Newsletter_01-2023_EN

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NEWSLETTER

www.cleanroom-online.com Edition EN 01-2023

Fraunhofer IPMS develops 200 mm technologies.

© Fraunhofer IPMS

MEMS scanner mirrors of Fraunhofer

IPMS. © Fraunhofer IPMS

Semiconductor technology

for everyone

Fraunhofer IPMS presented services in the 200/300 mm

semiconductor area at Semicon Europa

Innovative electronics require state-of-the-art technologies and manufacturing processes. For

many medium-sized companies, this is an investment that is almost impossible to bear. But

thanks to the Fraunhofer Institute for Photonic Microsystems IPMS and its two clean rooms,

the latest research results and technologies on 200 and 300 mm wafers are also accessible to

smaller companies. The offer ranges from consulting to process development and pilot series

production.

The level of automation and efficiency in

industry has increased significantly with

Industry 4.0 and the Internet of Things.

This requires more and more sensors, actuators,

control devices and machine learning systems.

The demand for compact, energy-efficient and

advanced technologies as well as miniaturized

components with innovative functions is increasing.

However, the development of many of

these technologies involves high costs and the

use of a clean room. With its 200 mm research

portfolio, Fraunhofer IPMS offers low-threshold

access to these cutting-edge technologies and

equipment parks, especially for smaller companies.

MEMS technologies and devices

on 200 mm wafers

Customers of Fraunhofer IPMS can take advantage

of the complete service for the development

of micro-electro-mechanical systems (MEMS)

and micro-opto-electro-mechanical systems (MOEMS)

on 200 mm wafers.

In the field of sensors and actuators, for example,

Fraunhofer IPMS develops and manufactures spatial

light modulators (SLM) and capacitive ultrasound sensors

(CMUT) using sacrificial layer technology within

surface micromechanics. In addition, the institute offers

high-precision mirrors in volume micromechanics

as well as the unique Nano-E-Drive actuation principle,

which is used in a wide range of applications. These

actuators are based on deep-etched silicon structures

with large aspect ratios (up to 1:40 using the Bosch process).

They offer high energy efficiency in a small package

space.

The technological development and support of

MEMS technologies, from single processes to technology

modules and complete technology, as well as the

process-related support of the equipment in the clean

room is provided by more than 100 engineers, operators

and technicians. After successful development, the ins-

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titute offers pilot production or technology transfer support. Fraunhofer

IPMS covers the technology readiness levels (TRL) from three

to eight.Start-ups, SMEs and companies without their own Fab in

particular can thus benefit from access to high technology at low investment

costs.

300 mm semiconductor process and product development

for nanoelectronics

Not only 200 mm technologies are developed by Fraunhofer IPMS.

With the Center Nanoelectronic Technologies (CNT), the research

institute conducts applied research on 300 mm wafers for microchip

producers, suppliers, equipment manufacturers and R&D partners.

A variety of Ultra Large Scale Integration (ULSI) level technology

developments and services are offered. These include, among

others, atomic layer deposition, chemical-mechanical polishing,

wafer metallization, wafer cleaning, metrology or nanopatterning.

The focus of the R&D activities is on the front end with emphasis

on the integration of functionalities in wiring layers (BEoL module).

By bundling the competences with Fraunhofer IZM-ASSID (focus

on heterointegration and wafer level packaging), which is also active

on 300mm, a joint center with a clean room of 4000 m² size was recently

established. Focal points are, for example, work in the field of

neuromorphic computing, quantum computing and hybrid bonding.

Neuromorphic Computing

Speed, performance, miniaturization and energy efficiency are becoming

increasingly important when it comes to enabling Big Data

and Artificial Intelligence (AI) applications. Neuromorphic computing

offers a promising approach to solving this problem. Neuromorphic

chips are modeled on the human brain and have highly interconnected

artificial neurons and synapses. The higher computing

power of such chips is mainly achieved by the fact that they - just like

the neurons and synapses in the human brain - store and process

information simultaneously (in-memory computing).

Fraunhofer IPMS is developing innovative technologies and

hardware solutions with high energy efficiency using an in-memory

computing approach, especially for sensor-related direct data processing

on site without transfer to the cloud (edge computing). For

different generations of neuromorphic hardware, Fraunhofer IPMS

is researching crossbar architectures based on non-volatile memories

(e.g. ferroelectric field effect transistors).

Fraunhofer-Institut für Photonische Mikrosysteme IPMS

D 01109 Dresden

JANUARY 2023

Dear cleanroom professionals,

Welcome to our first CLEANROOM NEWSLETTER in 2023. Thank you very much for

your interest and for remaining loyal to us over the past year.

The year 2022 has come to an end. It was an exciting year full of changes and challenges

in every sense. It was marked by confidence after the difficult pandemic years and many

global, unexpected and major challenges.

We continue to work on putting together interesting content for you and to constantly

improve. For better readability of the newsletter we have, among other things, changed

the formatting of the PDF file and the typography.

We look ahead with confidence and wish you good health, peace, tolerance, success

and, in between, energy-giving free time for a happy life.

Stay loyal to us in 2023 and risk a look at our homepage from time to time for the latest

news or to find a cleanroom expert.

All the best

for the New Year

Your Cleanroom Online Team

Reinhold Schuster

PS: You can already look forward to the REINRAUM YEARBOOK 2023. We promise you

that we are putting together an interesting work at the moment. Approx. 240 pages of

concentrated cleanroom information, which we will send to you by post in the next few

weeks.

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NEWSLETTER


New review provides

overview on application

of European standards

for effective disinfection

strategies

Requirements for test methods and claims

When pathogens suddenly appear in healthcare facilities,

livestock farming or food processing plants, effective

hygiene protocols for infection prevention must be available

immediately. This is especially true if there is hardly anything

known about the pathogens – as it was the case for SARS-CoV-2 at

the beginning of 2020. In the field of disinfection, numerous products

with different claims of effectiveness are available. When selecting

products, it is helpful to know what these claims are based on and

what the European body of standards contributes to the issue. With

the large number of standards and norms, however, it is easy to lose

track. A current review article now offers good orientation and explains,

among other things, how standards relevant in the field of disinfectants

are developed, why surrogate test organisms are important

and to what extent this affects infection prevention measures. [1]

Technical Committee for chemical disinfectants and antiseptics

in charge of standards development

Within the European Committee for Standardization (CEN), the socalled

Technical Committee 216 (CEN/TC 216) is responsible for all

activities regarding standardization of terminology, requirements,

test methods, application recommendations, and labelling in the

entire field of chemical disinfection and antiseptics [2]. This committee

supervises four working groups in which experts from science,

authorities, laboratories, and industry work together to develop the

necessary standards. While one working group covers human medicine

and another one veterinary medicine, the third working group

deals with food hygiene as well as domestic and institutional use,

and the fourth with strategic and superordinate aspects, such as the

harmonisation of European standards. The superordinate standard

is EN 14885 [3], which, for example, summarises general aspects of

the different areas of application as well as the requirements of the

respective standards from the different working groups. Therefore,

this standard also represents the basic requirement within the approval

process for medicinal products.

Instrument disinfectants and partially also surface disinfectants for

application in the field of human medicine have to be approved as

medicinal products in Europe. The review article therefore deals

with all important standards or test methods and the requirements

for microbicidal claims [1]. In general, the effectiveness test is carried

out according to a 3-phase test procedure, the so-called tiered

approach. Phase 1 tests are performed during development. Phase

2 tests are intended to mimic the requirements for disinfectants for

the respective application areas as best as possible. A distinction is

made between phase 2, step 1 tests, quantitative suspension tests

to demonstrate the various effectiveness under simulated practical

conditions, and phase 2, step 2 tests, quantitative laboratory tests for

testing products on so-called carriers in order to imitate the practical

use of the disinfectants. In the case of hand disinfectants, for example,

the „carriers“ are the hands of test subjects. In the future, phase

3 tests as field tests under real conditions are also to be developed. In

order to claim antimicrobial effectiveness, the tested disinfectants

also have to meet specified requirements for the logarithmic (log)

reduction of defined test organisms. So-called surrogate organisms

are used for this, which are representative of other organisms (e.g.

Candida albicans for yeast; also representative for Candida auris)

and allow conclusions to be drawn about the bactericidal, yeasticidal,

sporicidal, fungicidal, or virucidal effectiveness. As a result,

effective disinfectants can be selected quickly even in the event of

new pathogens appearing. [1]

Conclusions

The authors of the review article provide clear and comprehensive

insights into European standards relevant for the field of disinfectants.

In their opinion, the standards represent a solid basis for the

selection of effective disinfectants and do not require time-consuming

new tests for newly emerging pathogens.

PAUL HARTMANN AG

D 89522 Heidenheim

Sources:

1. Bolten A et al. (2022) Use of the European standardization framework established by CEN/TC 216 for effective disinfection strategies in human

medicine, veterinary medicine, food hygiene, industry, and domestic and institutional use - a review. GMS Hyg Infect Control 17: Doc14. https://doi.

org/10.3205/dgkh000417

2. European Committee for Standardization. https://standards.cencenelec.eu/dyn/www/f?p=205:7:0::::FSP_ORG_ID:6197&cs=10A8D4C3DCD7472E-

41B4ECBDD9E3C6A82 (accessed on October 31, 2022)

3. EN 14885:2022 Chemical disinfectants and antiseptics - Application of European Standards for chemical disinfectants and antiseptics.

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NEWSLETTER


Crane runway with cleanroom hoist

Perfect West-East task sharing

When distances are long and conditions are difficult, it can be extremely helpful to split the tasks to be completed between

the project partners. When installing an ISO Class 6 cleanroom crane, however, this is not trivial. Nevertheless, this is

exactly what worked out excellently in a remarkable cooperation between the eastern customer and the western supplier.

The very successful division of labor between the cleanroom

crane specialist Altmann and a renowned company from the

sterile packaging sector for pharmaceutical products in Eastern

Europe deserves a mention despite all the sensitivities. Especially

since the object was already completed in February 2022 to the

satisfaction of all parties involved. Moreover, the manner in which it

was handled is quite remarkable and could be exemplary for other

industries in equally remote regions further west.

Best results achieved hand in hand

After all, we are talking here about two crane systems, each with a

load capacity of 4 tons, a length of 40 meters and a span of 4.60 meters.

Nothing small, then. First of all, therefore, Altmann GmbH from

Albaching in Bavaria designed, manufactured and supplied all the

necessary parts according to its own calculations. In the first step of

the tasksharing, the crane runway and supports were then assembled

by the customer on site with the corresponding assembly instructions.

Certain adjustments were necessary in detail to guarantee

the performance data, but in the end everything worked out perfectly.

The substructure was in place and met all requirements.

Then it was time to assemble the crane bridges, which were to

be used on the installed crane runway. Their performance data with

a speed of 2 to 30 meters per minute, a hoisting speed of 0.5 to 4

meters per minute, a cross travel speed of 0.7 to 10 meters per minute

- all frequency-controlled - are challenging either.

Exemplary because it saves costs and resources

Clean room crane system with 4 to load capacity (1 of 2)

For the final assembly and commissioning of the actual cranes on

the substructure, two Altmann assembling engineers traveled to the

customer for three days. The cooperation worked „like clockwork“,

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NEWSLETTER


not least thanks to a good command of English and a very high level of expertise on both

sides. The hospitality with which the ALTMANN fitters were received is also particularly

worthy of mention. According to Achim Altmann, one of the two company bosses, who was

personally on site during the final phase, the subsequent acceptance of the plant and the

required certification also went „perfectly“. He praises „the very well functioning division of

tasks in partnership“, which in his estimation brought „great cost savings, an immense time

advantage and, despite the obstacles to be overcome, a perfect result“.

In sum, it can probably be said that a division of labor like the one used in this project brings

immense advantages, especially when working with remote customers. However, the requirements

on the customer side should not be underestimated. But if the competence is

present in both project partners, nothing stands in the way of the success of such a „remote

relationship“ in the opinion of the Altmann management.

Weight loss

ALTMANN GmbH

Oberdieberg 23-25

D 83544 Albaching

Telefon: 08076 /8879-0

eMail: kontakt@altmann-foerdertechnik.de

Internet: http://www.altmann-foerdertechnik.de

New Test Center for

high-purity cleaning applications

Ecoclean expands capacity for high-purity cleaning trials

Ecoclean GmbH‘s new High Purity Test Center, which was officially inaugurated at its German production site in Dettingen

unter Teck at the end of November 2022, complements the company‘s 15 existing technology centers in the high purity sector.

The facilities and conditions have been created to carry out cleaning trials on high-tech components with the highest

cleanliness requirements.

In line with changing and sector-specific requirements in industrial

parts cleaning, Ecoclean GmbH has added new products and

services to its portfolio. These include cleaning machines and

systems specially designed for so-called high-purity cleaning applications,

where extremely high cleanliness requirements for metallic

and optical components must be reliably met. Such components are

needed, for example, by equipment manufacturers supplying the semiconductor

industry, in precision optics, as well as in laser, measurement,

analysis and high-vacuum applications. It was thus a logical

and appropriate step for Ecoclean to provide the corresponding capacities

and technologies for conducting cleaning trials in a cleanroom

environment under ultra-clean conditions for customers from

these market segments. This resulted in the new High-Purity Test

Center at the company’s production site in Dettingen unter Teck, in

which Ecoclean invested around four million Euros. It was officially

inaugurated at the end of November 2022.

