Newsletter_01-2025_EN

EN 01/25

The importance of

electronic sway

control in modern

crane technology

TITLE

Cleanroom crane with semi-automatic system and sway control, 5 tonnes

load capacity per crane, ISO 5, both cranes can be operated in single and

synchronised mode, application: aerospace industry.

The importance of

electronic sway

control in modern

crane technology

The challenge of using cranes in cleanrooms is becoming increasingly

important, as it can affect not only individual production sections,

but the entire production process. In modern crane technology,

electronic sway control plays a decisive role in increasing efficiency

and safety when moving loads.

What does the use of electronic sway control mean

when travelling with a crane?

Electronic sway control is an advanced technology that prevents vibrations

from occurring during crane travel and prevents the crane

operator from having to carry out corresponding equalising movements

- neither during acceleration nor braking. This almost completely

prevents the load from swaying and the crane hits the desired

target coordinates with pinpoint accuracy.

It is particularly important to emphasise that this works regardless

of the speed and hook position of the load. Without sway control,

the precise positioning of the object takes a lot of time, requires

calm and skill and makes everyday work considerably more difficult.

With sway control, work is far more precise and faster.

What is the difference between a crane with and without swing

control and what advantages does swing control offer?

The integration of sway control increases both safety and productivity,

especially in conjunction with semi- or full automation. In terms

of design, systems equipped with sway control can be designed

more simply, as there is no need for locking devices for potentially

swinging loads. In addition, sway control is independent of the lifting

height, whereas locking devices are often dependent on the load

being moved close under the trolley. This also eliminates the need

for unnecessary lifts to reach these positions. Especially in times of

a shortage of skilled labour, cranes with sway control are an effective

solution to avoid productivity losses.

Cleanroom crane with semi-automatic system and sway control,

2 tonnes load capacity, ISO 14644-1 ISO 6, material: 1.4571 stainless

steel, application: pharmaceutical industry.

In many applications, it is crucial to ensure that a load can be stopped

without swinging and with pinpoint accuracy and that the desired

target point is not exceeded in order to prevent damage to the

valuable load or the target object. Without sway control, this precision

cannot be guaranteed, which also increases the risk of accidents

for personnel.

Another advantage of sway control is the avoidance of increased

abrasion, which is unavoidable whenever the crane accelerates and

brakes. The resulting reduction in particle discharge is essential in

cleanroom environments.

How complex is a retrofit?

The implementation of oscillation damping only requires a special

inverter for the traversing axes, absolute encoders (position measuring

system) for the traversing axes and the lifting axis, as well as a

programmable logic controller (PLC) to control the system. It is not

necessary to convert the motors.

How long does a conversion take and what requirements

must a crane fulfil?

The conversion of a pilot crane at Altmann took around three days.

However, this time should be seen as a rough guide, as the actual

duration depends on various factors. In principle, any crane can

be converted, regardless of the manufacturer. All that is required

is a certain amount of space for an add-on control cabinet and the

sensors.

As a manufacturer of crane systems, we attach great importance

to flexibility and are always happy to provide you with our expertise

to advise you comprehensively on your planned conversions or

new plans.

ALTMANN GmbH

Oberdieberg 23-25

Phone: +49 8076 88790

D 83544 Albaching

email: info@altmann-foerdertechnik.de

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

www.reinraum.de | www.cleanroom-online.com NEWSLETTER | Edition EN 01-2025

page 2/44

JANUARY 2025

Dear cleanroom professionals,

I sincerely wish you all the best for the New Year.

Above all, good health. But also peace and

contentment, happiness and success.

I would like to thank everyone with whom we

have worked well, in partnership and successfully

over the past year. I look forward to the lounges

where we can meet in person again.

We have compiled some interesting information

for you for this year‘s first newsletter:

> The importance of electronic sway control in

modern crane Technology

> Modular cleanroom system as a long-term

interim solution

> Flexible product family for stable cleanliness

with low cleaning unit Costs

> Cleanroom builder SRBA spreads wings to US

> Digitalization of coating processes for

high-resolution ultrasonic sensors

> Kassow Robots Achieves

Cleanroom Certification

> . . .

With kind regards

Reinhold Schuster


page 3/44

Modular cleanroom system

as a long-term interim solution

The cleanroom has a modular design

and can be dismantled and

rebuilt as required. (Image rights

held by GEMÜ Switzerland and

Schilling Engineering GmbH)

As a cleanroom location, GEMÜ Switzerland is the GEMÜ

Group‘s service and competence centre for high-quality

plastic solutions with cleanroom requirements.With its

high-purity products made of technical and fluoroplastics

for the semiconductor, medical and pharmaceutical, food

and biotech sectors, the company is experiencing continuous

growth and is planning to expand its capacity with an

additional plant.Until the new production facility is completed,

a clean room with an area of over 500 m² has been

set up in a rented hall as a medium-term interim solution.

plant. To this end, we have rented a hall in which the valves and assemblies

manufactured for the semiconductor industry are assembled

and packaged under ISO 8 clean room conditions. For our customers,

with their applications and requirements, there can be no

compromise when it comes to production cleanliness. This is why

we have created a perfect interim solution in the rented hall. Ideally,

we would like to continue using the cleanroom system in the future

facility, so we looked for a flexible modular system that could be dismantled

and reused.“

Self-supporting clean room with 16 metre long lattice girders

Expansion of the Emmen plant

At the production site in Emmen, valves and assemblies for the

pharmaceutical, microelectronics, solar, semiconductor and medical

technology industries are manufactured under clean conditions

in accordance with ISO 8 to ISO 6 on an area of more than 5,300

square metres. Due to the growth strategy of the GEMÜ Group, the

plant has reached its capacity limits and a major expansion of the

production site is planned.

The first phase of the expansion is scheduled for completion in

2030, and until then GEMÜ will have to find an interim solution for

the increased space required for clean room production. An additional

hall has been rented in the immediate vicinity of the site, providing

a further 500 square metres of ISO 8 cleanroom space. The

newly installed cleanroom system, which will ideally be relocated to

the new site at a later date, is modular in design, allowing for flexible

and non-destructive relocation.

Adrian Schilling, Operations Manager at GEMÜ GmbH in Emmen,

explains the plans for the next few years: We needed a medium-term

solution to expand our production capacity for the next

few years before we can move into the new premises of the existing

the cleanroom designed by Schilling Engineering is in line with GE-

MÜ‘s modern production environment. Over a length of 35 metres

and a width of 16 metres, a continuous area has been created without

supports, which allows a very flexible design of workstations and

tests. The self-supporting construction of this size was realised with

16 metre long trusses, which were prefabricated by the cleanroom

specialist at its factory in Wutöschingen, Baden-Württemberg, and

delivered to Emmen in one piece by special transport.

Fully glazed air circulation walls covering the entire front, illuminated

LED doors with intuitive user guidance and lighting consisting

of flush-mounted integrated LED strips emphasise the modern impression.

Adrian Schilling is visibly satisfied with the function and

appearance of the new cleanroom system: The system exactly meets

our requirements and wishes. We planned the technical concept and

design of the cleanroom system in close consultation with Schilling‘s

sales team and project managers. The plans were implemented

one-to-one and our production started without any problems.

We were impressed with the overall solution and the quality of the

cleanroom. I am also pleased that the cleanroom looks really good. It

makes a customer visit twice as much fun, as you can show the customer

everything in detail from the outside without having to enter


page 4/44

Plastic parts for ultra-clean applications are assembled and packaged in

the CleanCell 4.0 cleanroom system in accordance with ISO 8.

