock and vibration--all of which can occur during the shipping process. The...

300-mm wafer sorter.(Wafer Carriers)
June 1, 2004... The Spartan Integrated Sorter, designed as a unified wafer management solution for 300-mm processes, moves wafers cleanly and quickly. According to the company, the Spartan delivers industry-leading cleanliness and the lowest particle levels...

Wafer transfer cart.(Wafer Carriers)
June 1, 2004... Wafer cassette transport carts are designed to optimize maneuverability in restricted-space critical environments. Built for Class 1 to Class 10 cleanrooms, the carts are designed to offer cost savings and improved efficiencies over comparable...

Automated wafer carrier inspection system.(Wafer Carriers)
June 1, 2004... Designed to characterize cassettes and FOUPs to enhance yield, the CV Series of automated wafer carrier inspection systems provide measurements of critical dimensions to ensure that all carriers/FOUPs meet specified tolerance levels. According...

Wafer-handling tweezers.(Wafer Carriers)
June 1, 2004... A line of wafer-handling tweezers feature a specially sharpened blade that eases pick-up, while a special engaging stop is designed to prevent chipping of silicon and gallium wafers. The tweezers are made of a steel-extruded alloy with 40...

Silicone hose.(New Products)
June 1, 2004... For applications in the pharmaceutical, biomedical, food and beverage, chemical, cosmetic and other high-purity industries, Double-Braided Silicone Hose is offered as an alternative to costlier wrapped hose. Compared to wrapped silicone hose,...

Quarter-bloc valve.(New Products)
June 1, 2004... The NSF-61 approved Quarter-Bloc PVC True-Union ball valve features all-thermoplastic construction and claims to offer excellent flow characteristics due to the full orifice opening (equivalent to the inside diameter of the corresponding...

Data download software.(New Products)
June 1, 2004... In-Transit FlashLink software version 7.0, which is used to download data from the company's In-Transit FlashLink temperature and temperature/humidity data loggers, has major enhancements and can be downloaded free from the company's Web site....

Quadrapole-emitter ionizer.(New Products)
June 1, 2004... A compact ionizer with independent air delivery built in, the QuadBar with Air Assist Model 4632 is intended for the tight confines of process equipment where system air is inadequate or missing. The quadrapole emitter configuration is designed...

Manifold filtration system.(New Products)
June 1, 2004... A disposable manifold capsule filter system increases security because it is used once and then discarded, eliminating the risk of cross contamination. The units can be used out-of-the-box without assembly, and cleaning is not required....

Vial traying system.(New Products)
June 1, 2004... At the heart of each Filamatic vial traying system is a microprocessor that controls a star-wheel infeed indexer with a star-wheel disc for each vial diameter. A two-axis pusher bar mechanism with front and back container stabilizers eliminates...

Single-wafer cleaning tool.(New Products)
June 1, 2004... The Goldfinger Mach2HP is an advanced single-wafer cleaning process. A complement to the company's batch immersion cleaning technology, this product couples a small footprint with the flexibility needed to handle a variety of front- and...

PFA lining option.(New Products)
June 1, 2004... The Richter KNA full port ball valve is available with the option of a lining made with PFA fluoropolymer. The valve is manufactured with a 316 stainless steel body that is lined with PFA, providing a universal external and internal corrosion...

Sanitary filter housings.(New Products)
June 1, 2004... The multi-cartridge Advanta stainless-steel filter housings for biopharmaceutical applications meet ASME standards for a fully drainable design. Each housing is provided with complete documentation to support rapid process validation. The...

Optical table.(New Products)
June 1, 2004... Vibration-damping optical tables are available in many sizes and configurations, with various options and accessories. According to the company, the tables consistently provide flat, stiff, highly damped surfaces with high natural frequencies....

Medical electronics air filters.(New Products)
June 1, 2004... Flame-resistant coatings for Quadrafoam filter media are used to construct the WrapAround air filters for medical electronics. Anti-microbial additives have a fungus growth rating of zero. The product's "frame n' pane" design enables filter...