More than just an alternative to in-house trials

The new Test Center comprises a total of five cleaning systems

which are outfitted specifically for high-purity cleaning tasks. These

system cover all the technologies, media and processes needed

for wet-chemical parts cleaning, such as ultrasonics, injection flood

washing, plasma cleaning, pulsed pressure cleaning (PPC) and Ultrasonics

Plus.

For customers who manufacture precision parts for high-purity applications,

the ability to perform cleaning trials in Ecoclean’s Test

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NEWSLETTER


Center offers several advantages:

– As a rule, new parts require extensive process validation procedures

and cleaning trials. These would put a strain on in-house cleaning

systems, which are invariably already validated and operated

at full capacity.

– The cleaning processes and process parameters, for example

washing mechanics, chemistry, water qualities, cycle times and

cleaning results, can be designed and optimized for the respective

component independently of any company processes which might

already exist.

– The trials make it easier to estimate process requirements and

cleaning results in advance, thus minimizing the risk for the team

consisting of the customer and equipment manufacturer.

– In addition, tests and feasibility studies on the cleanability of

new precision components can be performed without having to interfere

with validated production processes.

– Last but not least, job cleaning services are also available to

customers if required.

this equipment, extremely high cleanliness standards, such as those

demanded by Grade 1 and 2, can be met. Since all systems are networked

via the Ecoclean Connect cloud solution, all machine and

cleaning test data are available in digital form.

To verify cleaning results, the Test Center is equipped with diverse

measuring instruments. There is also a special packaging station

for the cleaned products.

Ecoclean GmbH

D 70794 Filderstadt

Equipped for pre-cleaning and final cleaning tasks

with the highest requirements

The new Test Center has two cleaning areas, each with different cleanliness

classes. The first one is in a clean-room that contains both a

solvent-based chamber cleaning machine with integrated low-pressure

plasma cleaning and a chamber-type machine for aqueous media.

This area is used for pre-cleaning tasks, which prepare parts for

final cleaning in the clean-room environment. It is also suitable for

meeting the higher cleanliness requirements of a variety of typical

ultra-fine cleaning tasks encountered in sectors such as the sensor,

aviation, e-mobility and coating industries.

The final cleaning area is in a validated ISO Class 7 clean-room

with ISO Class 6 zones. This contains a chamber-type washer for

solvent media, a chamber-type washer for water-based media, and a

multi-chamber ultrasonic cleaning system with nine wet and two dry

stations. Here, different ultrasonic frequencies, cleaning chemicals,

PPC, passivation agents and more can be tested. A range of (combinable)

options are also available for drying parts.

In addition, the new Technology Center is fitted with media preparation

systems for reverse osmosis (RO), de-ionized (DI) and ultra-pure

water (UPW), thus supplying all the types of water qualities

needed for ultra-fine and high-purity cleaning operations. Thanks to

Ecoclean celebrated the inauguration of the new High Purity Test

Centre at the Dettingen production site with around 110 guests from the

semiconductor supply industry, precision optics and other high-tech

sectors. (Photo credit: Ecoclean GmbH)

To detect residual particles, the High Purity Test Center also features a

darkroom with a UV light source. (Photo credit: Ecoclean GmbH)

The new Test Center enables customers with high-purity cleaning tasks

to conduct tests under extremely clean conditions. For this, a total of five

cleaning systems, RO, DI and UP water, measuring instruments and a

packaging station are available in a clean area and a cleanroom.

(Photo credit: Ecoclean GmbH)

In the final cleaning area, which is in a validated ISO Class 7 cleanroom

with ISO Class 6 zones, cleaning tests with the highest cleanliness

requirements, such as Grades 2 and 1, can be carried out.

(Photo credit: Ecoclean GmbH)

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NEWSLETTER


About Perseverance and Winning

Cleanzone Award 2022 for „Reinraum-Mieten“

Wolfgang Hassa can tell you a thing or two about defeats, setbacks

and failures. Like many imaginative, optimistic and innovative entrepreneurs.

But while many give up in frustration, the head and

owner of Reinraum-Mieten has learned one thing above all in the

course of his thrilling professional career: Only those who persevere

can reach their goal. Now, after years of striving for recognition in the

dynamic cleanroom market, Wolfgang Hassa has won the Cleanzone

Award 2022.

As Victor Hugo once said, „Nothing is stronger than an idea

whose time has come.“ Wolfgang Hassa knew from the start that the

idea was a great one. But the market was not yet ready for mobile,

textile, freely configurable and, above all, rentable cleanrooms. And

so the first presentation of the concept at Cleanzone fair, at that time

still as a purchase variant, was almost smiled at a little in 2018. Cleanrooms,

that had to be something solid, firm, reliable, stable and above

all durable. After all, a cleanroom is about something: cleanliness and

safety, which, according to the majority‘s pre-judgment at the time,

can by no means be guaranteed in a „tent“.

So, with articles in the press, visits to customers, countless conversations,

presentations and videos, patient educational work had

to be done to advance the idea. Gradually, the realization filtered

through that individually configurable cleanrooms with a flexible

period of use under full cost control offer considerable economic

and organizational advantages. Not to mention the flexibility and

functional convertibility.

On the occasion of Cleanzone 2022 in Frankfurt, Wolfgang Hassa

presented his transformed concept coherently and demonstrated

it in situ - and convinced both the jury and the audience. The

Cleanzone Award 2022 went to … Reinraum-Mieten. Of the eleven

applications submitted for this innovation award, five had made it

through to nomination and were presented to a broad audience on

the two days of the trade show, the majority of whom, like the expert

jury, opted for the concept of temporary, rentable cleanrooms.

REINRAUM-MIETEN

by Wolfgang Hassa

Rottstr. 33

D 52068 Aachen

Telefon: 0177 8890417

eMail: hassa@reinraum-mieten.de

Internet: http://Reinraum-Mieten.de

© Messe Frankfurt / Jean-Luc Valentin

www.reinraum.de

NEWSLETTER


Particle Measuring Systems Releases Fully

Compliant Remote Microbial Air Sampler with

Flexible Installation and Easy Environmental

Monitoring System Integration

The highly adaptable, new MiniCapt® Pro offers fully compliant remote microbial monitoring with built-in pump

and advanced communication options for remote viable monitoring.

The MiniCapt® Pro Remote Microbial Air Sampler from Particle

Measuring Systems (PMS) incorporates the latest viable cleanroom

monitoring technologies into one instrument to customize cleanroom

and isolator microbial monitoring. This new product meets EU

GMP Annex 1 regulatory requirements and the operational needs of

the pharmaceutical manufacturing industry where flexible connectivity

and compliance are of value.

Loaded with features, the MiniCapt Pro’s small footprint is designed

for mounting in tight spaces and gives the user all-in-one

flexible installation options with a HEPA-filter compatible internal

pump, various power options including Power over Ethernet (PoE),

WiFi, and digital I/O capabilities. The external 316L stainless steel

enclosure is liquid resistant and has an IP65 rating that protects the

unit during cleaning activities and from harsh environments. The

mounting bracket with optional NFC allows for simple installation,

removal, and reprogramming after service. The MiniCapt Pro collects

viable particulate contamination using the BioCapt® and Bio-

Capt Single-Use microbial impactors, and accommodates various

settle plate options.

“The MiniCapt Pro remote viable air sampler is an example of

how Particle Measuring Systems Engineers build flexibility into their

products to meet the evolving and specific needs of their customers.”

said Paul Hartigan, Global Aerosol Product Line Manager at Particle

Measuring Systems. He continued, “We are excited about the addition

of the Power over Ethernet (PoE) capability and the optional

Smart Bracket mounting system that incorporates NFC capabilities

to simplify service and installation. This remote microbial sampler

adds to our world-class line of viable monitoring and contamination

control products. Our customers especially benefit from the small

footprint and all-in-one nature of this instrument, giving them the

ability to monitor aseptic processes close to critical control points.”

After initial installation, the MiniCapt Pro’s plug-and-play connectivity

allows it to easily integrate into PMS or third-party facility

monitoring and compliant data management software systems.

Additionally, the quick-release mounting bracket stores essential

sensor data such as the IP address at the point of measurement, reducing

installation time and errors after calibration or servicing.

The MiniCapt Pro is part of Particle Measuring Systems’ Pro Series

of advanced contamination control solutions. Use the MiniCapt

Pro alone, or together with other viable and nonviable, remote and

portable, instruments in the Pro Series line of instruments to monitor

clean and aseptic manufacturing areas with the full confidence of

meeting global regulatory requirements.

Particle Measuring Systems Germany GmbH

Im Tiefen See 45

Telefon: +49 351 8896 3850

Internet: http://www.pmeasuring.com

D 64293 Darmstadt

eMail: PMSGermany@pmeasuring.com

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NEWSLETTER


Bardusch AG investit trois millions

de francs suisses à Selzach et

crée 30 nouveaux emplois

Bardusch AG poursuit son expansion dans le plateau suisse avec une nouvelle succursale et renforce sa position sur le

marché comme un des principaux prestataires de services textiles en Suisse. Le 25 novembre, l‘entreprise a ouvert une

blanchisserie en salle blanche hautement spécialisée dans le canton de Soleure.

Trente nouveaux emplois et un investissement de trois millions

de francs : En présence de 150 invités, le spécialiste des

services textiles Bardusch AG, dont le siège est à Bâle, a inauguré

solennellement sa nouvelle succursale à Selzach, dans le canton

de Soleure. La succursale est équipée des techniques les plus

modernes. Avec ses processus de traitement certifiés, elle répond

aux exigences les plus élevées en matière de salles blanches de l‘industrie

chimique et pharmaceutique, de la technique médicale ainsi

que du secteur de l‘électronique et de la biotechnologie.

« Je suis très heureux que nous disposions désormais à Selzach

d‘un centre de compétences hautement spécialisé dans le traitement

des textiles pour salles blanches. Avec cet investissement,

nous réaffirmons notre engagement en faveur du site suisse », déclare

Heidi Zaugg, directrice générale de Bardusch AG. Les dix dernières

années, 60 millions de francs ont été investis dans les sept

succursales suisses afin de les maintenir à la pointe de la technologie

et des structures.

En Suisse pour la Suisse

« La nouvelle succursale à Selzach représente une fois de plus notre

philosophie de gestion durable : nous produisons en Suisse pour

les clients suisses. Cela signifie non seulement des trajets courts en

matière de logistique, mais aussi un attachement local, des temps de

réaction rapides ainsi qu‘une fiabilité dans la qualité du traitement et

de la livraison », ajoute Zaugg.

Silvia Spycher, présidente de la commune de Selzach, se réjouit

de cette nouvelle arrivée de Bardusch AG : « Des emplois supplémentaires

sont créés à Selzach, ce que nous saluons. Nous souhaitons

la bienvenue à Bardusch AG dans notre commune et nous

réjouissons de la collaboration. Nous soutiendrons l‘entreprise du

mieux possible ».

Un monitoring unique, plus de durabilité

Dans la blanchisserie spécialisée en salle blanche de Bardusch AG

à Selzach, les textiles utilisés dans des domaines très sensibles sont

nettoyés et entretenus : par exemple dans l‘industrie pharmaceutique

ou chimique, dans la fabrication de semi-conducteurs, dans

la production microélectronique ou encore dans les pharmacies

d‘hôpitaux. Il s‘agit ici de respecter des directives strictes en matière

d‘hygiène. Outre l‘hygiène, la protection du produit contre les influences

environnementales et les personnes est également nécessaire

dans les salles blanches hautement techniques. Il est important

que les vêtements professionnels et les textiles ne libèrent aucune

particule de saleté ou de tissu de la personne qui les porte dans l‘environnement.

„Nos installations de traitement et de filtrage sont surveillées

en permanence dans le cadre d‘un processus de monitoring

unique en Europe. Nous nous assurons ainsi que le linge n‘est pas

contaminé par des particules (particules en suspension dans l‘air)“,

explique André Schmitter, responsable opérationnel de la succursale

de Selzach. Au cours des dernières semaines, la blanchisserie en

salle blanche a été soumise à un contrôle de qualité par une équipe

d‘experts externes.

« Avec notre équipe de collaborateurs bien qualifiés et très expérimentés

et grâce à des processus d‘exploitation efficaces, nous

pouvons réagir rapidement à l‘évolution des conditions du marché,

aux exigences des clients ainsi qu‘à l‘augmentation de la demande. À

Selzach, nous sommes en mesure de tripler nos capacités si nécessaire

», souligne André Schmitter.

La nouvelle succursale est également „state of the art“ en matière

de durabilité. Les nouvelles installations consomment nettement

moins d‘énergie et d‘eau tout en conservant une qualité élevée. Les

collaborateurs disposent de postes de travail spacieux et lumineux

dans la production et les bureaux. La succursale est en outre idéalement

située et bien desservie par les transports publics : Un arrêt

CFF se trouve à quelques mètres seulement du site.

La croissance se poursuit

Pour Bardusch AG, l‘expansion à Selzach est une étape logique. Heidi

Zaugg explique à ce sujet : « Le service de salle blanche est un secteur

d‘activité qui se développe de manière très satisfaisante. Avec

cette nouvelle présence sur le Plateau, nous renforçons notre position

parmi les principaux prestataires de services textiles en Suisse

tout en continuant sur la voie de la croissance ».