(Image rights held by GEMÜ Switzerland and Schilling Engineering GmbH)

Fully glazed air circulation walls provide plenty of

daylight. (Image rights held by GEMÜ Switzerland

and Schilling Engineering GmbH)

The construction of the

cleanroom system was

accompanied by camera and

drone footage. You can call up

the 2.5-minute video using

the QR code.

the cleanroom. We still had deficits here in the past.“

Cleanroom class ISO 8 is achieved with a total of 27 clean air

units, which draw fresh air directly from the hall and feed it into an

energy-efficient air circulation system. Air conditioning is provided

by a chiller located outside the hall.

The cleanroom system is controlled by the CRControl multifunction

tool, which controls and monitors all cleanroom functions,

doors and air conditioning. ISO monitoring is also integrated into

the control system. Secure remote maintenance via the Internet has

been set up to provide fast and flexible assistance in the event of a

fault.

The interlock furniture is designed for 20 people per shift. (Image rights

held by GEMÜ Switzerland and Schilling Engineering GmbH)

Personnel induction for 60 employees

Up to 60 people work in the new cleanroom in three shifts. Staff enter

the cleanroom wearing an overall, cleanroom shoes and a hood.

A 35 m² airlock area was designed for fast and ergonomic induction.

The airlock equipment and furniture were also supplied by Schilling

Engineering. The personnel interlocks are equipped with all-glass

doors with LED visualisation. The colour of the interlocked doors

indicates to staff when a door can be opened.

Next to the personnel sluice is a 12m² goods sluice, which can

hold up to six Euro pallets and can be accessed and loaded via automatic

sliding doors.

The self-supporting cleanroom offers a contiguous area

of 481 m². (Image rights held by GEMÜ Switzerland and

Schilling Engineering GmbH)

to final commissioning. We were very satisfied with this and were

right on schedule.’

Nine months from order to commissioning

The entire cleanroom system was planned, manufactured, installed

and qualified within just a few months. The move to the new facility

was completed without delay. Adrian Schilling is delighted with the

successful course of the project: ‘The timing of the project was very

good. As all the necessary services came from a single source, coordination

was simple. It took us nine months from placing the order

Schilling Engineering GmbH

Industriestraße 26

D 79793 Wutöschingen

Telefon: +49 7746 927890

eMail: info@schillingengineering.de

Internet: http://www.schillingengineering.de


page 5/44

EcoCcompact also available in L and XL versions for solvent cleaning

and preservation in general industry

Flexible product family for stable

cleanliness with low cleaning unit costs

Ecoclean has expanded the cost-efficient EcoCcompact to include the L and XL

model variants to meet the diverse requirements of general industry. The new

product family with three working chamber sizes and batch weights of up to 150

kg enables the capacity and cleaning performance to be adapted precisely to

company-specific requirements. Sophisticated equipment details, an effective

washing mechanism and high energy efficiency keep cleaning unit costs low. In

addition, the compact plug and play solvent systems can be easily converted from

hydrocarbon to modified alcohol.

The diverse product range of the general

industry includes workpieces produced

by casting and machining, stamped, bent,

pressed and deep-drawn parts, hydraulic

and pneumatic components as well as fasteners.

Depending on the subsequent process

or application, the parts manufactured

from different materials must meet different

but increasingly stringent particulate and

film cleanliness requirements. High throughputs,

increased demands on resource efficiency

and, in some cases, low margins pose

a challenge.

Cost-effective and flexible cleaning

As a result, the cleaning process must ensure

cleanliness in line with requirements

in a stable, sustainable manner and at low

unit costs. For these tasks, Ecoclean has

expanded the cost-efficient EcoCcompact

product family with the L and XL model variants.

As with its smaller sister, it is easy to

switch between hydrocarbons and modified

alcohols (semi-polar solvents) during operation

without any conversion work.

The two new, compact plug and play

solvent systems have working chambers

with diameters of 650 (L) and 750 mm (XL),

enabling batch sizes of 650 x 470 300 mm in

the L version and 650 x 470 x 400 mm in the

XL version. The maximum batch weight for

both systems is 150 kg. Powerful, frequencycontrolled

flood pumps ensure fast filling

and emptying of the working chamber. During

standard injection flood washing, they

generate a high mechanical cleaning effect.

This can be specifically supported by an optionally

integrated, frequency-controlled rotary

drive for fabric rotation and positioning.

Adapted to the cleanliness requirements,

the systems can also be equipped with all

available process technologies for solvent

cleaning, such as ultrasound and PPC.

The increased distillate output of up to

180 l/h and the continuous oil discharge as

standard also contribute to the high capacity

and performance of the L and XL versions.

The vertical integration of the flood tanks

also offers advantages. It reduces sump

formation and prevents dirt pockets from

forming. The result is a longer service life of

the baths and thus a reduction in operating

costs.

With three working chamber sizes and batch weights of up to 150 kg, the EcoCcompact product

family makes it possible to adapt the capacity and cleaning performance precisely to companyspecific

requirements. (Image source: Ecoclean GmbH)

The vertical integration of the two standard

flood tanks reduces sump formation and prevents

dirt pockets, resulting in a longer service

life for the baths. The increased distillate

output of up to 180 l/h and the continuous oil

discharge as standard also contribute to this in

the L and XL versions. (Image source: Ecoclean

GmbH)


page 6/44

Arcline-Backed Dwyer-

Omega Acquires

Process Sensing

Technologies Ltd.

The cost-efficient EcoCcompact has been expanded to

include the L and XL model variants for the wide range of

cleaning tasks in general industry. With well thought-out

equipment details, an effective washing mechanism and

high energy efficiency, the systems ensure low cleaning unit

costs. (Image source: Ecoclean GmbH)

For needs-based cleaning and preservation, the two

flood tanks included in the basic version of all EcoCcompact

can be supplemented by a third - fully integrated

without increasing the installation area. They each

have filtration in the supply and return lines with bag

or high-performance filters as well as bypass filtration.

Speaking of space requirements, at 4,100 x 1,900 x 2,650

mm and 4,400 x 2,100 x 2,655 mm respectively, the new

versions are also extremely economical.

Impressive energy efficiency and sustainability

The EcoCcompact product family also impresses with

its comparatively low energy consumption, which has

been achieved through optimized system technology.

This includes the fact that the flood tank two and the

optional third tank are heated with heat recovered from

the distillation process.

Like all systems for solvent cleaning, the L and XL

versions of the EcoCcompact are characterized by high

flexibility in terms of material compatibility. This means

that components made of different materials can be

cleaned in one system. In addition, they can also be used

in regions where the consumption of water as a cleaning

medium and/or the disposal of waste water from

cleaning applications is regulated. A prerequisite is the

suitability of the solvent cleaning, which can be verified

by Ecoclean through cleaning tests in the worldwide test

centers.

Ecoclean GmbH

D 70794 Filderstadt

DwyerOmega, a portfolio

company of Arcline Investment

Management, today

announced the acquisition

of Process Sensing Technologies

Ltd. (“PST” or the

“Company”). The acquisition

significantly expands

DwyerOmega’s sensing and

instrumentation product

offering and strengthens its

position in several key end markets and regions.

Founded in 1964 and based in Ely, Cambridgeshire, UK, PST is a

leading provider of measurement instrumentation and monitoring

solutions for process-critical applications worldwide. With 12 leading

brands, PST offers a comprehensive suite of proprietary sensors,

instruments, analyzers, and monitoring solutions with sensing

capabilities across parameters, including moisture, gas, level and

flow. PST’s solutions enable safer conditions for people and processes,

maximize energy efficiency, improve product quality, and ensure

ongoing compliance with global standards. The combination of

PST’s cutting-edge technologies with DwyerOmega’s high-quality

sensing and instrumentation portfolio offers customers a broader

range of solutions tailored for their unique applications.

“We are thrilled to welcome Process Sensing Technologies to

the DwyerOmega family,” said Chuck Dubois, CEO of DwyerOmega.

