CleanRooms articles from November 2008

CleanRooms archives from November 2008

Virtual is for real.(Editorial)
November 1, 2008... Many months ago, when we first started talking about the concept and prospect of hosting a "virtual" conference and exhibition, I have to admit I was a little skeptical about how realistic a possibility it actually was. I certainly don't...

Genzyme captures gold in R&D lab design.(news)
November 1, 2008... Confronting the difficult head-on, Genzyme Corp. has achieved a high-level certification for energy and environmental design in its Framingham, MA R&D facility unveiled in late September. The $125 million Science Center carries the gold...

EUV applications shed new light on cleanrooms.(news)
November 1, 2008... In October, Sematech (Austin, TX) hosted a symposium in Lake Tahoe, CA that could literally shine a new light on semiconductor cleanrooms. The subject of the meeting was the state of affairs in extreme ultraviolet (EUV) lithography, which gets...

Greene, Tweed begins manufacturing in Taiwan.(PARTICLES)(Greene, Tweed and Co.)(Brief article)
November 1, 2008... Sealing solutions provider Greene, Tweed has announced the initial phase of its manufacturing growth into Asia with a new facility in Taiwan. The company will manufacture its Chemraz[R] perfluoroelastomers and other products in a modern...

ASHRAE provides new ventilation requirements for health care facilities.(PARTICLES)
November 1, 2008... Requirements to ensure high-quality ventilation can be found in a new standard written by ASHRAE and the American Society for Healthcare Engineering (ASHE). ANSI/ASHRAE/ASHE Standard 170-2008, Ventilation of Health Care Facilities, defines...

Helix Medical achieves certifications in California and China.(PARTICLES)
November 1, 2008... Helix Medical, a manufacturer for the medical device, health care, pharmaceutical, biotech, and IVD industries, has announced ISO Class 7 and 8 cleanroom certification, in accordance with ISO 14644, for its Carpinteria, CA operations. In...

Destruction of Legionella collection shows inconsistencies in federal handling.(news)(Law overview)
November 1, 2008... As the wheels of Congress start grinding out legislation to protect federally funded biospecimen collections from inadvertent and malicious destruction, practitioners are of two minds about the government involvement. The House Science and...

Environmental Tectonics announces contract wins.(PARTICLES)
November 1, 2008... Environmental Tectonics Corp.'s (ETC) Sterilization Systems Group (SSG) has been awarded two new contracts. The contracts include a new portable field sterilization system (M-138) and a new cGMP pharmaceutical sterilization system to a new...

DriveSavers unveils data recovery cleanroom.(PARTICLES)
November 1, 2008... DriveSavers, a provider of data recovery services, has invested more than $2 million to build what it claims is the world's largest certified cleanroom dedicated exclusively to data recovery. The cleanroom environment features an ISO Class 5...

Jacobs contracted for Hungarian biotech facility.(PARTICLES)
November 1, 2008... Jacobs Engineering Group Inc. has received a contract from Gedeon Richter, a multinational pharmaceutical company, to provide engineering, procurement, and construction management services and validation assistance for a grassroots,...

FDA releases update on melamine investigation.(news)
November 1, 2008... Since September, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has been investigating possible contaminated milk-based products coming out of China. The FDA is advising consumers not to consume the following products because of possible melamine...

Bosch Rexroth, Middlesex collaborate on conveyors.(PARTICLES)
November 1, 2008... Bosch Rexroth AG and Middlesex Industries SA are planning joint sales activities for cleanroom conveyor systems, based on Middlesex technology. In August, company executives signed a corresponding memorandum of understanding. Both parties will...

Corning and DSM announce successful pilot operation of microreactor.(PARTICLES)
November 1, 2008... Corning Incorporated and DSM Pharma Chemicals announced publication of a joint paper at CPhI Worldwide 2008 in Frankfurt, Germany, describing a successful, commercially viable demonstration of Corning's microreactor technology for current Good...

ESDA awards research grant.(PARTICLES)
November 1, 2008... The ESD Association has awarded its 2008 research grant to Professor Elyse Rosenbaum, Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, for the research grant proposal entitled, "Die-Level Testing...