Selzach est très attractive sur le plan logistique en raison de sa

situation géographique centrale sur le Plateau. La succursale est facilement

accessible depuis toutes les régions du pays, ce qui garantit

des trajets courts et une grande sécurité d‘approvisionnement. «

Nous avons la certitude de pouvoir gagner de nouveaux clients dans

tous les secteurs industriels importants et de pouvoir proposer nos

services », déclare Heidi Zaugg.

Bardusch GmbH & Co. KG

Pforzheimer Str. 48

Textil-Mietdienste

D 76275 Ettlingen

Telefon: 01801 22738724 Telefax: 01801 22738824

eMail: reinraum@bardusch.de

Internet: http://www.bardusch.de

www.reinraum.de

NEWSLETTER


Constant start conditions for 3D cell culture

methods: Unique platform allows the

cultivation of up to 9,000 uniform

and size-controlled spheroids

Regenerative medicine and stem cell research - No need for pretreating the plate and

centrifuging after seeding

3D cell culture experiments allow growth simulation that is closer to the processes in the human body. For this reason, they

are becoming increasingly significant in life sciences. However, many plate designs are limited with regard to their reproducibility

or maximum number of cultivated cell clusters in a test. As a consequence, 3D cell cultivation is time-consuming

and cost-intensive for many laboratories. The Kugelmeiers Ltd. startup that is partnered with Heidolph Instruments & Co.

KG has therefore developed the SP5D cell culture plate that makes do without these limitations. Its 5D principle combines

the three spatial dimensions with the factors time and cell-to-cell communication: The special design allows the controlled,

speedy cultivation of up to 9,000 uniform clusters on a plate, which enables a larger yield per pass. The SP5D is ready for use

directly; there is no need to pretreat the plate and centrifuges after seeding. The specially developed, patented geometry

and the unique non-fouling clinical grade coating ensure uniform growth so that the results are particularly precise and are

reproducible to a higher degree. Numerous cell types can already be cultivated in the plate successfully, including human

island and embryonal stem cells as well as mouse stem cells.

The cultivation of cells in three-dimensional

space is increasingly developing into the

standard in many laboratories – particularly

in areas such as stem cell research or regenerative

medicine. “Cells in the human body

are organized in cell clusters and organs, i.e.

they grow three-dimensionally and are not

simply flat”, explains Cordula Böttger, specialist

in life science applications at Heidolph

Instruments GmbH & Co. KG. “A 3D

cell culture can be used to create an artificial

environment in which cells grow in all three

dimensions and can interact with their surroundings.

This makes it possible to their

simulate their behavior far closer to the real

conditions in the body, which enables clinically

relevant results.“” in the ideal case, the

research can be made to be translational, so

that the knowledge acquired can be translated

into therapeutic measures far faster than

before.

However, many 3D cell culture plates are

limited either in the number or the uniformity

of the spheroids to be cultivated which,

despite its advantages, makes the method

less of an economic alternative for laboratories.

Also, several things must be noted

when using the application: The substrate

material must be such that the spheroids do

not become too large, since otherwise they

would die due to the lack of oxygen supply

because of the absence of blood vessels.

Interaction of the cells during the growth

phase should also be between each other

to prevent uncontrolled cell differentiation

due to false signals. The goal was therefore

to develop a safe plate design, which eliminates

these risks and at the same time

allows flexible scalability with easy handling.

With the SP5D and its patented geometry

it is now possible to cultivate a large

number of uniform spheroids – up to 9,000

on a single plate. The design is therefore

Work with the ready to use SP5D is particularly user-friendly, so that handling the platform is

learned quickly: The cultivation does not require any pretreatment. The media change by simple

pipetting is also very convenient. (Source: Kugelmeiers Ltd.)

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NEWSLETTER


„Im menschlichen Körper organisieren sich

Zellen in Zellverbänden und Organen, das

heißt sie wachsen dreidimensional und sind

nicht einfach flach“, erklärt Cordula Böttger,

Applikationsspezialistin im Bereich Life Science

bei Heidolph Instruments GmbH & Co. KG.

„Mit einer 3D-Zellkultur lässt sich eine künstliche

Umgebung schaffen, in der Zellen in

allen drei Dimensionen wachsen und mit ihrer

Umgebung interagieren können. Dadurch wird

deren Verhalten viel näher an den realen Bedingungen

im Körper nachstellbar, was klinisch

relevantere Ergebnisse ermöglicht.“ (Quelle:

Heidolph Instruments GmbH & Co. KG)

400 times more space-saving the currently

customary 3D hanging drop technology. The

platform is set up so that the reproducibility

of follow-up tests is increased, since the

experiments always start under identical initial

conditions due to the low size variance

of the grown cell clusters.

Three-dimensional geometry with rounded

down bottoms

“The designation SP5D stands for “spherical

plate 5D”, whereby the 5D refers to the

five dimensions involved”, explains Böttger.

“They are made up of the 3D structure of

the cell cluster growing in the plate, the time

needed as the fourth dimension, which is

reduced by a larger yield and easier application,

and the so-called cell-cell communication

as the fifth dimension, which is necessary

for a physiologically correct cell environment

and prevents unwanted signals.”

Homogeneous interaction of these parameters

is also achieved, among other things, by

the patented geometry of the microwells on

the plate. The principle can be visualized in

simplified terms as follows: The cells slide

in square rounded off “pyramid holes” and

therefore always form equal-sized spheres.

This setup leads to a scaffold-free, regular

cluster formation so that the aggregate or

rather the cell sphere is always held within

the center of the individual micro recess

(well). This is often not possible in other designs

and impedes identical cluster formation

accordingly.

“Twelve wells, each with 750 microwells

are available on an SP5D, which ensures a

very large yield. The special angle of the individual

recesses allows a uniform number

of cells to sink so that there is no need for

additional centrifuging”, says Böttger. Me-

anwhile, the special coating prevents protein

residues from adhering and cell-surface

signaling and thus prevents activation of the

receptors on the cell wall with non-cell materials.

The special geometric dimensions

allow the cells just enough room to grow that

they do not exceed a defined size, which

would cause hypoxic damage due to the low

oxygen supply.

SP5D - optimized for everyday laboratory

work and translational medicine

The work with the ready to use SP5D is particularly

user-friendly so that handling the

platform is learned quickly: The cultivation

does not require any pretreatment, timeconsuming

coating processes are omitted.

The media change is also very convenient

due to simple pipetting, since the height of

the microwells was chosen so that the cell

clusters are retained. Thus, 750 cell clusters

are delivered with a single pipette movement,

which is one hundred times faster

than with individual spheroid platforms. The

harvesting is also quick: Since the cells do

not adhere to the surface, the spheroids are

“free-floating” and can be easily removed

from the SP5D by pipetting off. The platform

is also compatible with standard automation

units, so that the 3D cell cultivation can

more easily be integrated into existing laboratory

processes. The choice of COC (cycloolefin

copolymers) as plate material ensures

real time imaging with as little background

noise as possible.

The high degree of standardization and

reliability, the SP5D is predestined for use

in high-volume research facilities which

work with a large number of cell lines and

SP5D stands for “Spherical Plate 5D”: The

name refers to the 3D structure of the cell

cluster growing in the plate, the time needed

for the cultivation as the fourth dimension and

so-called cell-cell communication as the fifth

dimension. (Source: Kugelmeiers Ltd.)

With the SP5D and its patented geometry it is

possible to cultivate a large number of uniform

spheroids – up to 9,000 on a single plate. Twelve

wells, each with 750 microwells are available

on an SPfD, which ensures a very high yield.

(Source: Kugelmeiers Ltd.)

The special angle of the individual recesses

allows a uniform number of cells to sink so that

there is no need for additional centrifuging.

The special nanocoating prevents the adhesion

of protein residues and ensures clean sliding

off. (Source: Kugelmeiers Ltd.)

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NEWSLETTER


The cells slide in square “pyramid holes” with rounded tip and therefore form same size spheres every time. This setup leads to a scaffold-free, regular

cluster formation so that the aggregate is always held within the center of the individual micro recess (well). (Source: Kugelmeiers Ltd.)

co-culture systems. Several of the promising

applications, in which the SP5D is already

used successfully are in-vivo applications

and translational research. The SP5D offers

scientists plenty of space for discoveries and

for the cultivation of high-quality research

material for downstream processes. This

is demonstrated well using the example of

cancer and stem cell research: “Many types

of cancer emerge from stem cells, whereby

our platform can be used to reproduce the

environment of cancer cells – including cell

signal transfer and the physiology. In this

way, e.g. chemotherapeutic substances can

be compared and the most effective treatment

for patients can be determined”, is

how Böttger summarizes the translational

benefits of the SP5D.

Heidolph Instruments GmbH & Co.KG

D 93309 Kelheim

Hygienic filling – new test germ

for UV distection systems

Aspergillus carbonarius DSM 872 to be preferred test germ for checking the sterilisation performance of UV-based

sterilisation processes.

Aspergillus carbonarius DSM 872 to become preferred test germ

for checking the sterilization performance of UV-based sterilization

processes. (shutterstock)

In its trade association publications, the VDMA Food Processing

and Packaging Ma-chinery Association specifies spores of Aspergillus

niger DSM 1957 or Aspergillus brasiliensis DSM 1988 as test

germs for checking the disinfection performance of UV-based disinfection

devices in VDMA hygiene classes III and IV filling machines.

In 2016, the above-mentioned Aspergillus strains, among

others, were classified in „TRBA 460“ (Technical Rules for Biological

Agents) in risk group 2. This means that it is no longer possible to

use these strains for testing the sterilisation performance of filling

machines within the scope of TRBA 460 outside so-called S2 laboratories.

In the AIF research project „SURROGATE“ (AiF no.: 20924 N/1),

investigations were then carried out at the Fraunhofer IVV in Freising

regarding possible substitute germs that have comparable killing

kinetics to spores of Aspergillus brasiliensis with regard to UV

disinfection devices. On the basis of the investigations that have

now been com-pleted, the VDMA will in future specify Aspergillus

carbonarius DSM 872 as the pre-ferred test germ for checking the

disinfection performance of UV disinfection systems in its publication

series „Fachverbandsschriften Nahrungsmittelmaschinen und

Verpackungsmaschinen“.

The corresponding revision of the trade association publications

concerned took place after the publication of the research report.

VDMA e. V.

D 60528 Frankfurt

www.reinraum.de

NEWSLETTER


Fraunhofer IAF expands

research infrastructure for

semiconductor technologies

New buildings for optoelectronic metrology, quantum sensor technology and epitaxy

Fraunhofer IAF has expanded its state-of-the-art research infrastructure and further improved the conditions for the development

of pioneering semiconductor technologies. With the support of the German federal government, the state of

Baden-Württemberg as well as the BMVg, a laboratory building and an MOCVD hall were built, enabling the institute to intensify

its activities in the fields of optoelectronics, quantum technologies and materials science. The official inauguration

of the new buildings took place on June 30, 2022.

Two new research buildings provide

researchers at the Fraunhofer Institute

for Applied Solid State Physics

IAF with the facilities they need to continue

developing innovative technologies

based on compound semiconductors at the

cutting edge of technology. With the new

laboratory building for optoelectronic metrology

and quantum sensing as well as the

new facility hall for metal organic chemical

vapor deposition (MOCVD), the institute

lays the foundation for the continued strategic

development of its core competencies.

The new buildings meet high standards in

terms of energy efficiency, sustainability

and building dynamics. They were financed

by funds from the German federal government,

the state of Baden-Württemberg and

the German Federal Ministry of Defense

(BMVg) and were officially inaugurated on

June 30, 2022.

Festive inauguration of the laboratory

building and the MOCVD hall

The great benefits of the new buildings

for the institute are explained by the head of

research infrastructure, Dr. Martin Walther:

“The new laboratories provide our scientists

with even better research conditions.

In particular, the application laboratories

for quantum sensing and laser spectroscopy

significantly expand the opportunities

for cooperation with partners from industry

and research. The new MOCVD hall

has also enabled us to enlarge our epitaxy

equipment park, further increase the level

of material quality and reproducibility, and

at the same time ensure significantly more

efficient operation.” The Executive Director

of Fraunhofer IAF, Prof. Dr. Rüdiger Quay,

also emphasizes: “I am very pleased that the

buildings exceed the requirements of the

German Energieeinsparverordnung EnEV

(Energy Saving Ordinance) and feature

CO2-neutral construction elements. This is

an important signal for our plan to achieve

climate neutrality by 2030 together with the

Fraunhofer-Gesellschaft.”

Speeches by Rüdiger Quay and Freiburg’s

mayor for construction, Prof. Dr.

Martin Haag, opened the inauguration. Together

with the managing director of Freiburg

Wirtschaft Touristik Messe GmbH &

Co. KG (FWTM), Hanna Böhme, they cut

the ceremonial ribbon. In addition to representatives

of various Fraunhofer institutions,

the invited guests included Gabriele

Rolland from the state parliament of Baden-

Württemberg, Prof. Dr. Stefan Glunz and

Prof. Dr. Frank Balle from the Institute for

Sustainable Technical Systems (INATECH)

at the University of Freiburg, Prof. Dr. Jürgen

Wöllenstein, JProf. Dr. Matthias Kuhl and

Prof. Dr. Stefan Rupitsch from the Institute

for Microsystems Technology (IMTEK) at

the University of Freiburg, as well as the architects

of the new buildings, Ann-Kathrin

Goerke and Matthias Solbach.