“PST has an exceptional portfolio of best-in-class sensors, instruments

and gas analyzers, as well as leading software monitoring solutions.

By bringing together two great organizations, we will provide

customers a premier offering of precision measurement technologies

with an enhanced global network of support and service resources.

This acquisition advances our vision of being the provider

of choice for measurement technologies to customers around the

world.”

Adam Markin, CEO of PST, commented, “At PST, our employees

have cultivated a culture rooted in innovation, continuous improvement,

and an unrelenting pursuit of high-quality customer service.

The DwyerOmega team shares a clear alignment with these principles,

and I firmly believe joining the DwyerOmega family will strengthen

our collective efforts going forward.”

Barclays served as financial advisor to DwyerOmega in connection

with the transaction.

Process Sensing Technologies PST GmbH

Einsteinstraße 17-23

Telefon: +49 7243 6019000

D 76275 Ettlingen

eMail: de.rotronic.sales@processsensing.com

Internet: http://www.processsensing.com/de-de/


page 7/44

Finishing of artificial knee femurs

– 4 x faster and fully automated

The expansion of the product range with knee implants made from titanium at a leading implant manufacturer required

the purchase of new surface finishing equipment. With the multi-surf finisher RMSF 4/800 Rösler developed a solution,

which, compared to the typically utilized drag finishing machines, produces the required results in two separate process

stages about four times faster. It allows the fully automatic finishing of the “box” surface area. Cleaning and recycling of the

process water is handled by an automatic Z 1000 centrifuge equipped with the digital process water management software

“Advanced”. This ensures maximum process stability and excellent finishing qualities.

In addition to knee implants made from cobalt chrome

alloys, a leading implant manufacturer expanded

its product range with artificial knees made from titanium.

For the final surface finishing operation prior

to implantation the company is utilizing the Rösler

multi-surf finisher RMSF 4/800 including cost-efficient

and sustainable process technologies, also supplied

by Rösler. Compared to the drag finishing technology,

usually employed for such finishing tasks, the

required cycle times are 4 times shorter. Depending

on the initial surface roughness readings of the raw

components, the grinding operation with plastic processing

media – specially developed for medical engineering

applications – produces surface roughness

readings of less than Ra = 0.1 µm in cycle times of about

20 minutes. Moreover, the critical “box” surface

area, frequently requiring a manual grinding operation,

can be fully automatically ground and polished.

This was made possible with the innovative surf-finishing system,

the most intensive mass finishing technology. Surf-finishing

was developed for treating high-value work pieces with complex

shapes requiring the targeted finishing of precisely defined surface

areas. Similar to drag finishing the knee femurs are mounted to a rotary

spindle equipped with a servo motor. The actual treatment of

the work pieces takes place in a rotating processing bowl filled with

grinding, respectively, polishing media. Individually adjustable tilting

and rotary motions guarantee the highly precise and absolutely

The multi-surf finisher RMSF 4/800

allows the simultaneous finishing

of several work pieces. (Photo:

Rösler Oberflächentechnik GmbH)

repeatable surface treatment of the various implant

components on precisely defined surface

areas. The process parameters, such as cycle

time, rotary speed and direction, are stored in

the equipment PLC as part of work piece specific

processing programs. Pneumatic clamping

of the work piece fixtures and a loading window,

as part of the standard machine version, allow

easy automation of the loading operation with

an industrial robot.

A solution that saves space,

resources and energy

Besides short cycle times the intensive treatment

in multi-surf finishers offers additional

benefits. These include that the process stage

pre-grinding with ceramic grinding media – a

must for drag finishers – is no longer needed. This reduces the

number of required machines for surface grinding and polishing

to two multi-surf finishers, as opposed to three drag finishers.

This results not only in savings for capital expenditures but also

reduces the consumption of energy and resources and demands

less space for the surface finishing operation. An additional benefit

is that the processing times for costly grinding on CNC machines

can be shortened by transferring some of this work to the

multi-surf finisher.

To ensure a maximum of process safety and stability Rösler augmented the standard

equipment controls with a process visualization module. This allows the machine

operators to visually monitor the individual process stages, which the work pieces

undergo at any moment in time. (Photo: Rösler Oberflächentechnik GmbH)

The work piece fixtures with mounted raw knee femurs are

clamped to the rotating spindles of the multi-surf finisher.

The individual spindles are equipped with a servo motor.

The actual finishing process takes place in a rotating processing

bowl filled with grinding, respectively, polishing media.

(Photo: Rösler Oberflächentechnik GmbH)


page 8/44

Maximum process stability through visualization and digital

process water management

To ensure a maximum of process safety and stability Rösler augmented

the standard equipment controls with a process visualization

module. This allows the machine operators to visually monitor

the individual process stages, which the work pieces undergo at any

moment in time.

The cleaning and recycling of the process water from the wet

surface smoothing operation is handled by a fully automatic Z 1000

centrifuge. The control panel of the centrifuge is equipped with the

digital process water management module “Advanced” from Rösler

Smart Solutions. This innovative, interactive software continuously

monitors, records and evaluates up to 14 process parameters, for

example, the compound concentration, the pH value, the microbiological

load, etc. As soon as one or several of these parameters drift

out of the pre-defined range, such discrepancies are displayed. In

addition, the operators obtain easy-to-understand recommendations

for immediate corrective action. This allows employees with no

special knowledge and training to quickly adjust the process water

parameters to the pre-defined values and thus ensure a consistently

high product quality. Moreover, the continuous recording of the parameters

over a longer period of time provides a clear indication as

to when the process water quality has deteriorated to a point where

it must be replaced with new water. This results in substantial water

and compound savings and guarantees that the product quality does

not suffer. Finally, the continuous recording of the process water parameters

can also be used as proof of the process quality and stability

for quality audits and documentation purposes.

Rösler Oberflächentechnik GmbH

D 96190 Untermerzbach

Battery research with the HZB X-ray microscope

New cathode materials are being developed to further increase the capacity of lithium batteries. Multilayer lithium-rich

transition metal oxides (LRTMOs) offer particularly high energy density. However, their capacity decreases with each charging

cycle due to structural and chemical changes. Using X-ray methods at BESSY II, teams from several Chinese research

institutions have now investigated these changes for the first time with highest precision: at the unique X-ray microscope,

they were able to observe morphological and structural developments on the nanometre scale and also clarify chemical

changes.

Lithium-ion batteries are set to become even more powerful with

new materials for the cathodes. For example, layered lithium-rich

transition metal (LRTMO) cathodes could further increase the

charge capacity and be used in high-performance lithium batteries.

However, so far it has been observed that these cathode materials

‘age’ rapidly: the cathode material degrades as a result to the backand-forth

migration of lithium ions during charging and discharging.

Until now it was unclear what specific changes these would involve.

Teams from Chinese research institutions have therefore applied

for beam time at the world‘s only transmission X-ray microscope

(TXM) at an undulator beamline at the BESSY II storage ring

to investigate their samples using 3D tomography and nanospectroscopy.

The HZB-TXM measurements were performed by Dr. Peter

Guttmann, HZB, back in 2019, before the coronavirus pandemic. The

The left side of the figure shows nanotomography images of an LRTMO

particle taken at the TXM of BESSY II before the first charging cycle (top)

and after 10 charging cycles (bottom). In the simulation (right side), the

isolated pores are highlighted in light blue. After 10 charging cycles, the

number of pores and cracks has significantly increased. © HZB

X-ray microscopic analysis was then supplemented by further spectroscopic

and microscopic examinations. After careful evaluation of

the extensive data, the results are now available: they provide detailed

information on changes in the morphology and structure of the

material, but also on chemical processes during discharge.