The high cost of low-end swabs: buying swabs in bulk at the lowest price may seem like a cost-effective choice, but those little penny-per-use disposable devices can track contamination into a cleanroom, cloud test results, and cause ESD events if they aren't chosen with care.(special report)
November 1, 2008... Every year, cleanroom operators invest millions of dollars outfitting their facilities with the latest equipment, technology, monitoring devices, and air handling systems. These big picture items get intense scrutiny in the planning phase of...

Clean facilities get a new lease on life: how can smaller operations make existing facilities fit their budgets and their processes with renovations and upgrades?(laboratory scale cleanrooms)
November 1, 2008... As nanoscale research and analysis is becoming increasingly more and more prevalent in today's economy, we have seen a significant increase in the need for small-scale clean laboratories. This need is expressed in manufacturing, corporate...

TOC analysis pinpoints water chemistry changes: direct conductometric TOC analyzer alerts engineers to potentially damaging trihalomethane excursions in pharmaceutical water.(water for injection)
November 1, 2008... Total organic carbon (TOC) analyzers are becoming industry standard for monitoring purified water (PW) and water for injection (WFI) systems. Accuracy and stability are critical parameters for daily process monitoring of water distribution...

Cleaning and disinfection supplies.(product spotlight)
November 1, 2008... Cleaning and disinfecting products are a vital part of ensuring that a clean environment is sterile and contaminant-free. But the type of clean space in question and the level of cleanliness that must be maintained will determine which products...

Leak-free PFA fittings.(new products)
November 1, 2008... Immediately available is a line of Pureloc[R] PFA fluoropolymer compression fittings in a dozen styles. Targeted for mating with fluoropolymer tubing, the fittings are used in clean applications such as semiconductor, food and beverage,...

Humidity and micro head sensors.(new products)
November 1, 2008... New additions to the Cambridge AccuSense airflow analysis line, a humidity sensor (UHS1000) and micro head airflow and temperature sensor (UAS2000), provide more functionality for airflow and thermal analysis in the ATM2400/USB sensor line. The...

Small-batch dispersion system.(new products)
November 1, 2008... The MicroPsi-Mix[R] small-batch dispersion system is built for the development of repeatable dispersions in the manufacture of coatings, pharmaceuticals, mineral slurries, and pigments and colorants. The lab-sized version of NETZSCH's...

Redesigned joint for corrosion-resistant piping system.(new products)
November 1, 2008... GF Piping Systems has announced a redesign of its mechanical joint for the popular Fuseal[R] corrosive-waste piping system. The new joint features an EPDM O-ring seal that accommodates system expansion and/or contraction as well as intermittent...

High-volume magnetically coupled mixer.(new products)
November 1, 2008... The GMP30000 mixer, an extension of the NovAseptic magnetically coupled mixer product family, offers effective mixing in volumes as high as 30,000 L. Its aseptic design makes it appropriate for use in sterile production of pharmaceuticals as...

Solvent-free polyurethane adhesives.(new products)
November 1, 2008... Solfre2 is a two-component polyurethane adhesive free of volatile organic compounds (VOCs), meeting current environmental regulations. Typically adhesives are one-component polyurethane with polyol and isocyanate pre-mixed, using moisture to...

Contactless hand dryer.(new products)
November 1, 2008... The PureDry[TM] cleanroom hand dryer helps eliminate contamination problems by reducing the number of germs and airborne particles that settle on PCBs, chemical solutions, biological cultures, and other particle-sensitive materials. It ensures...

Freeze-thaw system for drug substance transport.(new products)
November 1, 2008... Zeta, a member of the Christ Water Technology Group, offers its Freeze & Thaw system for safe transport of easily spoiled, frozen biopharmaceutical products. The system comprises a FreezeController and FreezeContainer. The control unit...

Solar-cell handling equipment.(new products)
November 1, 2008... Adept Technology's latest solar-cell handling and inspection system integrates high-resolution inspection with high-speed solar cell handling and features the Adept Quattro[TM] s650 robot along with a Bernoulli gripper. The Bernoulli gripper...