Fraunhofer IAF has expanded its state-of-the-art research infrastructure for semiconductor technologies

with a new MOCVD hall (front) and a new laboratory building (back). © Fraunhofer IAF

On June 30, 2022, the new research buildings

of Fraunhofer IAF were officially inaugurated.

© Fraunhofer IAF

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NEWSLETTER


Optimal research conditions and sustainable construction

The new laboratory building has a total of 22 laboratories on 900 m2

of floor space, which have been designed in terms of building dynamics

for the use of highly vibration-sensitive equipment. They comply

with the vibration limit lines B and C of the so-called Vibration

Criteria (VC) and are thus suitable, for example, for the operation

of microscopes with magnifications of up to 1000 times or lithography

and inspection equipment with structure widths of up to 3 and 1

µm, respectively. In the long term, this ensures the use of demanding

measurement technology for ever smaller structures and allows intensive

research and development of quantum sensors such as scanning

probe, wide-field and laser threshold magnetometers as well as

laser-based sensor technology and innovative semiconductor lasers.

The newly constructed MOCVD hall provides space for five

state-of-the-art systems, which will enable Fraunhofer IAF to expand

its epitaxial activities in the field of high bandgap semiconductors

in particular. The four existing systems, which were moved from

the clean room of the main building, were joined by a new system

specifically for the deposition of aluminum gallium nitride (AlGaN)

with high aluminum content. The new plant reaches temperatures of

up to 1400 °C, which has a positive effect on crystal quality and homogeneity.

Advantages also result from the hall’s equipment, which

has autonomous regenerative processing systems, enabling more

energy-efficient and sustainable manufacturing processes.

At 388 kWh/(m2a) for the laboratory building and 245 kWh/

(m2a) for the MOCVD hall, the primary energy requirements of both

new buildings are below the EnEV requirements for comparable industrial

buildings. In addition, the flooring installed in both buildings

is particularly environmentally friendly and will be recycled at the

end of its functional life. The floor coverings are made from natural

raw materials and German manufacturing, and their entire production

cycle has a neutral CO2 footprint. In the MOCVD hall alone, 47

t of CO2 were offset by the flooring.

Fraunhofer-Institut für Angewandte Festkörperphysik IAF

D 79108 Freiburg

Mixing and stirring underwater

The right drive for the perfect mixing result - High torque drives for rapid mixing of

larger quantities

Mixing and stirring – a science in its own

right. Agitator specialists draw on decades

of application experience and extensive

material tests of mixing behaviour. Whether

handheld or automated agitators, the correct

mixing technology is decisive for the

quality and workability of the material mix.

For changing tasks, handheld solutions tend

to be more advisable than small automatic

mixers, as soon as you also take the frequency

of changing and cleaning the mix inserts

into account.

In general, we differentiate between single

/ double spindle agitators which mix low

viscosity materials well, automatic rotation

mixers which are used to mix large quantities

at high speed, centrally located stirrers

in a revolving container or compulsory mixers

where consistent quality is required.

A perfect energy-saving mixing result

can only be achieved when the drive, mixer

and mixing material are optimally coordinated.

It is of utmost importance that a drive

with sufficient power is selected. In the

design phase, it is vital to consider the maximum

material resistance which the drive

must overcome in the application. If the mixing

result is not satisfactory then it is likely

that the speed of the drive is not sufficient.

The diameter of the mixer and the specifications

from the material manufacturer are

decisive factors in determining the speed

required. As a rule we can say: the larger the

diameter of the mixer, the greater the power

exerted.

Those looking for a small, lightweight

drive source will find an ideal drive in the air

vane motor. The renowned air motor manufacturer

DEPRAG offers an extensive program

where you can find the right solution

for a wide variety of applications ranging

from slim micro drives made from stainless

steel for use in pharmaceutical laboratories,

right up to high-power high-torque motors

for mixing concrete.

The BASIC LINE air vane motors are

tried and tested inexpensive drives for use

in unproblematic application environments.

These motors are made from steel with cast

iron housing. The BASIC LINE air motors

are available in various power ranges from

200 W to 1200 W with speeds from <20 up

to 10,500 rpm. The drives are ATEX certified

and can be used in potentially explosive environments.

The innovative QuickVChange

vane exchange system has further advantages:

There is a valuable time saving as the

air motor remains assembled during vane

exchange.

Standard drives for underwater tasks

The ADVANCED LINE stainless steel air

motors are your best option for challenging

application environments. The fully sealed,

non-corrosive drive sources are powerful

even when working underwater. Application

areas range from dusty bulk material handling

plants, washing chambers, sterilisers

in medical technology, the food industry in

contact with cleaning agents, up to cleanroom

applications in the pharmaceutical

industry. The ADVANCED LINE is available

from 20 to 1600 W supplying a wealth of

options starting with small speeds, right up

to fast runners. The sophisticated modular

principle means they have an outstanding

price-performance ratio. DEPRAG even has

an ATEX certified stainless steel motor with

integrated holding brake in their standard

program. Slow flowing substances with high

www.reinraum.de

NEWSLETTER


Rührwerk

viscosity, such as paint and plastics need to

be made more “fluid” for industrial processing.

Before spraying or coating a surface,

the industrial agitator mixes the mass until

it achieves the required liquidity. High-powered

high-torque motors drive these mixers.

The system builder relies on the fast

and precise power transmission of the air

vane motors. The required motor power is

available immediately.

In the past, if the viscosity of the mixing

material in the container or quantity of material

to be mixed altered, there would also

be a subsequent unwelcome change to the

speed. In order to achieve constant speed

in the agitator, the manufacturer provides

a speed regulator. The non-contact speed

sensor is located directly on the air motor

between the actual vane motor and the

gear. It records the current speed at which

the drive is working. The notification of this

current value is in the form of a digital signal

to the regulator. The regulator “knows”

the required target value, which can be set

conveniently on the controller LC display.

The regulator now compares both values. If

there is a discrepancy between the current

and target value, a special valve controls the

air flow for the air motor and regulates the

speed. Result: The air motor works consistently

within the required range.

The POWER LINE product line of highpowered

foot and flange motors is distinguished

by its versatility. Your advantage in

comparison to electric motors: High starting

torque with an unparalleled low power-toweight

ratio. This is a particular plus point

ADVANCED LINE Edelstahlmotoren

Rührwerk

when a high starting torque is needed at the

start of a mixing process. The POWER LINE

air motors are available in the power range

from 1.6 to 18 kW.

The name says it all: The INDIVIDUAL

LINE is comprised of cost-effective custom-produced

individual air motors designed

by the specialists at DEPRAG. The

standard program is widely diverse and offers

numerous versions from which individual

drive solutions can be developed and

created at an attractive price-performance

ratio in accordance with the modular principle.

Whether custom gear design (planetary,

spur or worm gear), drive spindle versions

or individual attachment requirements,

the DEPRAG engineers make your custom

drive a reality. Air motors made from innovative

materials are also on offer, such as

non-ferrous ceramic air motors.

There are many arguments in favour

of using an air motor as your drive source.

The main benefit is the high power density.

Depending on design, they only need a fifth

of the mass of a standard electric motor or

to be a third of the size. This gives them a

great advantage, particularly for installation

in handheld devices.

The development and construction of

high quality air motors is one of DEPRAG’s

main areas of expertise. The specialists in

air motors, automation, screwdriving technology,

air tools and Green Energy have

around 760 employees in over 50 countries.

The manufacturer provides tailor-made air

motors from their comprehensive range of

drive solutions. The DEPRAG engineers

have decades of experience and are ready

to support you in the design of your drive

and customisation for your particular application.

DEPRAG SCHULZ GMBH u. CO.

D 92224 Amberg

www.reinraum.de

NEWSLETTER


Creating clean production

environments quickly and easily

New components for fitting out cleanrooms

Cleanrooms are essential for many areas of production in a whole host of industries. Whether in semiconductor production,

medical research or the aerospace sector, it’s vital to keep the concentration of particles to a minimum to prevent any contamination

of products. item Industrietechnik GmbH now offers many different components in its Building Kit System that

enable customers to design and build customised solutions for clean production environments.

New Fixing System X 8 and new Filter Fan Unit (FFU) 1200 x 600

from item make it possible to build customised cleanroom solutions

with ease. item, the industrial application pioneer, has expanded its

Building Kit System so it can offer customers all the support and flexibility

they need for fitting out cleanrooms. Customers can use the

new components to configure both work bench systems and process

enclosures in line with their requirements. The products are compatible

with Line X and Line XMS aluminium profiles.

Flush-fitting panels thanks to new Fixing System

Mit der neuen FFU lassen sich Reinraum-Arbeitsplätze und

Maschineneinhausungen einfach realisieren.

New Fixing System X 8 from item provides the basis for forming the walls

and ceilings of cleanroom systems.

Fixing System X 8 provides the basis for forming the walls and ceilings

of cleanroom systems. Panels that are between 4 and 5 mm

thick, Compound Material that is 36 mm thick and Perforated Sheet

with a thickness of 3 mm can therefore be safely and securely fixed

in place without having to use any tools. The Fixing Systems are secured

in place directly in the Line 8 system groove of profiles. The

result is a variety of wall constructions with flush, easy-to-clean

transitions. Customers can choose whether they want a single skin

or double skin system, or opt instead for a sandwich design using

Compound Material HPL. Moreover, stainless steel Perforated Sheet

can be used to create ventilation grilles or table tops for laminar flow

environments. The new Fixing System can also be used to design

ceilings. Its high holding force means it can be used to hold an FFU

in place, for example.

Ready-to-connect FFU

Thanks to the new FFU, cleanroom work benches and enclosures

can be created with ease. The FFU is fixed to the ceiling above the

work bench or to a frame using the new Fixing System. The FFU produces

a low-turbulence airflow and, with its integrated Pre-Filter M5

and HEPA Filter H14, removes 99.995 percent of all particles from

the ambient air. Commissioning takes place via plug and play, with

FFU StarterKit 230 V and FlowBox InstallationKit 230 V ensuring

the FFU can be connected quickly. The StarterKit includes all the

necessary cables and a control unit with a potentiometer for regulating

the airflow. Customers who want to operate FFUs, lights or table

columns centrally can opt for the FlowBox InstallationKit.

The new components from the item Building Kit System can be used to

build customised solutions for clean production environments, such as

laminar flow boxes or complete machine enclosures.

item Industrietechnik GmbH

D 42699 Solingen

www.reinraum.de

NEWSLETTER


Oberflächenfunktionalisierung über eine in die additive Fertigung

integrierte Plasmaquelle. © Fraunhofer IST, Paul Kurze

The plasma point source in action: treatment of a 3D printed

component. © Fraunhofer IST, Paul Kurze

Layer by layer to more stability:

New possibilities for 3D printing

through integrated plasma treatment

Additive-manufacturing processes are characterized by the fact that the components are built up layer by layer using, for

example, plastics. The adhesion of the individual layers thereby plays an important role, as it significantly influences the

stability of the printed components. At the Fraunhofer Institute for Surface Engineering and Thin Films IST, plasma sources

are currently being developed which can be integrated into the 3D printer, thereby enabling a targeted chemical modification

of the surface during the printing process itself. Amongst other things, a significant increase in adhesion can consequently

be achieved, which leads to new options for 3D-printed component manufacturing.

With the aid of atmospheric-pressure plasmas, surfaces can be specifically

pretreated, cleaned or functionalized. The configuration of

the plasma sources is thereby variable and can be adapted according

to the application: From pinpoint treatments of the smallest areas

through to the handling of substrate surfaces several meters in size,

anything is possible. Depending on the type of treatment, the most

diverse functions can be achieved, such as control over the adhesion

of coatings and paints, or adapted wettability. Through the combination

of atmospheric-pressure plasma treatment and 3D printing,

it also becomes possible to apply this enormous range of functions

in the field of additive manufacturing, thereby opening up new fields

of application for 3D printing. The application possibilities are manifold:

from small-series production with integrated surface modification

for subsequent processing steps such as metallization or

bonding, through the production of more stable 3D-printed components,

and on to the experimental utilization of the plasma sources.

Possible applications include the automotive industry, the aerospace

sector and medical technology.

Currently, a so-called plasma point source is being deployed

at the Fraunhofer IST. This allows the printed structures to be modified

with high resolution on a comparatively small surface area.

The special feature of this is that the source itself is small enough

to be installed in a commercially available 3D printer. As a result,

plasma treatment can take place immediately after deposition of

the individual layers, without the necessity of major modifications.

The long-term goal of the work is the integration of a plasma ring

source, which is placed directly around the extrusion nozzle, and

which consequently enables treatment to become a part of the

printing process.

Fraunhofer-Institut für Schicht- und Oberflächentechnik IST

D 38108 Braunschweig

www.reinraum.de

NEWSLETTER


Combined and efficient:

Two steps to the goal

Together with industrial partners, the Fraunhofer Institute for Laser Technology ILT has developed a novel system for

producing high-resolution microcomponents by photo-crosslinking. Thanks to their work in the project “High productivity

and detail accuracy in additive manufacturing by combining UV polymerization and multiphoton polymerization

- HoPro-3D,” polymer microstructures can now be produced economically and customized in one machine.