‘Soft X-ray transmission microscopy allows us to visualise chemical

states in LRTMO particles in three dimensions with high spatial

resolution and to gain insights into chemical reactions during the

electrochemical cycle,’ explains Dr Stephan Werner, who is responsible

for the scientific supervision and further development of the

instrument.

The results provide insights into local lattice distortions associated

with phase transitions and nanopore formation. The oxidation

states of individual elements could also be determined locally. The

speed of the charging processes plays an important role here: slow

charging favours phase transitions and oxygen loss, while fast charging

leads to lattice distortions and inhomogeneous lithium diffusion.

‘Here at the TXM, we have a unique capability: we can offer

energy-resolved transmission X-ray tomography,’ says Werner. ’This

gives us a 3D image with structural information at every elementspecific

energy level – energy is the fourth dimension here.’

The results from this study provide valuable information for the

development of high-performance cathodes that remain stable over

the long term and are resistant to cycling. ‘The TXM is excellently

suited to provide new insights into morphological and chemical

changes in battery materials in the future through in-operando

studies – that is, during charging and discharging,’ says Prof. Gerd

Schneider, who developed the TXM.

Helmholtz-Zentrum Berlin für Materialien und Energie

D 14109 Berlin


page 9/44

AIXTRON Innovation Center opened

by Mona Neubaur, Minister for Economic

Affairs of North Rhine-Westphalia

Mona Neubaur, Minister for Economic Affairs of the State of North Rhine-Westphalia, has opened the new Innovation

Center of AIXTRON SE (FSE: AIXA) at the company‘s headquarters in Herzogenrath. At the official ceremony, AIXTRON

CEO Dr. Felix Grawert and CFO Dr. Christian Danninger showed the minister the new research and development complex

with 1,000 m² of cleanroom space. It lays the foundation for the transition to 300 mm wafer size in the Compound Semiconductor

Industry.

“AIXTRON‘s new innovation center is

an impressive example of the innovative

strength and future viability of the semiconductor

industry in North Rhine-Westphalia.

The launch of 300 mm wafer technology is

a milestone for the energy efficiency and

competitiveness of our region. Our global

competitiveness benefits enormously from

robust domestic semiconductor production,

because semiconductors are essential for

the transformation towards climate neutrality:

without them, no computer would run,

no car would drive, and neither wind nor solar

plants could produce energy,” said Mona

Neubaur, Minister for Economic Affairs, Industry,

Climate Protection and Energy and

Deputy Prime Minister of the State of North

Rhine-Westphalia.

The event was attended by representatives

from the world of politics, the city of

Herzogenrath, the Aachen Chamber of Industry

and Commerce, and the media. The

minister visited AIXTRON as part of an innovation

tour in North Rhine-Westphalia.

“With the new 300mm-capable cleanroom

at the Innovation Center, we will further expand

our technological market leadership,”

said Dr. Felix Grawert, President and CEO

of AIXTRON SE. ”We already have the first

300mm GaN prototype systems, which have

also been integrated into pilot lines at several

customers. And this is precisely where

AIXTRON‘s innovative strength and DNA

come into play. For decades, we have been

working on technological solutions even

when the market had not yet defined its requirements

in concrete terms. This enables

us to help our customers with their product

developments at an early stage and to offer

innovative technologies that are marketready

at precisely the moment when demand

first arises.”

The groundbreaking ceremony and

start of construction of the state-of-the-art

complex, in which AIXTRON is investing

around 100 million euros, was in November

2023. The high-tech building is designed for

the next big step in compound semiconduc-

tor technology: the important transition to

300 mm wafer size for gallium nitride (GaN)

and other Compound Semiconductor applications.

The GaN material system, in which

AIXTRON is technology leader, is being

used in an increasing number of power electronics

applications due to its outstanding

material properties. GaN-based semiconductor

devices increase the efficiency of

chargers in consumer electronics, enable

efficient power conversion in the field of

renewable energy, and provide energy-efficient

power supply for servers and data centers.

This also helps, for example, with the

applications for artificial intelligence, which

are currently spreading rapidly, because these

require a great deal of energy.

To prepare for this demand, AIXTRON

is driving forward the development of 300

mm deposition technology. The larger wafer

size offers customers the productivity gain

of 2.25 times more wafer area compared to

the currently used 200 mm wafers. Furthermore,

customers can use their 300 mm fabs

and processing equipment for the first time

in the field of Compound Semiconductors.

This will make the production of GaN semiconductor

devices not only more cost-effective,

but also offers opportunities to technology

performance gains in the future.

“With 300mm wafer technology, we are

bringing Compound Semiconductors for

the first time into the mainstream of the

semiconductor fabrication. The Innovation

Center is a major element of our strategy,

providing space and capabilities for next

generation technologies. The step towards

300 mm in Compound Semiconductors is

a landmark milestone, that is set to trigger

numerous growth options for the industry

in the years to come.” explains Professor Dr.

Michael Heuken, Vice President Advanced

Technologies at AIXTRON.

From left to right: Dr. Benjamin Fadavian, Dr. Felix Grawert, Mona Neubaur, Dr. Christian Danninger.

(Photo: AIXTRON/Friedrich Stark)

AIXTRON SE

D 52134 Herzogenrath


page 10/44

SRBA Group acquires 60% stake in US construction company

cleanrooms Corporate Construction Inc.

Cleanroom builder SRBA spreads wings to US

With effect from 22 October 2024, the SRBA Group has acquired a 60% stake from US-based Corporate Construction Inc,

which specializes in building cleanrooms for the US market. The SRBA Group is thus fulfilling its promise to expand its

scope of operations through Merger and Aquisition on an international level.

Corporate Construction Inc is based in the

state of Connecticut, immediately adjacent

to New York State, in the town of Brookfield.

Both founders Jonathan Draper and Joseph

Viola will continue to run the day-to-day

management of the 25-year-old company

with 60 permanent employees, possessing

the talent, training and dedication to deliver

the highest attainable quality, along with a

flexible shell of around 150 colleagues.

Two top-priority strategic objectives

In early 2023, the merger between Brecon

Cleanroom Systems and the Muller Afbouw

Groep led to the creation of the new company

SRBA Group. Two strategic objectives

had top priority in this: the Controlled Environment

(CE) division wished to expand its

field of activity through Merger and Aquisition

on an international level, and group

turnover was to exceed € 100 million by

2025. So now that is going to happen.

The new ‚Corporate Construction

SRBA‘ will continue its contracting and

construction management activities as ever

in the US, in the industrial and commercial

market sectors. The revenue in residential

construction, maintenance and renovation

activities, is mainly realized in Connecticut

and surrounding states. The range of industrial

clients in general, and the relationships

working in the High-tech and Life science

sectors specifically, require a more national

spread distributed across the US.

Turnover share 80 % within CE market

Corporate Construction expects to achieve

sales of $65 million by 2024. In recent years,

the CE market has experienced strong

growth and is the most important division

in the organization with over $50 million of

turnover share. Almost 60% of this CE turnover

is realized for the international semiconductor

industry, many of which are of

Dutch origin and well known by SRBA CE as

well. Life Science market segments such as

Healthcare and (Bio-)Pharma are growing

strongly with 40% revenue share.

Over the past 10 years, Corporate Construction

Inc. has earned its spurs as a ‚General

Contracting‘ partner for the specialized

CE market, whereby the realization of the

structural outer shell is often carried out in

combination with the construction of the

indoor cleanroom and lab facilities. The

assignments are mostly Design and Built

projects, like SRBA-CE‘s modus operandi

in the European market. It is precisely the

combined experience and knowledge of

cleanroom technology, on the one hand, and

the expected global annual growth of 7-8%

in this sector, on the other, that makes this

acquisition so interesting.