Static control gun.(New Products)
June 1, 2004... By adding ions to compressed air, the lonizing Air Gun (IAG) neutralizes static charges, thereby enhancing the capability of the compressed air to remove dust and debris. The IAG connects directly to any existing compressed air system that...

Gas pressure regulator.(New Products)
June 1, 2004... Designed for 1-1/8 inch C-ring integrated gas systems, the HFE series gas pressure regulator allows for close spacing of system components and process lines, and supports flow rates to 160 std L/min and maximum inlet pressures to 150 psig. A...

Filter integrity test system.(New Products)
June 1, 2004... The Palltronic Flowstar MUX consists of a Palltronic Flowstar XC integrity test instrument and a multiplex unit that enables eight filters to be connected to the integrity test instrument. Any combination of filter size and test type can be...

Digital differential manometer.(New Products)
June 1, 2004... Used to measure positive, negative or differential pressures from -60 in w.c. to +60 in w.c., the Model 478-0 digital differential manometer features selectable engineering units and a min/max function. Press the hold key to freeze the current...

Single-phase AC motor control.(New Products)
June 1, 2004... The VariPhase series of single-phase AC induction motor controls combines intelligent speed control with industry-standard MODBUS networking, providing access/control of groups of fans and other AC motor-driven systems. The series is available...

TOC analyzer.(New Products)
June 1, 2004... The three-model Sievers 900 Series TOC analyzers includes the 900 Laboratory, 900 On-Line and 900 Portable. Key enhancements over the Sievers 800 Series include improved precision and accuracy across an extended 0.03 to 50,000 parts per billion...

Manometer.(New Products)
June 1, 2004... Used for measuring positive and negative pressure from -20 in w.c. to +20 in w.c. with +/-1.5 percent full scale accuracy, the Model 476-0 digital manometer features electronic zeroing to null out any minor pressure differences Auto power off...

Fermentation and bioreactor systems.(New Products)
June 1, 2004... The all stainless-steel fermentation and reactor systems for the biopharmaceutical industry are custom-made for pilot- to full-scale manufacturing applications and are available in sizes up to 25,000 liters. According to the company, they are...

Nitrile glove has low-particle design.(New Products)
June 1, 2004... The VTGNCRB12 cleanroom nitrile glove, according to the manufacturer, is designed to have 0.5 micron), while actual test results show an average of 350 particles or less. Other specifications can be found at the company's Web site. ...

Non-dewetting filter membranes.(New Products)
June 1, 2004... To help address the challenge of contamination during advanced wafer processess, the UltiKleen Excellar family of PTFE non-dewetting (stays wet) filter membranes are designed to provide a comprehensive suite of filtration solutions for removal...

In-line mass flow meter.(New Products)
June 1, 2004... The CE-approved Series 730 Accu-Mass flow meter offers a small footprint and fast response (200 ms). The flow meter measures flow rates of non-corrosive gases, including methane, in ranges from .5 to 50 SCFM, and delivers a linear output signal...

Finally, everything is starting to look just 'fab' for industry.
June 1, 2004... It's spring, and in the cleanroom industry, everything's coming up 'fab' after several years of being drab. According to a late April release from Strategic Marketing Associates (SMA; Santa Cruz, Calif; www.scfab.com), 2004 is shaping up...

'Living environment' for MEMS?(News)
June 1, 2004... Shorter time-to-market by incorporating manufacturing expertise in MEMS design is the aim of a strategic alliance between MEMS tool design provider IntelliSense Software Corp. (Phoenix, Ariz.; www.intellisense.com) and manufacturing software...

Extraction Systems looks to capitalize on market opportunity.(News)
June 1, 2004... FRANKLIN, MASS. -- Extraction Systems Inc. (www.extractionsystemsinc.com), a provider of molecular contamination control and measurement products, recently doubled its manufacturing capacity at its headquarters here in anticipation of a market...

Entegris acquisition sets up European service center.(News)
June 1, 2004... CHASKA, MNN. -- Entegris Inc. (www.entegris.com) has acquired the precision parts cleaning business of SNEF, based in Montpellier, France. The facility will become the Entegris European Service Center (EESC), from which the company will service...