The experts at the Fraunhofer ILT worked together with LightFab

GmbH from Aachen, Bartels Mikrotechnik GmbH from Dortmund

and Miltenyi Biotec GmbH from Bergisch Glabach in the “HoPro-

3D” project. There they developed a new type of 3D printer that

combines fast two-dimensional exposure – scrolling digital light processing

(DLP) – with a high-resolution laser process – multiphoton

polymerization (MPP) – to produce microcomponents from photopolymers.

The HoPro-3D 3D printer has two selectable exposure systems,

for either high build rates (scrolling DLP) or high precision (MPP).

The DLP module, which emits at a wave-length of 365 nm, exposes

the basic structures of a microcomponent with a pixel resolution of

10 µm. As a complement, a femtosecond laser and the MPP module

can be used to write contour lines with a resolution of about 2 µm.

The layer-by-layer approach makes it possible to build the finest

MPP structures on top of already printed DLP structures, thus quickly

creating extended components with a complex structure and

high-resolution details. The built-up laboratory pattern allows the

production of components with a footprint of up to 60 x 100 mm².

The control software of the HoPro-3D system enables users to

smoothly switch be-tween the two exposure modules. Moreover,

they can use CAD data to decide when it makes sense to switch

between the printing processes. During the layer-by-layer build-up

of a component, it is possible to switch between the two processes

several times.

“The concept is in place and the corresponding machine has

been built and already extensively tested,” reports Dr. Martin Wehner,

Head of the Biofabrication Group at Fraunhofer ILT. After completion

in spring 2022, the laboratory prototype could already be tested

and optimized in an application-oriented manner as part of the

Fraunhofer SiCellNet network. The SiCellNet cluster forms a central

point of contact for research into new tools and manufacturing techniques

for the analysis, sorting and provision of living cells. The performance

of the combination plant and the control of the process

could thus be optimally expanded.

In the follow-up project “Precise assembly by high resolution seamless

3D printing - PANDA,” funded by the SME Innovation Program,

the Fraunhofer ILT team has been expanding the performance

of DLP-based processes since January 2022. The knowledge gained

there will later be applied in the HoPro-3D system to continuously

improve the economic efficiency of the 3D printing process.

Combining processes quickly and precisely

Realization of MPP and DLP process in one resin bath. © Fraunhofer ILT,

Aachen, Germany.

Sample component produced in a resin bath from the HoPro3D system.

© Fraunhofer ILT, Aachen, Germany.

Laboratory plant for testing the combination process. © Fraunhofer ILT,

Aachen, Germany.

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NEWSLETTER


Applications in biomedical analytics

The Fraunhofer ILT is able to build microchannel structures to develop

customer-specific applications in a time- and cost-saving manner.

Since there is no need to switch be-tween different machines,

smaller functional elements can be integrated directly into larger

components. In addition, thanks to increased precision of the MPP

process, a high local functional density of microscopic structures

can be integrated into compo-nents during production.

The potential applications are numerous: Microfluidic chips for

laboratory diagnostics and rapid tests, micromechanical components

and complete microfluidic systems for efficient point-of-care

diagnostics provide on-site diagnostics close to the patient with-out

need further laboratory testing.

The HoPro-3D project ran from November 2018 to December

2021, was coordinated by Fraunhofer ILT and funded by the European

Regional Development Fund (ERDF).

Fraunhofer-Institut für Lasertechnik ILT

D 52074 Aachen

Demonstrating new EM product pipeline

at Pharmaceutical Microbiology Europe

conference

Cherwell’s range of cleanroom

microbiology products.

Cherwell, specialists in cleanroom microbiology

solutions for the pharmaceutical,

healthcare and related industries, will be exhibiting

and discussing the latest additions

to its high-quality range of environmental

monitoring (EM) products at the Pharmaceutical

Microbiology Europe Conference,

in London, 16-17 January 2023.

This is the first time that Cherwell will

attend this annual conference, so it will

provide an opportunity for delegates from

the pharmaceutical and cell & gene therapy

industry to preview some of the very latest

EM solutions currently in the Company’s

product pipeline. These are all specifically

designed to support EM programmes as part

of contamination control strategies in line

with the recently published EU GMP Annex

1 governing the manufacture of sterile medicinal

products within the UK and Europe.

Uncovering key developments and discussing

the future of microbiology as an

essential tool for the detection of microorganisms

present in biopharmaceutical and

drug product manufacture, the conference

will have a strong focus on the impact of

Annex 1, alongside new pharmaceutical microbiology

technologies. In particular, presentations

from key pharmaceutical manufacturers

will discuss the initial challenges

that Annex 1 has presented and the transformations

required in companies’ contamination

control strategies in order to secure full

compliance. There will also be case study

examples and a group discussion session to

benchmark impact of Annex 1 across the industry

to date.

The products and solutions offered by

Cherwell are aligned with a number of presentation

topics and cover all graded spaces

(A – D). For example, the SAS air sampling

range is reliable and robust equipment

known to conform to the Annex 1 requirement

of 1m³ sampling. Additionally, the new

ImpactAir® air monitor range is designed

for high-risk graded environments, deploying

a continuous viable air monitoring innovation

known as ‘slit to agar’. The process

provides assurances on potential contamination

within the cleanroom environment

with a D50 value of 0.53 micron, capturing

extremely small-scale particles and complying

with Annex 1 requirements.

Cherwell’s cleanroom microbiology experts

will be available on its exhibition stand

at Pharmaceutical Microbiology Europe to

offer practical advice and demonstrate solutions

that can be tailored to meet individual

customers’ specific microbiological monitoring

and validation requirements.

“We work in partnership within the

market and take pride in sharing our knowledge,

experience and expertise to ensure

that everyone is using our portfolio in the

best way possible for their environmental

needs and expectations,” said Thomas

Parkhill, Business Development Manager-

South, Cherwell Laboratories. “While we’re

experts in the area of EM, we’re really looking

forward to hearing the presentations

at the conference from experts in a number

of other fields within the industry to help

us further expand our breadth and depth of

knowledge in the industry.”

With over 50 years of experience, Cherwell

has built a reputation within the pharmaceutical

and healthcare sciences industry

as a provider of high-quality products to

meet the specific requirements of environmental

monitoring and process validation.

In addition to the ImpactAir continuous

viable air monitoring solutions and SAS

microbial air samplers for active environmental

monitoring, Cherwell manufactures

and supplies the Redipor® prepared media

range, comprising agar plates, bottled media,

vials, broth bags and ampoules.

Cherwell Laboratories Ltd

OX26 4XB BICESTER

United Kingdom

www.reinraum.de

NEWSLETTER


The nonwovens used for FFP-2 masks must filter at least 94 percent of aerosols, particles or viruses according to DIN. In the picture: Quality control of a

meltblown material in the clean room area. © Freudenberg Performance Materials

ProQuIV Optimizes the Production

of Nonwoven Masks

Research News – Technical Textiles

Producing infection control clothing requires a lot of energy and uses lots of material resources. Fraunhofer researchers

have now developed a technology which helps to save materials and energy when producing nonwovens. A digital twin controls

key manufacturing process parameters on the basis of mathematical modeling. As well as improving mask manufacturing,

the ProQuIV solution can also be used to optimize the production parameters for other applications involving these

versatile technical textiles, enabling manufacturers to respond flexibly to customer requests and changes in the market.

Nonwoven infection control masks were being used in their

millions even before the COVID-19 pandemic and are regarded

as simple mass-produced items. Nevertheless, the

manufacturing process used to make them needs to meet strict

requirements regarding precision and reliability. According to DIN

(the German Institute for Standardization), the nonwoven in the

mask must filter out at least 94 percent of the aerosols in the case of

the FFP-2 mask and 99 percent in the case of the FFP-3 version. At

the same time, the mask must let enough air through to ensure that

the wearer can still breathe properly. Many manufacturers are looking

for ways to optimize the manufacturing process. Furthermore,

production needs to be made more flexible so that companies are

able to process and deliver versatile nonwovens for a wide range of

different applications and sectors.

ProQuIV, the solution developed by the Fraunhofer Institute

for Industrial Mathematics ITWM in Kaiserslautern, fulfills both

of these aims. The abbreviation »ProQuIV« stands for »Production

and Quality Optimization of Nonwoven Infection Control Clothing«

(Produktions- und Qualitätsoptimierung von Infektionsschutzkleidung

aus Vliesstoffen). The basic idea is that manufacturing process

parameters are characterized with regard to their impact on the uniformity

of the nonwoven, and this impact is then linked to properties

of the end product; for example, a protective mask. This model chain

links all relevant parameters to an image analysis and creates a digital

twin of the production process. The digital twin enables real-time

monitoring and automatic control of nonwoven manufacturing and

thus makes it possible to harness potential for optimization.

Dr. Ralf Kirsch, from the department »Flow and Material Simulation«

and head of the team »Filtration and Separation« , explains:

»With ProQuIV, the manufacturers need less material overall, and

they save energy. And the quality of the end product is guaranteed

at all times.«

Nonwoven Manufacturing With Heat and Air Flow

Nonwoven manufacturing with heat and air flow Nonwovens for

filtration applications are manufactured in what is known as the

meltblown process. This involves melting down plastics such as po-

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NEWSLETTER


The simulation software maps the relation ship

between the control of the meltblown process

and the uniformity of the nonwoven.

© Fraunhofer ITWM

The transmitted light image from the microscope shows the distribution

of the fibers in the nonwoven. © Fraunhofer ITWM

lypropylene and forcing them through nozzles so they come out in

the form of threads referred to as filaments. The filaments are picked

up on two sides by air flows which carry them forward almost at the

speed of sound and swirl them around before depositing them on a

collection belt. This makes the filaments even thinner: By the end of

the process, their thickness is in the micrometer or even submicrometer

range. They are then cooled, and binding agents are added in

order to create the nonwoven. The more effectively the temperature,

air speed and belt speed are coordinated with each other, the more

uniform the distribution of the fibers at the end and therefore the

more homogeneous the material will appear when examined under a

transmitted light microscope. Lighter and darker areas can thereby be

identified — this is referred to by experts as cloudiness.

The Fraunhofer team has developed a method to measure a cloudiness

index on the basis of image data. The light areas have a low

fiber volume ratio, which means that they are less dense and have a

lower filtration rate. Darker areas have a higher fiber volume and therefore

a higher filtration rate. On the other hand, the higher air flow

resistance in these areas means that they filter a smaller proportion of

the air that is breathed in. A larger proportion of the air flows through

the more open areas which have a less effective filtration effect.

Production Process With Real-Time Control

In the case of ProQuIV, the transmitted light images from the microscope

are used to calibrate the models prior to use. The experts

analyze the current condition of the textile sample and use this information

to draw conclusions about how to optimize the system —

for example, by increasing the temperature, reducing the belt speed

or adjusting the strength of the air flows. »One of the key aims of our

research project was to link central parameters such as filtration rate,

flow resistance and cloudiness of a material with each other and to

use this basis to generate a method which models all of the variables

in the production process mathematically,« says Kirsch. The digital

twin monitors and controls the ongoing production process in real

time. If the system deviates slightly from where it should be — for

example, if the temperature is too high — the settings are corrected

automatically within seconds.

Fast and Efficient Manufacturing

»This means that it is not necessary to interrupt production, take

material samples and readjust the machines. Once the models have

been calibrated, the manufacturer can be confident that the nonwoven

coming off the belt complies with the specifications and quality

standards,« explains Kirsch.

ProQuIV makes production much more efficient — there is less

material waste, and the energy consumption is also reduced. Another

advantage is that it allows manufacturers to develop new nonwoven-based

products quickly — all they have to do is change the

target specifications in the modeling and adjust the parameters. This

enables production companies to respond flexibly to customer requests

or market trends. This might sound logical but can be quite

complex when it comes to development. The way that the values for

filtration performance and flow resistance increase, for example, is

not linear at all, and they are not proportional to the fiber volume

ratio either. This means that doubling the filament density does not

result in double the filtration performance and flow resistance — the

relationship between the parameters is much more complex than

that. »This is precisely why the mathematical modeling is so important.

It helps us to understand the complex relationship between the

individual process parameters,« says ITWM researcher Kirsch. The

researchers are able to draw on their extensive expertise in simulation

and modeling for this work.

More Applications Are Possible

The next step for the Fraunhofer team is to reduce the breathing

resistance of the nonwovens for the wearer without impairing the

protective effect. This is made possible by electrically charging the

fibers and employing a principle similar to that of a feather duster.

The electric charge causes the textile fabric to attract the tiniest

of particles which could otherwise slip through the pores. For this

purpose, the strength of the electrostatic charge is integrated into

the modeling as a parameter. The Fraunhofer researchers’ plans for

the application of this method extend far beyond masks and air filters.

Their technology is generally applicable to the production of

nonwovens — for example, it can also be used in materials for the

filtration of liquids. Furthermore, ProQuIV methods can be used to

optimize the manufacture of nonwovens used in sound-insulating

applications.

Fraunhofer-Institut für Techno- und Wirtschaftsmathematik ITWM

D 67663 Kaiserslautern

www.reinraum.de

NEWSLETTER


robocell was distinguished as

the “Robotic Application of the Year”

The latest groninger line, the robocell, was named by the world’s largest non-profit organization

in the pharmaceutical industry, ISPE “Robotics Application of the Year” today.