Next challenge: Germany

‚The management of the Dutch CE division

is keen to share the various product systems

and joint knowledge as soon as possible in

order to expand our customer base on both

sides of the ocean as a fully-fledged CE

partner with new relationships in the aforementioned

market sectors.“ Says SRBA

Group CFO Wim van Ree, responsible for

M&A. „It was a great challenge for the SRBA

Group to be able to realize this acquisition

in America. The next challenge now is to

acquire a company in the German speaking

countries!”

SRBA Controlled Environment BV

Droogdokkeneiland 7

Phone: +31 88 0355200

email: srbace@srbagroup.com

NL 5026 SP Tilburg

Internet: http://www.srbagroup.com


page 11/44

European Chiplet Innovation:

APECS Pilot Line starts Operation

in the Framework of the EU Chips Act

Post-CMOS pressure sensor chiplets

with wafer level packaging before

dicing. © Fraunhofer ISIT

The pilot line for “Advanced Packaging and Heterogeneous Integration for Electronic

Components and Systems” (APECS) marks a major leap forward in strengthening

Europe’s semiconductor manufacturing capabilities and chiplet innovation

as part of the EU Chips Act. By providing large industry players, SMEs,

and start-ups with a facilitated access to cutting-edge technology, the APECS

pilot line will establish a strong foundation for resilient and robust European semiconductor

supply chains. Within APECS, the institutes collaborating in the

Research Fab Microelectronics Germany (FMD) will work closely with European

partners, to make a significant contribution to the European Union´s goals of increasing

technological resilience, strengthening cross-border collaboration and

enhancing its global competitiveness in semiconductor technologies. APECS is

co-funded by the Chips Joint Undertaking and national funding authorities of

Austria, Belgium, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Portugal, Spain, through the

“Chips for Europe” initiative. The overall funding for APECS amounts to € 730

million over 4.5 years.

Europe is home to a vibrant ecosystem of

(hidden) champions, from tradi-tional enterprises

in vertical markets, to SMEs and

start-ups the competitive advantages of

which lie in superior semiconductor-based

solutions. Never-theless, many of these

companies are currently confronted with

limited access to advanced semiconductor

technologies, while at the same time these

technologies are increasingly becoming the

most important factor for innovation and

market growth.

The European Commission is investing

significant resources under the EU Chips

Act to strengthen semiconductor technologies

and applications in the European

Union. This aims to enhance Europe’s technological

resilience, secure supply and value

chains, and drive innovation in emerging

fields such as energy efficient AI, manufacturing,

mobility, information and communica-tions,

neuromorphic and quantum

computing as well as trusted and sustainable

electronics.

The APECS pilot line focuses on bridging

application-oriented research with

innovative developments in heterogeneous

integration*, in particular emerging

chiplet** technologies. By pushing beyond


page 12/44

Within the framework of the APECS pilot line will be possible to further expand the R&D infrastructure

for semiconductor technologies and applications in the coming years. © loewn/Bernhard Wolf

conventional system-in-package (SiP) methods,

APECS will deliver robust and trusted

heterogeneous systems, significantly boosting

the innovation capacity of the European

semicon-ductor industry.

Investments in strategic projects such

as APECS under the EU Chips Act, is crucial

for positioning Europe as an indispensable

partner in the global technology sector.

Germany plays a key role in this endeavor

– both as a leading research hub and a driving

economic force. Thanks to substantial

funding from the German Federal Ministry

of Education and Research (BMBF) and

the federal states of Saxony, Berlin, Bavaria,

Schleswig-Holstein, Baden-Württemberg,

North Rhine-Westphalia, Brandenburg, and

Saxony-Anhalt, it will be possible to further

expand the R&D infrastructure in the

coming years within the framework of the

APECS pilot line. This represents a crucial

step toward ensuring the long-term economic

stability of both Germany and Europe.

“Fraunhofer plays a central role in the

implementation of major projects such as

APECS, which strengthen Germany‘s technological

resilience and capacity for innovation,”

emphasizes Prof. Holger Hanselka,

President of the Fraunhofer-Gesellschaft.

“With our practice-oriented research and

close collaboration with industry, academia,

and political partners, we lay the foundation

not only for developing cutting-edge technologies

but also for bringing them into industrial

application. APECS is an example how

to connect research with business – it underscores

how close cooperation with ministries

and other partners can secure Europe´s position

in the global microelectronics market.”

Innovation where European industries

need it the most

The APECS pilot line will play a key role in

supporting European microelectronics by

developing new system integration technologies

and unlocking new functionalities

within the system-technology co-optimization

(STCO) ap-proach. This will enable

European companies to develop advanced

products, even in low quantities, at competitive

costs. By providing a wide range of

technologies on a single platform, APECS is

positioned to become Europe’s leading hub

for the development of advanced packaging

and heterogeneous integration.

APECS will be a key driver of collaboration

among European RTOs, industry and

academia, fostering a lively innovation ecosystem.

Customers will benefit from a single

point of contact to the APECS pilot line.

APECS will cover end-to-end design and

pilot production capabilities and accelerate

progress from cutting-edge research to

practical, scalable manufacturing solutions.

Furthermore, APECS will play a pivotal

role in Europe‘s transition towards a carbon-neutral

and circular economy through

its promotion on eco-design and green manufacturing

initiatives.

Boosting Innovation through

strong multilevel Collaboration

The APECS pilot line builds on the structures

established by the Research Fab Microelectronics

Germany (FMD). In Germany,

twelve institutes from the Fraunhofer

Group for Microelectronics and the two

Leibniz institutes FBH and IHP participate

in APECS. The work is led by the central

office in Berlin.

Prof. Albert Heuberger, spokesman of

the Fraunhofer Group for Microelectronics

and chairman of the FMD, emphasizes:

“The success of the EU Chips Act

relies on strong partnerships. For years,

the FMD has successfully combined the

strengths of decentralized research institutions

with the collaborative potential of

a centralized microelectronics hub. This

clearly illustrates how APECS is set to

become a long-term accessible pilot line

for all Euro-pean stakeholders across the

entire value chain. Together with the other

EU Chips Act pilot lines, APECS will be a

crucial component for heterogeneous integration

and advanced packaging of the

envisioned pan-European pilot line facility

– and thus an indispensable instrument

of EU Chips Act.”

The APECS consortium brings together

the technological competences, infrastructure,

and know-how of ten partners from

eight European countries: Germany (Fraunhofer-Gesellschaft

as coordinator, FBH,

IHP), Austria (TU Graz), Finland (VTT),

Belgium (imec), France (CEA-Leti), Greece

(FORTH), Spain (IMB-CNM, CSIC) and

Portugal (INL). APECS is coordinated by the

Fraunhofer-Gesellschaft and implemented

by the Research Fab Microelectronics Germany

(FMD).

*About Heterogeneous Integration

Semiconductor research and development

is at the core of current technological (r)evolutions,

ranging from artificial intelligence

and high-performance computing, modern

defense systems to robotics, power electronics,

wireless communication, e-health

care, quantum technologies, and more. Such

future electronic systems will require more

and more functions that cannot be provided

by a single chip, even if advanced systemon-chip

(SoC) concepts are used. Heterogeneous

integration will go beyond current

system-in-package (SiP) approaches. This

concept of true heterogeneous integration

is extremely important for next-generation

devices based on future CMOS nodes, SiGe,

SiC, III/Vs such as GaAs or GaN and all different

types of microelectromechanical systems

(MEMS).

**About Chiplets

Intellectual property (IP) blocks made in

different technology nodes will be combined

on an active interposer to reduce cost

by increasing the production yield (smaller

chips) and reuse across applications. This

will also touch upon environmental properties

of electronics in terms of resource efficiency,

critical raw materials, modularity and

re-usability of design blocks.