ESD tape dispenser.(new products)
November 1, 2008... Desco has introduced a new tape dispenser designed specifically for ESD tapes. Item 81282 is made of stainless steel and will hold tapes with 3-in. cores. Two separate spools turn independently to hold either a single 2-in. wide roll of tape or...

Powder-free, latex-free gripper gloves.(new products)
November 1, 2008... SemperGuard GripSafe Nitrile[TM] powder-free glove is an alternative to natural rubber latex. It delivers fit, feel, tactile sensitivity, and strength in a latex-free glove. GripSafe Nitrile is a general-purpose glove with 4.0 mils in the...

Desiccant dry cabinets.(new products)
November 1, 2008... Effective moisture and humidity control prevents damage from degradation, decay, and decomposition of historical and everyday items for electronics, machine vision, laboratory, digital media, optics, and other industrial applications. XDry...

Vibration-free islands.(new products)
November 1, 2008... Custom-designed BaseMate vibration-free islands protect sensitive equipment from vibrations. Installed at the sub-floor level in a raised-floor cleanroom or similar environment, the island provides a floor-level pedestal isolated from the...

Self-dumping dust disposal.(new products)
November 1, 2008... Farr Air Pollution Control (APC) has introduced a new "self-dumping hopper" that simplifies the disposal of dust captured by cartridge-style dust collection systems. Easier to use than conventional barrels or collection drums, the hopper is...

Pre-moistened degreaser towels.(new products)
November 1, 2008... VR Wipes, pre-moistened degreaser towels, have been developed for cleaning and maintaining sanitation in meat, food processing, and food distribution plants, as well as other food-handling facilities. Engineered to remove fats, greases, and...

High-flex cables with reduced outgassing.(new products)
November 1, 2008... W. L. Gore & Associates has doubled its manufacturing capacity to keep pace with customer demand for cables capable of reducing particles and outgassing in semiconductor manufacturing steps like lithography, ion implantation, and inspection....

Wireless sensor system.(new products)
November 1, 2008... Designed for demanding industrial applications, Newport[R] wiSeries wireless sensors provide web-based monitoring of temperature, humidity, and barometric pressure. A high-power, IEEE 802.15.4-compliant transmitter operates at 2.4 GHz. It can...

Spill-protection paper.(new products)
November 1, 2008... BenchGuard is a highly absorbent paper suited for protecting benches and surfaces against liquid spills. It has a strong polyethylene coating on one side; when placed paper side up, it quickly absorbs hazardous spills, protecting the bench top...

Medical device sealer.(new products)
November 1, 2008... The MS-451PV medical device packaging machine is designed to close the loop by providing in-process test solutions at the point of packaging. The machine prompts the operator to quickly perform an ASTM F-88 peel study; if the pouch performs as...

PVC adapters for equipment tubing.(new products)
November 1, 2008... Qosina's new, smaller tuohy borst adapters are composed of a PVC body with a Triax[R] (ABS/nylon) cap. The silicone gasket is chemically resistant, prevents backflow of fluids, and secures the position of a guidewire or instrument when closed....

Instrument airflow sensing head.(new products)
November 1, 2008... Cambridge AccuSense PointFlow is a micro head airflow/air temperature measurement instrument. It has a miniature (0.5 mm) omnidirectional sensor head remotely located on a 2-m cable, a digital display showing airflow in either feet per minute...

Ladders and accessories suitable for critical, HACCP environments.(new products)
November 1, 2008... Access stairways, ladders, and rails include the Jumbo Step, Jumbo Star, Country Star, City Star, King Step, King Step Rail, King Star, and King Step ESD. Anodizing seals the ladder from oxidation and corrosion; it makes cleaning of the surface...

ePTFE gaskets for high-purity applications.(new products)
November 1, 2008... Seal Clean ePTFE gaskets, manufactured from 100% virgin PTFE resin, are engineered and designed for high-purity applications. The corrosion-resistant gasket provides reduction in leachables, features high dimensional stability, and seals evenly...

Aqueous cleaner and brightener.(new products)
November 1, 2008... A biodegradable low-VOC aqueous solution that contains no CFCs or HAPs, AQUANOX A4625 is a versatile chemistry designed for cleaning the latest lead-free residues while providing brilliant mirrored solder finishes. It is environmentally...