As soon as it got on the market, it already received an award—

the latest groninger development – the robocell. The latest

machine concept of the aseptic filling systems, which completely

eliminates the human “risk factor” in pharmaceutical processing

and takes into account the latest regulatory requirements of the

industry (EU GMP Annex 1), has now been awarded the “Robotic

Application of the Year” award. The prize was awarded for the first

time this year as part of the ISPE workshop “SIG Future Robotics”.

The ISPE, “International Society for Pharmaceutical Engineering”,

is the world’s largest non-profit organization in the pharmaceutical

industry. It connects members of the pharmaceutical industry

and encourages interdisciplinary exchange and knowledge

transfer.

The top-class jury justified its decision at the award ceremony in

Annecy le Vieux, France, on Thursday as follows: “On the one hand,

the robots increase efficiency, while avoiding manual actions in the

sterile production environment.” The built-in robots would take over

tasks such as format changes at the push of a button and the automated

installation of sterile parts, the jury went on to say. “Secondly,

handling, waiting or changing gloves is avoided. And thirdly, the use

of robots allows to reduce the size of the sterile room. This shortens

decontamination cycles,” say the experts.

The fact that the filtered air flow was optimized in the machine

concept so that the sterile filled liquids only come into contact with

fresh air (first-air) created enthusiasm. “So far, this is absolutely unique

and the robocell demonstrates and implements that for the first

time.”

The groninger family business has relied on the use of flexible

robotic solutions in its systems for many years, and has even developed

and patented its own robocell modules.

Josef Veile, Technical Director of groninger & co. gmbh in Crailsheim,

where the family business builds its filling and closing lines

for the pharmaceutical industry, states the following: “We have the

highest standards when it comes to our robot solutions, but also in

terms of their application. They should not only be used to make

pharmaceutical processing more efficient, but above all safer.”

Jens Groninger, Managing Partner of groninger, is thrilled about

the award and adds: “This award confirms that we are on the right

path. Together with our partners, we want to continue to actively

shape this in the future and continue to set standards in the industry.”

robocell

The innovative system concept of robocell was created in cooperation

with the Swiss partner company Skan—technology leader for

isolators, clean room devices and decontamination processes.

“Our guiding principle when designing the robotic filling system

was always the intelligent use of robotics and not the use of robotics

for robotics’ sake,” explains Veile.

This principle made it possible for the two partner companies to

develop and market a completely glove-free isolator filling system.

“In addition to the regulatory requirements, we also intensively involved

our customers, such as PSM GmbH in Schiffweiler, and asked

actively for their feedback,” Groninger also describes.

The result is a line concept in which almost all work steps previously

carried out by the operating personnel are replaced by custommanufactured

robots. There are no more glove ports. Human interventions

in the core processes of the pharmaceutical filling process

is a thing of the past.

Conveyor belts or conventional drives are also no longer installed,

since cleaning them is sometimes poses to be difficult and the

risk of possible product contamination is correspondingly increased.

The transport of optionally pre-sterilized syringes, vials or cartridges

is taken over by robots instead.

Pharmaceutical sales manager, Dirk Schuster, is pleased that the

robocell not only impressed the ISPE jury, but also attracted a great

deal of interest in the market: “The robocell technology has already

been able to win over several well-known pharmacists due to its advantages

and we at groninger have already placed a number of systems

on the market.” Schuster also said that their portfolio has been

expanded with the line in the small-batch sector. “As a result, we are

able to offer our customers the complete performance range for the

processing of pre-sterilized syringes, vials and cartridges, from the

small-batch sector to the high-performance line.”

groninger & co. gmbh

D 74564 Crailsheim

www.reinraum.de

NEWSLETTER


Sumitomo (SHI) Demag

joins the R-Cycle Community

Expertise in thin-wall packaging and know-how in IML and ICM are to be contributed.

With 80.000 all-electric machines in operation around the globe, Sumitomo (SHI) Demag’s strong focus is on the sustainable

and resource saving operation of injection moulding machines in the plastic processing industry. The company is part

of the Sumitomo Group which is headquartered in Japan and has four production plants - one in Japan, two in Germany and

two in China. With almost 800 Mio. Euro turnover in this year - Sumitomo (SHI) Demag is the world leader in all-electric

injection moulding machines and will offer its strong expertise in plastic packaging applications like thin wall packaging

and pails to the R-Cycle-Community and the whole industry.

Sumitomo (SHI) Demag is convinced that a broad collaboration within

the whole value chain of plastic packaging will gain the biggest

impact to transform the linear to a circular economy. Furthermore,

the use of digital product passports can leverage benefits to many

areas of our daily business. Digitalization is key for a circular economy

and can transport the necessary transparency to the different

process steps in the chain – regardless of whether for the more effective

sortability of plastics in the recycling process or as an information

carrier in the communication between different machine and

processing operations in the context of Industry 4.0 applications.

Christoph Wynands, Product Manager for packaging machines

at Sumitomo (SHI) Demag, explains: „As a specialist for thin-walled

packaging in the food industry, most of the products manufactured

on our machines are made of PP or HDPE and our customers want

to significantly increase the recycled content in their products. In

order to do this economically, they are particularly dependent on

clean recyclate streams. Unfortunately, the corresponding approvals

for the broad use of mechanical recycled polyolefins in the food sector

are still lacking in Europe. Accordingly, we want to provide support

here and see in R-Cycle a

fantastic opportunity to improve

the purity and quality of PP and

HDPE recycling streams to such

an extent that the necessary food

approvals for the use of this recyclates

can be achieved. Here, we

want to contribute our expertise

with technologies such as In-

Mould-Labelling (IML) and Injection-Compression-Moulding

(ICM) to generate convincing

applications and make them

available to all stakeholders in

cross-industry projects. In this

way, we will generate new knowledge

to be able to competently

Christoph Wynands, Product

Manager for packaging machines

at Sumitomo (SHI) Demag.

consult and convince as many

packaging manufacturers as

possible.”

Last but not least, Sumitomo

(SHI) Demag will use the digital product passport technology to provide

detailed transparency about the footprint of their machines in

the future. Christoph Wynands stated: “We review and analyse our

internal value chain and discuss with partners and suppliers in our

network the carbon footprint of our own machines and improve the

supply chain whenever it is possible and necessary to reduce the

carbon footprint. Furthermore, sustainable measures and ecological

conducts are our very DNA since many years. The ecological impact

and sustainable aspects are two of the highest rated criteria in our

scoring charts when we evaluate and prioritize all our new developments.

For this reason, we have streamlined our machine portfolio

to all-electric injection moulding machines and powerful services,

for example, to support our partners and customers in the responsible

use of virgin material and to enable them to increase the recycled

content in their products. Or – even in near future - to halve

the energy consumption of their packaging production by upgrading

from a conventional hybrid injection moulding machine to our allelectric

PAC-E without losing a single millisecond of cycle time.”

Sumitomo (SHI) Demag

D 90571 Schwaig

Sumitomo (SHI) Demag joins the R-Cycle Community.

www.reinraum.de

NEWSLETTER


Introducing simulation framework

to better predict thermal transport

in RF devices for 5G and 6G

This week, at the 2022 International Electron Devices Meeting

(IEEE IEDM 2022), imec, a world-leading research and innovation

hub in nanoelectronics and digital technologies, presents a Monte

Carlo Boltzmann modeling framework that uses microscopic heat

carrier distributions to predict 3D thermal transport in advanced

RF devices intended for 5G and 6G wireless communication for the

first time. Case studies with GaN high-electron-mobility transistors

(HEMTs) and InP heterojunction bipolar transistors (HBTs) revealed

peak temperature rises that are up to three times larger than conventional

predictions with bulk material properties. Imec’s new tool

will be very useful in guiding optimizations of next-gen RF devices

toward thermally improved designs.

GaN- and InP-based devices have emerged as interesting candidates

for 5G mm-wave and 6G sub-THz mobile front-end applications,

respectively, due to their high output power and efficiency. To

optimize these devices for RF applications and make them cost-effective,

much attention is paid to upscaling the III/V technologies to

a Si platform and making them CMOS compatible. However, with

shrinking feature sizes and rising power levels, self-heating has become

a major reliability concern, potentially limiting further RF device

scaling.

Nadine Collaert, program director of advanced RF at imec: “Tuning

the design of GaN- and InP-based devices for optimal electrical

performance often worsens thermal performance at high operating

frequencies. For GaN-on-Si devices, for example, we recently

achieved tremendous progress in electrical performance, bringing

the power-added efficiencies and output power for the first time

on par with that of GaN-on-silicon carbide (SiC). But further enlarging

device operating frequency will require downsizing the existing

Figure 2 – Geometry of the InP nanoridge HBT used in the 3D simulation.

Figure 1 - Measured and predicted thermal resistance vs. finger

width of two-finger GaN-on-Si HEMTs.

Figure 3 – Impact of non-diffusive thermal transport effects (as captured

by imec’s Monte Carlo simulation) in InP nanoridge HBTs.

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NEWSLETTER


architectures. In these confined multilayer structures, however,

thermal transport is no longer diffusive, challenging accurate selfheating

predictions. Our novel simulation framework, yielding good

matches with our GaN-on-Si thermal measurements, revealed peak

temperature rises up to three times larger than previously predicted.

It will provide guidance in optimizing these RF device layouts early

in the development phase to ensure the right trade-off between

electrical and thermal performance.”

Such guidance also proves very valuable for the novel InP HBTs,

where imec’s modeling framework highlights the substantial impact

non-diffusive transport has on self-heating in complex scaled architectures.

For these devices, nanoridge engineering (NRE) is an

interesting heterogeneous integration approach from an electrical

performance point of view. “While the tapered ridge bottoms enable

low defect density within the III-V materials, they, however, in-

duce a thermal bottleneck for heat removal towards the substrate,”

explains Bjorn Vermeersch, principal member of technical staff in

the thermal modeling and characterization team at imec. “Our 3D

Monte Carlo simulations of NRE InP HBTs indicate that the ridge

topology raises the thermal resistance by over 20 percent compared

to a hypothetical monolithic mesa of the same height. Our analyses

furthermore highlight the direct impact of the ridge material (e.g.,

InP vs. InGaAs) on self-heating, providing an additional knob to improve

the designs thermally.”

These results were presented in two invited papers at the 2022

IEDM, by Bjorn Vermeersch, on thermal modeling, and by Nadine

Collaert, on GaN and InP technologies for next-generation high-capacity

wireless communication, respectively [papers 11.5 and 15.3].

IMEC Belgium

BL 3001 Leuven

New GEMÜ BB07 3/2-way ball valve

Versatile possible applications

The valve specialist GEMÜ is expanding its product range of industrial ball valves. Due to its multi-functional properties,

the newly developed GEMÜ BB07 3/2-way ball valve family is suitable for the most varied areas of application. These include

chemical processes, industrial water treatment, surface finishing, power generation and environmental systems, mechanical

engineering and processing industries.

The GEMÜ BB07 3/2-way ball valve is the ideal valve when it comes

to mixing and distribution tasks of media flows, like in the troublefree

change-over of sensitive media in the area of energy or auxiliary

materials in the food-processing industry.

A further advantage is that the new ball valve types are available

with the threaded socket connection type, which ensures troublefree

installation of the shut-off valve.

The GEMÜ BB07 multi-port ball valves represent a cost effective

solution, as multiple valve seats are generally required for mixing and

distribution tasks. These seats are combined to make just one subassembly

through the use of multi-port ball valves.

The GEMÜ BB07 is versatile in use due to its three outlets.

Thanks to the top flange acc. to ISO 5211, simple actuator mounting is

possible. The seat seal is made of PTFE. The newly developed GEMÜ

BB07 ball valve family is automation-capable, low maintenance and

can be used for a vacuum. The new ball valve is selectable as a T or L

ball, and is therefore flexible and versatile.

The 3/2-way ball valve is available in the following actuator versions:

– GEMÜ BB07 with bare shaft

– GEMÜ B47 with pneumatic actuator

– GEMÜ B27 with manual actuator

– GEMÜ B57 with motorized actuator

GEMÜ Gebr. Müller Apparatebau GmbH & Co. KG

D 74653 Ingelfingen

GEMÜ B47 with pneumatic actuator

www.reinraum.de

NEWSLETTER


Pfeiffer Vacuum Welcomes this Year’s

Röntgen Prize Winner Dr. Victoria Grinberg

– Groundbreaking research in X-ray astronomy

– Specialist subject: stellar winds of massive stars

– Pfeiffer Vacuum and the Schunk Group have been promoting young scientists for many years

This year, the prestigious Röntgen Prize was awarded by the Justus

Liebig University Giessen (JLU) to the astrophysicist and science advocate

for her groundbreaking research in X-ray astronomy. In the

JLU’s academic ceremony on Friday, November 25, 2022, the prize,

which is worth €15,000, was awarded to the Junior Research Group

Leader of the Eberhard Karls University in Tübingen and Science

Advocate of the ESA. The prize money is donated by Pfeiffer Vacuum

and the Ludwig Schunk Foundation. The JLU has been awarding

this prize since 1960, in memory of Nobel Prize winner Wilhelm

Conrad Röntgen, who was a professor in Giessen from 1879 to 1888.