Forschungsfabrik Mikroelektronik

Deutschland (FMD)

D 10178 Berlin


page 13/44

As part of the APECS pilot line, the area of dry etching technology

in the Fraunhofer IAF clean room for 6’’ wafers is being expanded. © Fraunhofer IAF

Baden-Württemberg contributes 4.35 million euros in funding as part of the EU Chips Act

Fraunhofer IAF expands technology

capabilities for chiplet innovations

within the APECS pilot line

Fraunhofer IAF is expanding its technological capabilities

in the field of III-V compound semiconductors, making

a valuable contribution to the development of the APECS

pilot line within the framework of the EU Chips Act. The

Baden-Württemberg Ministry of Economic Affairs, Labour

and Tourism is contributing 4.35 million euros to the funding.

On 16 December 2024, State Secretary for Economic

Affairs Dr. Patrick Rapp symbolically handed over a cheque

for the funding amount to the institute’s directors. APECS

will make it possible to further expand the research and development

infrastructure across Europe over the next 4.5

years. The substantial total funding amounts to 730 million

euros, provided by Chips Joint Undertaking, the Federal Ministry

of Education and Research (BMBF) and other funding.

As part of the pilot line “Advanced Packaging and Heterogeneous

Integration for Electronic Components and Systems” (APECS), the

Fraunhofer Institute for Applied Solid State Physics IAF will continue

to expand its semiconductor research infrastructure in the coming

years. It will receive support from the state of Baden-Württemberg

in the form of national funding amounting to 4.35 million euros.

On 16 December 2024, State Secretary Dr. Patrick Rapp from the

Baden-Württemberg Ministry of Economic Affairs, Labour and Tourism

visited Fraunhofer IAF and symbolically handed over a cheque

for the funding amount. Afterwards, the State Secretary for Economic

Affairs was informed on site about the planned measures and

the APECS pilot line, which will be coordinated by the Fraunhofer-

Gesellschaft and implemented by the Research Fab Microelectronics

Germany (FMD) over the next 4.5 years.

“The APECS pilot line is a project of strategic importance for

Baden-Württemberg, as it is about participating in highly innovative

developments in the field of semiconductor technologies and supporting

a rapid transfer to our companies. Only in this way can we

as a state continue to demonstrate our role as a leading innovation

region in Europe,” said Dr. Patrick Rapp, State Secretary in the Ministry

of Economic Affairs, Labour and Tourism, at the handover of

the symbolic funding cheque.

Strengthening European competitiveness in

the development and production of semiconductors

“As a research institute, we can contribute to overcoming the immense

challenges that Europe is currently facing. Our innovations

can provide valuable impetus for the European economy and contribute

to greater competitiveness and resilience in times of crisis.

APECS enables us to develop technology in a targeted manner, the

benefits of which are available to small and medium-sized enterprises

throughout the EU and at the same time strengthen Baden-

Württemberg as a business location in the long term. We would like

to thank the Baden-Württemberg Ministry of Economic Affairs for

its generous support,” explains Dr. Patricie Merkert, who together

with Prof. Dr. Rüdiger Quay forms the dual leadership of the Fraunhofer

IAF.

Prof. Dr. Quay emphasizes: “APECS will enable us to take several

important steps towards the future in one go, both by significantly

improving the performance of our research infrastructure and by

tapping into key future topics. The further development of our ca-


page 14/44

State Secretary Dr. Patrick Rapp, Ministry of Economic Affairs, Labour and

Tourism, hands over the symbolic cheque for the funding amount of

4.35 million euros to the institute management of Fraunhofer IAF,

Dr. Patricie Merkert and Prof. Dr. Rüdiger Quay. © Fraunhofer IAF

pabilities in heterogeneous integration will pave the way for many

new innovations. The upscaling of elementary technologies at our

institute brings our processes even closer to the industrial standard.

This benefits both our development work and the economy - in the

region and in Europe.”

APECS: Heterogeneously integrated technologies

for the European economy

The APECS pilot line is an important component of the EU Chips

Act to drive chiplet innovation and increase research and manufacturing

capacity for semiconductors in Europe. The institutes cooperating

in the FMD are working closely with other European partners

to set up the pilot line and are thus making a significant contribution

to strengthening Europe’s technological resilience and thus also increasing

global competitiveness in the semiconductor industry.

The pilot line will provide large industrial companies as well as

small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) and start-ups with lowthreshold

access to cutting-edge technologies and ensure secure,

resilient semiconductor value chains. APECS is co-funded by Chips

Joint Undertaking and by national funding from Austria, Belgium,

Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Portugal and Spain under the

Chips for Europe initiative. The total funding for the APECS pilot

line amounts to EUR 730 million over 4.5 years.

The APECS pilot line focuses on the scalable industrial transfer

of newly developed innovations in the field of heterointegration, in

particular the use of new chiplet technologies, thus building a bridge

to application-oriented research. APECS goes beyond conventional

system-in-package (SiP) methods and aims to deliver robust and

trustworthy heterogeneous systems that significantly increase the

innovative capacity of the European semiconductor industry.

Chiplets for high-frequency applications

and production on 6’’ wafers

As an institute cooperating in the FMD, Fraunhofer IAF is developing

novel chiplets based on the hybrid semiconductor material systems

indium gallium arsenide-on-silicon (InGaAs-on-Si) and gallium

nitride-on-silicon carbide (GaN-on-SiC) as well as microbump

interposers as part of APECS. These technologies are particularly

suitable for high-frequency applications due to their outstanding

values in key parameters such as noise, output power and efficiency

and promise innovations in measurement technology, communication,

radar technology and sensor technology.

“Chiplets offer significant advantages in the development and production

of high-performance electronic and optical components, as

they enable compact and highly efficient multifunctional systems.

The combination of different functions such as control logic and

amplifiers on one carrier improves both the performance and energy

efficiency of a system. We are very much looking forward to further

developing our technologies within the framework of APECS,” explains

Dr. Patrick Waltereit, head of the Technology department at

Fraunhofer IAF.

To ensure easy transfer to industry, the development and production

of the chiplets and interposers at Fraunhofer IAF will take

place on 6’’ wafers. New equipment for epitaxy, process technology

and metrology will therefore be procured and put into operation in

the institute‘s clean room. In addition, existing processes for chiplet

and interposer production are being adapted.

Chiplets: Integration of individual technologies

increases functionality and reduces costs

The increasing performance and cost requirements for electronic

components mean that conventional semiconductor chips are

increasingly reaching their technological limits. The processing of

large integrated circuits, as required for comprehensive functionalities,

causes high costs, as individual defects have an extremely

strong impact on the yield of a single wafer. In addition, chemical

and mechanical incompatibilities between different materials and

layer structures mean that only a limited number of different technologies

can be implemented on a single wafer.

A novel solution for efficiently increasing system functionality is

the electrical or optical connection of individual small components

(so-called chiplets) on a common substrate (interposer). With the

chiplet approach, the individual technologies can each undergo the

optimum epitaxy and processing for them and then form a highly

functional, flexible and efficient chip-sized system through low-loss

integration. This modularization also increases scalability, simplifies

chip design and shortens the time to market for innovations.

Funding

APECS is co-funded by the Chips Joint Undertaking and national

funding authorities of Austria, Belgium, Finland, France, Germany,

Greece, Portugal, Spain, through the Chips for Europe Initiative.