Capacitance pressure sensor.(new products)
November 1, 2008... The Alpha Instruments pressure sensor line offers capacitance-based pressure sensors that measure 0.10 to 100 in. of water column. All models have a bidirectional version, making them suited for applications where two directions of pressure...

System suitability and calibration standards.(new products)
November 1, 2008... System suitability testing is a critical requirement in qualifying instruments used for total organic carbon (TOC) measurements in pharmaceutical applications. The System Suitability Standards Set from Mettler-Toledo Thornton provides the...

Thermometer system.(new products)
November 1, 2008... The Wahl[R] DST600 RTD thermometer system for use in food canning, dairy, USDA, pharmaceutical, and other temperature-critical applications, is designed to meet the FDA Proposed Rule change to 21 CFR Part 113, which allows replacement of...

Heat transfer labeling.(new products)
November 1, 2008... Novapak Corp. has added a new heat-transfer labeling line at its bottle blow-molding facility. The labeling is offered on HDPE and in-line fluorinated (high barrier) HDPE containers of all shapes in sizes from 16 oz up to one gallon. Labels are...

Concentration monitor with extended capabilities.(new products)
November 1, 2008... Enhancements to the CR-288[R] concentration monitor include an expanded index of refraction (IoR) range, as well as updated software features. Installed in the process stream or at point-of-use where chemicals are delivered or blended, the...

Flameless sterilizer.(new products)
November 1, 2008... The electrical sterilization system SteriMax is targeted for the sterilization of inoculation loops, needles, and instruments, suitable for laboratories and safety cabinets where the use of gases and open flames is not permitted or unavailable....

Elastomers for semiconductor applications.(new products)
November 1, 2008... DuPont Kalrez[R] 8900 perfluoroelastomer parts demonstrate longer seal life in higher-temperature semiconductor manufacturing processes, including static and dynamic sealing applications in thermal processes such as oxidation, diffusion...

Wafer loader.(new products)
November 1, 2008... The NWL200 Series is the first lineup of wafer loaders capable of loading wafers as thin as 100 [micro]m. Using a new chuck system to transfer wafers, the loader achieves reliability suitable for inspection of next-generation semiconductors....

Infection control benchmarking tool.(new products)
November 1, 2008... A new benchmarking tool from MedMined[TM] Services allows hospitals to compare risk-adjusted infection rates in each unit of a hospital to peer units in similar hospitals to help identify best practices and areas for improvement. The tool...

Vacuum pump exhaust filters.(new products)
November 1, 2008... A full line of vacuum pump oil mist eliminators for protecting people in laboratories, hospitals, and small industrial applications with no external venting is available. MV Products' oil mist eliminators protect users of small vacuum pumps by...

Vibration-isolator positioning system.(new products)
November 1, 2008... The PEPS[R] II digital, non-contacting, precision electronic positioning system for pneumatic vibration isolators improves isolator height control and settling time, leading to increased yield of semiconductor manufacturing equipment. PEPS II...

Cleaning validation swab test.(new products)
November 1, 2008... According to Good Hygiene Practice and the HACCP method, surfaces that are in contact with food should be monitored daily before beginning production activity. Igientest is a ready-to-use test that detects in only 10 minutes, without...

Bacterial sequence library.(new products)
November 1, 2008... Accugenix has added 283 new species to its extensive Bacterial Library, bringing the total number of unique bacterial DNA sequences on file to more than 2,400. The 2008 Bacterial Library release includes newly identified bacterial species and...

Trace gas and analysis instrumentation.(new products)
November 1, 2008... Picarro has launched a new web site that provides detailed technical, product, and applications information on the company's line of trace gas and isotopic analyzers for the environmental, energy, process control, and semiconductor markets. The...

Calendar.(Conference news)(Calendar)
November 1, 2008... To announce your organization's upcoming conferences and meetings (date, location, and information), e-mail: carriem@pennwell.com. DECEMBER 3-5 SEMICON Japan 2008. Makuhari Messe International Convention Complex, Chiba, Japan. For...