JLU’s assessment panel dubbed Dr. Victoria Grinberg “an outstanding

junior researcher in the field of X-ray astronomy, who has

enormous development potential”. Prof. Dr. Markus Thoma of the I.

Institute of Experimental Physics at JLU added, on behalf of the panel:

“She has already forged an internationally recognized leadership

role for herself in the field of stellar winds of massive stars.”

Dr. Victoria Grinberg studied physics at the Ludwig Maximilians

University in Munich and received a PhD in 2013 from the Dr. Karl

Remeis-Observatory of the Erlangen-Nuremberg University. Her

dissertation was concerned with black holes and, since then, she has

focused on the investigation of stellar winds. So-called X-ray binaries

play a large role here: Matter from a massive star is transferred

via stellar winds to a compact star, such as a black hole, in whose

accretion disk (a rotating disk that transports matter toward the center)

the X-rays develop.

Dr. Victoria Grinberg investigated the variability of these X-ray

sources based on observational data from X-ray satellites and obtained

some interesting results concerning stellar winds, which are

extremely important for the development of massive stars and X-ray

binaries. Using numerical models, she demonstrated that the variability

properties provide an insight into the structure of the winds.

Dr. Victoria Grinberg was also able to investigate the ionization

structure of the winds using X-ray spectroscopy.

This groundbreaking research in X-ray astronomy was carried

out by Dr. Victoria Grinberg herself, or by her research group under

her leadership, and has already been published in 63 peer-reviewed

papers. She was awarded a Margarete von Wrangell Habilitation

Grant for Women for her research. In addition to her excellent scientific

achievements, she has also excelled in the fields of teaching and

science advocacy. She has also given numerous public presentations

and improved the visibility of female scientists in the field of astronomy

and astrophysics in German-speaking countries via Twitter,

under the hashtag #Astrophysikerinnen.

“The support of young scientists in cutting-edge research is of

great importance to Pfeiffer Vacuum. X-ray satellites are developed

and tested in space simulation chambers. This happens in large vacuum

recipients in which space conditions are simulated. We congratulate

Dr. Victoria Grinberg and are pleased that vacuum technology

continues to contribute to research”, said Daniel Sälzer, Managing

Director of Pfeiffer Vacuum, at the award ceremony.

Pfeiffer Vacuum GmbH

D 35614 Asslar

Pfeiffer Vacuum receives this year‘s Röntgen Prize winner Dr. Victoria Grinberg.

www.reinraum.de

NEWSLETTER


(Copyright: i_viewfinder stock.adobe.com 200329943)

Pharmaceutical packaging:

Safety is what counts

The demand for pharmaceutical products is increasing worldwide,

with more and more medications being launched onto

the market in ever shorter periods of time. Last year alone,

turnover in the German pharmaceutical market – the largest in Europe

and the fourth largest worldwide – was around 53.6 billion euros.

According to Statista, the volume has more than doubled in the last

fifteen years and almost 100 billion counting units, i.e. tablets, sachets,

injections, etc., were sold at last count. They all have to be packaged

hygienically and safely, meeting strict legal requirements. This

places high demands on packaging materials, filling processes and

packaging machines.

At the latest since the pandemic, it has become clear how important

protective packaging is for vaccines, medications, disinfectants

and other medical products. We have seen from the example of

the Corona vaccines that developing a vaccine is not enough. Numerous

players along the entire supply chain had to work well together

to protect millions of people from the virus. Billions of little glass vials

for the vaccine were needed, as well as special cooling boxes for

transport and special freezers for storage.

When the packaging world meets in Düsseldorf for interpack

from 4 to 10 May 2023, it will also be about innovations in manufacturing,

packaging and logistics of pharmaceutical products, including

new solutions to the problem of product piracy. The pharmaceutical

industry is affected by counterfeiting like no other. The lucrative

business with counterfeit medications, which in the best-case scenario

only contain less active ingredient, but can also be laced with

unknown substances that are harmful to health, has picked up speed

again with the growing online trade. The WHO estimates that more

than half of the medications bought online from illegal websites are

counterfeit. The estimated market value of counterfeit medications

is around 75 billion US dollars per year.

Counterfeit protection through security features

In addition, global supply chains are becoming increasingly complex.

Active ingredients are often produced in one country, processed and

packaged in another and finally distributed and marketed across

borders. The European legislator therefore took up the fight against

counterfeit medications years ago with EU Directive 2011/62/EU.

The directive, which comes into force in 2019, prescribes a number

of safety features for prescription medications. For example, each

package of pharmaceutical product must be labelled with a Unique

Serial Code (USC) in combination with the article number (GTIN),

the lot number (LOT), the expiry date (EXP) and the name of the

The system by Uhlmann makes it possible to switch from classic PVC

blisters to more sustainable mono-material packaging made of PE. (Copyright:

Uhlmann)

www.reinraum.de

NEWSLETTER


Interlinking machines offers advantages for the efficiency and safety of production processes. (Copyright: Rotzinger)

manufacturer. All information is encoded in a 2D data matrix code,

which is then printed in plain text on the packaging with a certain

minimum print quality. In addition to the unique code, each package

must carry tamper-evident features.

Companies such as interpack exhibitor Bluhm Systeme have

been developing coding and labelling solutions for pharmaceutical

packaging that comply with the EU directive for counterfeit-proof

packaging for years. This includes various labelling solutions such

as laser or inkjet coders, thermal transfer printers, labelling systems

and the appropriate software. For example, the Integra One inkjet labeller

developed for drug coding prints unique identification codes,

barcodes or data matrix codes on a wide range of pharmaceutical

packaging.

UV laser marking is also a proven labelling solution. Domino has

introduced a new UV laser system in 2022 that is suitable for marking

plastics as well as current sustainable packaging materials, including

recyclable, flexible mono-material films. The system can be used

to mark both white and coloured substrates without compromising

the barrier properties of the material. Thanks to a photochemical reaction,

the new marking laser does not rely on laser-activating pigments

or additives or specially prepared coding fields.

Labels – more than just stickers

Anti-counterfeiting measures can also be security labels with first

opening indication and integrated overt, covert and digital anticounterfeiting

features that irreversibly indicate a tampering attempt.

Void seals, which leave visible effects when the label is first

removed, are ideal for outer packaging. Various security features are

often combined or supplemented with additional functions. In addition,

digital labels with NFC technology and track & trace systems

ensure the complete traceability of a pharmaceutical product.

Labels are an important component of pharmaceutical packaging

and serve not only to protect against counterfeiting. Depending

on the application on primary packaging such as bottles, blisters, syringes

and vials or on secondary packaging such as folding boxes,

they have to meet a wide variety of requirements: They carry general

information, guarantee first-opening protection or can be partially

detached to be pasted into patient records or vaccination cards. Multipage

labels can also accommodate large amounts of information;

they are often a combination of label and package insert. And for

products that need to be refrigerated, temperature-resistant labels

are needed to ensure good legibility during storage and transport.

Increasingly automated

As safety is paramount for pharmaceutical products, the requirements

for packaging machines are also high. Machine manufacturer

R.Weiss, for example, uses modular picker lines in which Delta

robots pack products at top speed. For Siemens Healthineers, the

company recently developed an intelligent UniRob turnkey system

for packaging diagnostic products that automates the process of

manually loading folding cartons. In the process, multipacks in different

pack sizes are now also placed in environmentally friendly

cardboard inlays, which replace the plastic previously used. A sixaxis

robot sucks the blanks from the magazine, unfolds them and inserts

them into the carrier conveyor, which can be flexibly and fully

automatically adapted to the respective formats.

Multivac has introduced a new carrier system in the Healthcare

sector that ensures controlled, gentle product transport from prefilled

glass or plastic syringes to the packaging machine. For this

purpose, the syringes are separated in an upstream process and placed

in an oriented position in a workpiece carrier. At the packaging

machine, a robot then takes them from the carriers and places them

individually or pre-grouped into the packaging cavities. The packs

are checked for completeness using a vision system from Multivac

The Linx 8900 inkjet printer from Bluhm marks plastic containers. (Copyright:

Bluhm Systeme)

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NEWSLETTER


Marking & Inspection. Even at high throughput, it checks whether

the individual products are correctly placed in the designated cavities.

If they are not, the corresponding pack is automatically ejected.

The filling of liquid pharmaceuticals requires special know-how.

Syntegon has developed the modular Versynta FFP (Flexible Filling

Platform) for this purpose, an individually configurable machine

especially for the aseptic filling of small batches. The new filling solution

achieves output rates of up to 3,600 vials, syringes or cartridges

per hour with simultaneous 100 percent in-process control. The

platform includes several pharmaceutical handling units, each with

a four-axis robot that moves the containers from one station to the

next without glass-to-glass contact, thus reducing product loss.

Full-line supplier Romaco has also developed a new liquid filling

line. Macofar E is a solution for the aseptic filling of injection fluids

into vials. The technology fulfils all requirements of the EU GMP

guidelines for the production of sterile pharmaceutical products.

Romaco is also committed to more sustainable production and the

reduction of CO2 emissions: Through innovative process control,

for example, production times can be decisively shortened and thus

energy and material can be saved in a targeted manner. In addition,

all of the manufacturer‘s machines are available in a climate-neutral

version and are equipped with energy monitors for sustainability

reporting.

Mit der Softwareplattform Pexcite können Anwender Informationen aus

allen Bereichen des Produktions- und Verpackungsprozesses erheben,

sammeln, darstellen und analysieren. (Copyright: Uhlmann Pac-Systeme)

Der Domino U510 UV-Beschriftungslaser ist dank einer photochemischen

Reaktion nicht auf laseraktivierende Pigmente/Additive oder

speziell präparierte Codierfelder angewiesen. (Copyright: Domino)

User-friendly software

Software solutions that collect data along the pharmaceutical supply

chain also promise more security. With the Pexcite software

platform from Uhlmann Pac-Systeme, users can collect, collate, display

and analyse information from all areas of the production and

packaging process and thus realise different tasks as required: Implementation

of track & trace specifications along the entire process

chain, monitoring of the productivity of machines and processes,

digital tool management or centralised control and management of

the entire production processes. The platform can be used across

all digital devices in use, such as desktop devices, tablets and smartphones.

„Visually appealing design, the light, friendly look and feel

means above all complexity reduction for the users who use Pexcite.

People have to enjoy working with our product and not be afraid of

doing anything wrong or breaking anything“, says Thomas Kreutle,

Director Development & Operations Digital Solutions at Uhlmann

Pac-Systeme. For this, the software platform received a Red Dot

Award 2022.

Sustainable pharmaceutical packaging

The pharmaceutical industry is still reluctant to use recyclable materials.

However, consumers today also expect more commitment

to sustainability from this industry. Pharmaceutical packaging manufacturers

are already one step ahead and have already developed

numerous recyclable solutions for the primary and secondary

packaging of medications. Last year, for example, the presentation

of a recyclable paper blister caused a sensation and a recyclable

monomaterial barrier tube in pharmaceutical quality was awarded a

packaging award. Recently, a tubular film made from the bio-based

polymer PLA was launched on the market that is industrially compostable

and can be used as a sterile barrier system for diagnostic

flow-pack applications.

In the area of primary packaging, i.e. where medications are

packed directly, it will probably take some time before recyclable

monomaterials become established. In contrast, experts already

see a trend towards recyclable solutions in secondary packaging.

Körber Pharma GmbH, for example, has developed secondary packaging

made from grass paper as an alternative to packaging made

from recycled paper and cardboard and was awarded the Pharmapack

Sustainability Initiative Award 2022 for this. In the production

of grass paper, half of the cellulose is replaced by grass fibres, using

significantly less water and energy. The almost unlimited regional

availability of grass shortens transport routes, saving almost 95 percent

of CO2 emissions. Körber Pharma has already carried out test

and development projects with several pharmaceutical companies

for safe secondary packaging made of grass cardboard, which prove

that the costs for the new packaging material are equivalent to those

of conventional cardboard, while the material offers the same high

level of product protection.

The trade fair interpack in Düsseldorf will show what other modern

solutions the industry has in store. From 4 to 10 May 2023, trade

fair visitors will be able to find out about innovative packaging and

process developments for the pharmaceutical industry, especially in

Halls 15 to 17.

Messe Düsseldorf GmbH

D 40001 Düsseldorf

www.reinraum.de

NEWSLETTER


SÜDPACK Medica at the

Pharmapack 2023 in Paris

A wide range of high-performance films for manufacturing pouch packaging as well as innovative and recyclable material

structures for thermoformed packaging for diverse requirements: SÜDPACK Medica will present an attractive product and

service portfolio at the Pharmapack on Stand J46 in Hall 7.2. The company’s stated aim is: performance and sustainability

– intelligently combined. For years, it has been a valued partner to the global medical technology, pharmaceutical, and diagnostic

industry. It will demonstrate its expertise above all in recyclable packaging solutions in an informative series of talks

on the morning of the trade show’s opening day.

The development of sustainable film solutions is amongst the key

strategic initiatives for the SÜDPACK Group. Its groundbreaking

innovations include a PP-based thermoforming film for manufacturing

blister packaging. This development

already attracted huge interest from trade

visitors at the last two trade shows in 2022.

These films exceed normal market standards

with regard to barrier effect and efficiency.