Fraunhofer-Institut für Angewandte Festkörperphysik IAF

D 79108 Freiburg

After handing over the cheque, State Secretary Dr. Patrick Rapp

discusses the APECS pilot line and the planned activities of

Fraunhofer IAF on site. © Fraunhofer IAF


page 15/44

Advances in Microtechnology: Fraunhofer

ENAS Opens “Innovation Office” in Regensburg

In the picture (from left to right): Rainer Kaltschmidt (Head of the Regensburg site at

Fraunhofer ENAS), Jörg Recklies (Head of the Regensburg site at Infineon Technologies),

Prof. Dr. Harald Kuhn (Director of Fraunhofer ENAS), Gertrud Maltz-Schwarzfischer

(Mayor of the City of Regensburg), Alexander Rupprecht (Managing Director

of “TechBase” Regensburg) and Jens Weber (Managing Director of Technologie Centrum

Chemnitz GmbH as representative for the City of Chemnitz). © Fraunhofer ENAS

The Fraunhofer Institute for Electronic Nano Systems ENAS in Chemnitz was

joined today by guests from government and industry in celebrating the opening

of its new “Innovation Office” at the “TechBase” innovation and start-up center

in Regensburg, Germany. The move creates ideal conditions for the institute

to expand its top-quality research services to include the south of Germany and

develop forward-looking technologies in immediate proximity to customers and

partners throughout the region.

The new Fraunhofer ENAS space was officially

dedicated on November 26, 2024.

The event was attended by Gertrud Maltz-

Schwarzfischer, Lord Mayor of Regensburg,

Jens Weber, Managing Director of the

Technologie Centrum Chemnitz GmbH as

representative of the City of Chemnitz, Jörg

Recklies, plant manager at Infineon Technologies

Regensburg, and Alexander Rupprecht,

Managing Director of “TechBase”

Regensburg.

By opening its new “Innovation Office”

at “TechBase”, in the heart of the vibrant

research and economic landscape around

Regensburg, the institute is expanding its

presence and raising its profile in the south

of Germany in addition to its headquarters

in Chemnitz in the east and an existing location

in Paderborn in the west. The goal is

to further bolster longstanding business relationships

with regional players in industry

and the research sector, establish a platform

for sharing research ideas and networking,

and forge ties for new collaborative efforts in

research and development.

“The Regensburg metro area is highly

dynamic, with a growing economy. A thriving

start-up scene, well-known high-tech

companies, many small and medium-sized

enterprises and first-class research as well

TechBase Regensburg © R-Tech GmbH

as higher education institutions all form a

unique ecosystem full of fresh ideas and

momentum here, much like in Chemnitz.

With so much innovative strength and a

local focus on semiconductor and sensor

technologies, biotech, IT and artificial intelligence,

all of which depend on powerful

micro and nanotechnologies, this area of the

south of Germany is an ideal starting point

for us to develop new ideas and actively participate

in shaping technological advances

in forward-looking fields,” explains Prof.

Harald Kuhn, director of Fraunhofer ENAS,

who has close ties with Regensburg after

working in various management positions

and is familiar with the local area’s opportunities

and challenges.

In its role as a dependable research and

innovation partner, the new office will allow

Fraunhofer ENAS to give customers and

partners in eastern Bavaria as well as other

areas around Germany the opportunity to

benefit from its key areas of expertise in

smart systems. “Being close to our customers

is especially important when it comes

to fostering innovation and putting new

ideas into action. Our ´Innovation Office´ gives

us a direct presence right in the heart of

Bavaria, so we can work with our customers

and partners in person as a trustworthy and

expert point of contact when it comes to

overcoming the challenges they face. This


page 16/44

means together, we will be able to develop

innovative products and translate them into

applications even faster and more effectively,”

Prof. Harald Kuhn explains.

As a hub of dialogue and start-up activity

that brings people together, the “Tech-

Base” creates an ideal framework for tapping

into the potential of new technologies

and accelerating their transfer to industry,

the research sector and society at large. For

Fraunhofer ENAS, establishing the new office

at “TechBase”, which has a network

of many technology-focused partners and

companies, opens up valuable synergies in

the region. “In Fraunhofer ENAS, we are

bringing in a strong partner for our innovation

and start-up center, and we are delighted

to be expanding our ecosystem in

this way, which will add to the local area’s

innovative strength,” explains Alexander

Rupprecht, the “TechBase” Managing Director.

About Fraunhofer ENAS

The particular strength of the Fraunhofer

Institute for Electronic Nano Systems

ENAS lies in the development of smart

systems for various applications. These

systems combine electronic components,

micro and nano sensors and actuators with

interfaces for communication. Fraunhofer

ENAS develops individual components and

the technologies to produce them along

with system concepts and system integration

technologies and translates them to

real-world use. The institute works on customer

projects from the idea and draft stage

through technology development or implementation

using existing technologies and

beyond to the tested prototype phase.

Fraunhofer-Institut für Elektronische

Nanosysteme ENAS

D 09126 Chemnitz

Pfeiffer Vacuum+Fab Solutions welcomes Röntgen Prize winner PD Dr. Johann Matschke

Pioneering radiation research

This year, the renowned Justus-Liebig University of Giessen (JLU) Röntgen Prize goes to cell biologist PD Dr. Johann

Matschke from Essen University Hospital. The €15,000 prize money was donated by Pfeiffer Vacuum+Fab Solutions and

the Ludwig Schunk Foundation. JLU has been awarding the prize since 1960 in memory of the Nobel Prize winner Wilhelm

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

Radiation researcher PD Dr. Johann Matschke receives the prize for

his research on the radiation resistance of cancer cells. His previous

research identified important metabolic networks that allow tumor

cells to evade the cytotoxic effects of radiotherapy.

Pioneering research into radiation resistance in cancer cells

From his findings, PD Dr. Matschke wants to derive new biomarkers

for radiation resistance. „The impairment of tumor cell metabolism

can thus lead to new points of attack for cancer therapies,“ emphasized

Prof. Dr. Sangam Chatterjee (Institute of Experimental Physics

I) for JLU’s evaluation committee. On the day before the award

ceremony, the scientist visited Pfeiffer Vacuum+Fab Solutions and

reported on his findings. Daniel Sälzer, Managing Director of Pfeiffer

Vacuum+Fab Solutions in Asslar, congratulated the award winner

and highlighted the importance of vacuum technology for research

and development: „Vacuum technology plays an important role in

cutting-edge research. Generating the beam only works using vacuum,

just like analysis using mass spectrometry. We are very excited to

support this important research that can help cure diseases or delay

their progression.“

Academic background of the award winner

PD Dr. Matschke studied biochemistry at the Ruhr University of

Bochum from 2005 to 2010 and graduated with a doctorate in his

research at Essen University Hospital on the identification of mechanisms

of hypoxia-mediated radiation resistance. The award winner

used his post-doctoral phase for two research visits to Technion

in Haifa, Israel, to gain further qualifications in the implementation

Röntgen Prize for cell biologist PD Dr. Johann Matschke (front row, centre).

Pfeiffer Vacuum+Fab Solutions and the Ludwig Schunk Foundation

support young scientists. (Source: Pfeiffer Vacuum+Fab Solutions)

and bioinformatic evaluation of metabolome analyses using mass

spectrometry. In his second post-doctoral phase from 2016 to 2020,

he developed a research profile on the topic of cellular metabolism

and radiation response. Since October 2020, the scientist has led a

junior research group on the topic of cell metabolism and radiation

response in the research group of Professor Dr. Verena Jendrossek at

the Institute of Cell Biology (tumor research) in Essen. The German

Society for Biological Radiation Research (DeGBS) awarded PD Dr.

Matschke the Dieter-Frankenberg Award for Young Talent in 2020.

Pfeiffer Vacuum GmbH

D 35614 Asslar


page 17/44

Cluster systems of the Fraunhofer FEP for pulse magnetron sputtering

processes. © Fraunhofer FEP, Foto: Anna Schroll

Ultrasonic transducers with integrated piezoelectric thin films.

© PVA TePla Analytical Systems GmbH

Digitalization of coating processes

for high-resolution ultrasonic sensors

Piezoelectric coatings play a key role in medical technology, microelectronics and sensor technology, for example in the

manufacturing of ultrasound microscopes that examine ever smaller semiconductor components and biological cell structures.