The material offers optimum barrier properties

and is characterized by good processability

on existing packaging lines.

SÜDPACK Medica’s second focus at the

trade show is on various solutions for the

production of pouch packaging. The highbarrier

three-side sealed pouches, high-performance

flow-pack films and films for manufacturing

stick packs and sachets provide

exceptionally good sealing and peelability

as well as excellent processability in highly

automated processes. Thanks to their very

good barrier and mechanical properties, they

reliably protect packaged products from external

influences – and with various material

combinations and integrated functionalities,

they offer maximum perfor-mance and convenience.

One highlight of the trade show presentation

will be a PLA film which is an alternative

to cellulose-based films used for sterile packaging, such as

cellophane or comparable films with high water vapor permeability.

The material is based on renewable raw materials and can be composted

industrially in accordance with DIN EN 13432. Designed in

particular as a sterile barrier system for demanding diagnostic flow

pack applications, the film features good mechanical properties as

well as excellent oxygen and water vapor permeability. Even gamma

sterilization is possible without visual impairments.

SÜDPACK also expects high interest from trade

visitors in its coextruded flexible and rigid films. The

top and bottom webs for manufacturing thermoformed

packaging are suitable for automated forming,

filling, and sealing processes. They are perfectly matched

to each other and offer versatile forming and

processing. Depending on requirements, they can be

enhanced with various barriers, functionalities, and

tints. They seal onto top webs made of plastic or medical

paper such as Tyvek.

Furthermore, in Paris SÜDPACK will present

a wide spectrum of lidding films for safe, hermetic

closure of the packaging solutions. The range covers

everything from custom solutions with special barrier

properties to composites with special papers or Tyvek.

Additionally, SÜDPACK will provide informative

insights into “Sustainable material structures for packaging

pharmaceuticals and medical products” in a

30-minute presentation on February 1, 2023. The main

focus is on two burning questions: What are the benefits

of recyclable high-performance films such as

PP-based mono-materials, and what applications are

they suitable for? To help answer these questions, the

presentation will also inform the audience about various

LCA studies which can be applied to determine

and evaluate the environmental impacts of different packaging solutions

along the entire value creation chain.

SÜDPACK Medica AG

CH 6341 Baar

www.reinraum.de

NEWSLETTER


POWTECH 2023: A flying start with

new themes and technologies

POWTECH is getting off to a flying start. The Leading International Processing Trade Fair will take place in Nuremberg

from 26 to 28 September 2023 – almost exactly a year after POWTECH 2022. Once again, more than 700 exhibitors from

many countries will draw a large attendance of regional and international visitors. It is already clear that the official expansion

of the themes at the event from just powder and bulk solids processing to include all fluid technologies has attracted

new exhibitors. The broader range of themes met with overwhelming approval from the trade visitors at this year’s event.

Exhibitors wishing to benefit from the early booking discount have until Christmas 2022 to reserve their stands.

In autumn 2023, POWTECH will take on new themes: The organizer

is expanding the range of products and services at the Leading Processing

Trade Fair to expressly include the processing and handling

of fluids. As a result, the next POWTECH will open as the “International

Processing Trade Fair for Powder, Bulk Solids, Fluids and

Liquids”.

Integrating procedures, incorporating liquids and fluids

NürnbergMesse is thus acknowledging the fact that, in many of

POWTECH’s target sectors, powder and bulk solids processing

combines with fluid and liquid technologies to form an integrated

process. In the chemical industry, for example, liquids are turned

into free-flowing granulates; and many liquid additives are mixed

with bases in powder form. In the food industry it is common to disperse

powders in liquids. Slurry concepts open up new opportunities.

And cosmetic and pharmaceutical manufacturers need all kinds

of feeding and processing procedures for solid, semi-solid and liquid

products to manufacture liquids such as creams or drops and also

solids.

Marianny Eisenhofer, Director POWTECH, explains: “The key to

increasingly efficient and sustainable products lies in treating these

on an integrated basis and optimizing them. Many of the exhibitors

who traditionally appear at POWTECH have long been making major

contributions in this area.” Heike Slotta, Executive Director Exhibitions

at NürnbergMesse, adds: “Repositioning in this way opens

POWTECH up in its capacity as a leading trade fair to further European

solution providers engaged in the manufacture and processing

of powders, granulates, bulk solids and liquids.”

Double pass with PARTEC Congress

The booking process for stands is in full swing. An early booking discount

is in place until Christmas 2022, and many exhibitors have already

taken advantage of this option. More than 700 are expected in

the exhibition halls from 26 to 28 September 2023. The broader range

of themes is not the only factor contributing to the success of the

event. The three-day PARTEC Congress, the International Congress

on Particle Technology, being held in parallel and sponsored by the

VDI Association of Process and Chemical Engineering (Gesellschaft

Verfahrenstechnik und Chemieingenieurwesen, GVC), increases

the value of the event still further. On previous occasions this event

has regularly proven to be a magnet for scientists, new scientific talents

and engineers from all around the world. The call for papers is

already open, with submissions closing on 15 January 2023. In 2023

the focus will be on “Particle Technology for Sustainable Products”.

In presenting the latest research results, PARTEC thus creates

a key point of interest that a number of exhibitors reflected in 2022.

Some filled an informative afternoon on the subject of “New Energy”

as part of the stagetalks at the POWTECH expert forum. They

will also create new thematic nuances for a wide range of visitor

groups on all three days of next year’s event. Exhibitors will discover

the opportunity to present innovative approaches, pilot projects

and new marketable solutions to interested visitors and engage in

a constructive dialogue with them. Next year, making the lectures

available digitally during and after the trade fair will enhance their

impact still further.

Tuning in digitally to the major trends of the age

The digital virtualtalks series will continue, starting as early as January

2023. Each month, three experts will go online at POWTECH and

talk about promising trends. These include sustainable energy supplies,

saving resources and the circular economy. Other topics are

digitalization in development; process optimization and logistics;

new, environmentally friendly nutrition concepts; and new technologies

in pharmaceutics. In addition to the honorary sponsors, VDI

and APV, VDMA will also contribute to the further guidance of this

Leading International Trade Fair as part of an expanded partnership.

NürnbergMesse GmbH

D 90471 Nürnberg

© NürnbergMesse / Thomas Geiger

www.reinraum.de

NEWSLETTER


A trade fair for everyone:

An overview of interpack 2023

(Photo: Messe Düsseldorf, Constanze Tillmann)

Lost in the exhibition halls? Not at interpack. In order to help our visitors find everything they are looking for,

the fully booked interpack 2023 features a concept for the halls that is based on clear focal points for each industry.

No other industry trade fair can compare when it comes to representing

the global market in its entire variety and scope. Next year,

interpack will again offer the packaging and related process industry

the biggest international overview of the market, thereby more than

earning its motto “simply unique”. To help visitors not get lost in 18

trade fair halls, the halls feature a custom concept based on the core

target groups food, beverages, confectionery and baked goods, pharmaceutical

products, cosmetics, non-food and industrial goods.

Around 2,700 companies from around the world will meet in

Düsseldorf from 4 -10 May, 2023, to present cutting edge technologies

and packaging trends from along the entire value chain, demonstrate

chances for growth and respond to the challenges of the

industry.

Confectionery and baked goods

Visitors will find processes and machines for packaging confectionery

and baked goods especially in halls 1, 3 and 4 of interpack. If you

need packaging for something sweet, ask consultants from companies

like Sollich, Aasted, Theegarten-Pactec, Chocotech, Bühler or

Winkler and Dünnebier, and many others. The baking sector will

meet with exhibitors like Hebenstreit, Rheon Automatic Machinery,

Colussi Ermes, Tonelli, TT Italy or Reading Bakery System.

As in many other sectors, concerning the packaging of confectionery,

baked goods, snacks and cereals, much has changed over the

recent years. One important issue are sustainable solutions. Mechanical

engineering companies, for example, are adapting their portfolio

to include packaging made from mono material or novel materials.

Digital technology is another focus – as it is for the entire industry.

Food, beverages, non-food and industrial goods

The food sector is among the most favoured target groups of visitors

to interpack, and this shows in the breadth of their presentation. The

global demand for packaged foods is increasing. In saturated markets

with strong incomes, conscious consumption and consumer behaviour

also shifts towards sustainability, regional produce, organic food

or fair trade, and this includes packaging. Like the current challenges

posed by energy management and conservation of resources, this

causes a process of transformation within the sector. A similar observation

can be made for beverages and non-food products, which

are presented together with the food sector in halls 5 and 6, as well

as in 11 and 14. Around 20 percent of visitors to interpack are especially

interested in solutions for industrial goods. These, too, are to be

found in the same halls.

Starting in hall 5, there is a focus on the food sector and big names

like Multivac Sepp Haggenmüller, Ulma Packaging, Weber Maschinenbau

and Fuji Machinery. In hall 6, for example, Fawema, Coesia,

Syntegon Technology or Duravant present their innovations in

many areas of application for processing & packaging.

www.reinraum.de

NEWSLETTER


packaging trade fair in the world. This also makes interpack unique.

Here is where all packaging materials are represented and there is an

especially high number of innovations in the field of sustainability

and conservation of resources, for example in using new materials,

sustainable raw materials, or increasing the amount of recyclates

used in packaging.

Exhibitors in this area are numerous and international – among

others, you can visit Sappi Europe, Sonoco, Mayr Melnhof Packaging,

Berry Global, Schütz GmbH, the S.I.T. Group or Seda International

Packaging.

Labelling, marking, finishing

Halls 11 and 14, which are ideally suitable for a walk, will host exhibitors

like Omori Machinery, Mettler-Toledo (hall 11), Extend Great

International, Rovema and Haver & Boecker (hall 12), KHS, Krones,

Aetna Group, Sidel and ProMach (hall 13), as well as Gerhard Schubert

Verpackungsmaschinen, Ishida Europe Limited, Loesch-Hastamat

and tna solutions (hall 14). In hall 13, there is a special focus on

bottling and packaging solutions for the beverages sector.

Pharmaceuticals and cosmetics

In light of global demographic changes, the industry’s development

opportunities are excellent. Increasing requirements within drug

development result in a parallel increase in those within systems and

machine technology concerning packaging and bottling of medicines.

The pharmaceutical companies need universal solutions, and

these are found in halls 15 to 17 at interpack, where the focus is on

presenting processes and machines for packaging pharmaceuticals

and cosmetics. Visitors can meet the likes of IMA Industria Macchine,

the Marchesini Group, the Optima packaging group, Romaco

Holding, Körber Medipak Systems and companies from Excellence

United. The requirements for machines and systems producing

pharmaceuticals and cosmetics are by necessity strict concerning

product safety, protection against counterfeit manufacture and traceability.

Cosmetic products are also a focus for the sustainability

movement.

Packaging materials and packaging

Halls 7 and 7a, 8a, 9 and 10 of interpack are of the highest importance

for the sector. This is where visitors can view at least a third

of all exhibitors with all their materials and their finished packaging

products. This presentation, which is not only for users, of packaging,

packaging materials and packaging aids is already the largest

Inform, decorate, customise – packaging carries information. How

to implement this for different products and requirements, is presented

by the exhibitors in halls 8a and 8b. Here, there are machines

for labelling and marking technology, for example at Bluhm Systeme,

Langguth, Domino Printing Sciences, Videojet Technologies, Herma

or Possehl. This offer is completed by solutions from packaging production

and integrated packaging printing. Here you can visit companies

like Starlinger, Totani, Fujifilm Europe, the Brückner Group

or HP Germany.

components

“Every part counts” is the motto of the components trade fair, which

takes place parallel to interpack as its own event. This is where you

find companies offering technology for drives, control units and sensors,

products for industrial imaging, handling technology, industrial

software and communication as well as comprehensive automation

systems for the packaging industry. There are also machine parts,

components and equipment, peripheral devices as well as components

and aids for packaging. Among the exhibitors are, e.g., Pilz, Gimatic,

Igus, Voestalpine Edelstahl and Mädler. The temporary hall 18,

situated between halls 10 and 16, makes the trade fair accessible from

a central location, and visitors to interpack have direct access to the

components fair and vice-versa.

The best preparations

Exhibiting companies can present their businesses individually and

introduce their contact persons at interpack and their product innovations

in the exhibitor and product database in the run-up to the

trade fair. The exhibitor and product database is now available at

www.interpack.com and is constantly being updated with new information

and products.

Messe Düsseldorf GmbH

D 40001 Düsseldorf

Impressum:

cleanroom online / W.A. Schuster GmbH · Mozartstrasse 45 · D 70180 Stuttgart · Tel. +49 711 9 64 03 50 · Fax +49 711 9 64 03 66

info@reinraum.de · www.cleanroom-online.de · GF Dipl.-Designer Reinhold Schuster · Stgt, HRB 14111 · VAT DE 147811997

Original texts and images

The contributions mentioned by name are the responsibility of the particular author. Reprinting, also of extracts, are permitted only with the approval of

the editor and with reference to the source. The publisher does not accept any responsibility for unsolicited manuscripts and illustrations. The publisher

is granted the exclusive, spatial, temporal and contentual limited right to freely use the article in unchanged or edited form for all purposes as often as

desired or to transfer it to third parties for use. This right of use relates to print and electric media (Internet, databases, data carriers of all kinds).

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