However, the increasing demands on the quality and reproducibility of these coatings place high demands on the

complex coating processes, which require many parameters to be precisely coordinated. In order to meet this challenge, the

Fraunhofer Institute for Electron Beam and Plasma Technology FEP is developing a digital twin of the coating process for

piezoelectric thin films as part of the BMBF-funded DigiMatUs project (FKZ 13XP5187D). This enables the digital mapping

and optimization of the processes and leads to a significant improvement in the performance and reproducibility of ultrasonic

sensors.

Piezoelectric films play a key role in medical technology, microelectronics

and sensor technology, particularly in the manufacture of

ultrasound microscopes. Such microscopes enable the examination

of ever smaller structures, such as semiconductor components or

biological cells.

Piezoelectric thin films are highly crystalline layers whose material

is deformed when an electrical voltage is applied, allowing sound

pulses to be emitted, for example. Ultrasonic pulses can be emitted

by adjusting film properties and thickness, as well as applying this

voltage very quickly. For better resolution of the ultrasonic microscopes,

higher frequencies are necessary. The requirements for the coating

quality and corresponding process quality increase significantly

as the target frequency increases.

In order to meet these growing demands, six partners are working

on the digitalization of coating processes for the production

of high-resolution piezoelectric ultrasonic sensors as part of the

DigiMatUs joint project funded by the German Federal Ministry of

Education and Research (BMBF). In this context, the Fraunhofer Institute

for Electron Beam and Plasma Technology FEP in Dresden is

developing a digital twin of the coating process for piezoelectric thin

films based on aluminum nitride (AlN) and aluminum scandium nitride

(AlScN). The coating deposition takes place at the Fraunhofer

FEP cluster facilities using pulse magnetron sputtering processes.

The various process parameters and influencing factors and their effects

on the layer properties are investigated and digitally recorded.

The data analysis is based on an ontology for thin-film materials and

processes developed jointly with the project partners. An ontology

describes a formal system for classifying and structuring knowledge

in a specific subject area in order to clearly depict relationships and

properties.

The resulting digital mapping of materials and processes enables

precise modelling and optimization of process sequences. This allows

detailed analysis of process and material properties, which leads

to improved performance and reproducibility of the ultrasonic sensors

and also enables further development steps to be implemented

more efficiently.

“The development of the models poses a particular challenge, as

a large number of process parameters and their interactions have to

be taken into account. In particular, the comparatively small number

of data points combined with a large parameter space places high

demands on the development of a robust representation of reality.

The Fraunhofer FEP is contributing its many years of expertise in

thin-film processing and characterization, thus creating the basis

for more efficient and digitally supported production,” explains Dr.

Stephan Barth, project manager at the Fraunhofer FEP.

The project uses state-of-the-art technologies such as ontologies

and artificial intelligence (AI) to analyze and describe the correlations

between the process parameters. For example, predictions

can be made about the effect of changes in the coating process -

such as the adjustment of cathode voltages, substrate temperature or

coating pressure - on the material properties. This enables targeted

optimization of the coatings and improves the efficiency of process


page 18/44

development.

In the course of the project to date, a first version of the thin-film

ontology has been developed together with the project partners, the

digital recording and processing of system and process parameters

of the systems at Fraunhofer FEP has been expanded, and various

material properties of the thin films on the glass bodies of the lenses

have been determined as a function of these parameters. Test substrates

were coated at the Fraunhofer FEP facilities and shipped to

the project partners to enable characterization along the rest of the

value chain. The collected data forms the basis for the development

of the AI models of the project partner Otto -von-Guericke University

Magdeburg. Over the course of the project, the ontology and AI

models will be successively developed further in order to better reflect

reality. Based on the models developed, further coatings of test

substrates for characterization will be carried out at Fraunhofer FEP

and at the project partners to improve the models.

In addition to the optimization of ultrasonic sensor technology,

the project results also open up new possibilities for other applications

based on thin-film technologies. The digital mapping of

the material and process data by the thin-film ontology and the AI

models can be reused and transferred to similar coating processes,

which will greatly accelerate the research and development of new

materials in the future.

Fraunhofer-Institut für Elektronenstrahl- und Plasmatechnik FEP

D 01277 Dresden

Fraunhofer ENAS Receives Award for

Excellent Vocational Training Quality

On November 5, 2024, the Chamber of Commerce and Industry (IHK) Chemnitz awarded Fraunhofer ENAS the distinction

of “exemplary vocational training organization,” honoring the institute’s long-standing commitment to training highly

specialized young talent for the semiconductor industry.

Fraunhofer ENAS has been successfully training microtechnologists

for the past 15 years and, in doing so, is actively supporting the young

talent that is urgently needed in the highly dynamic semiconductor

industry. In particular, the IHK Chemnitz recognized the institute’s

many years of exceptional training work, which allows the trainees to

grow on both a professional and personal level, as well as the dedicated

and individual support it provides to its cohort.

The consistently high quality of the training that Fraunhofer

ENAS delivers is also reflected in figures: 25 young people have

completed their training at Fraunhofer ENAS over the past 15 years

– with all trainees taking and passing their IHK examinations

with flying colors. Four of the trainees have also received the IHK

Chemnitz’s “best trainee” award. In October 2024, a trainee from

Fraunhofer ENAS was once again honored as the “best in the year

In the picture (from left to right): Robert Kinner (former trainee at Fraunhofer

ENAS), Torsten Christel (Head of Training Counseling and Career

Orientation at IHK Chemnitz), Maik Reimann (trainer at Fraunhofer ENAS)

as well as Lucie Hofmann and Kevin Müller (who successfully completed

their training in summer 2024) © Fraunhofer ENAS

for the southwest Saxony region.”

“We offer our trainees the opportunity to gain valuable practical

experience in a future-oriented growth area and to carry out varied

tasks that give them freedom to organize their work routine and the

opportunity to develop their own ideas and take on responsibility.

What’s more, at Fraunhofer ENAS, we offer young talent genuine

career prospects, as we take on a high proportion of our intake once

they have completed their training. We do this because we recognize

that well trained specialists are the foundations on which our

success is built,” says Maik Reimann, trainer for the field of microtechnology

at Fraunhofer ENAS.

Professional training at Fraunhofer ENAS

Each year, Fraunhofer ENAS offers training places for new recruits to

become microtechnologists. The institute is currently training nine

microtechnologists at its Chemnitz location.

Through their work on delicate semiconductor components and

microchips, which are at the core of state-of-the-art electronic systems,

specialists in the field of microtechnology play an essential

role in a wide range of everyday technologies – from smartphones

and computers to cars.

The three-year dual training program comprises theoretical

fundamentals at vocational college and the opportunity to acquire

practical knowledge in laboratories and clean rooms. The training

is complemented by a large number of individual learning modules

imparting both professional and social skills.

Prospective trainees are invited to apply for a vocational training

program at Fraunhofer ENAS for 2025 via the career website.

Fraunhofer-Institut für Elektronische Nanosysteme ENAS

D 09126 Chemnitz


page 19/44

Bayer further expands global incubator

network with Bayer Co.Lab Berlin and

welcomes MyoPax as first resident

– Bayer Co.Lab Berlin is part of a global network of life science incubators situated in key innovation hubs,

including Cambridge (USA), Kobe (Japan), and Shanghai (China)

– Brand new state-of-the-art incubator in Berlin will provide access to fully equipped facilities as well as

tailored mentorship from Bayer to advance breakthroughs in cell and gene therapy and oncology

– Investment underscores Bayer´s commitment to creating a leading life science ecosystem

for innovative therapies in Berlin

– MyoPax, specialized in stem cell and gene editing technologies to develop muscle regeneration therapies,

is the first resident company at Bayer Co.Lab Berlin

On November 28, 2024, Bayer announced the inauguration of its

new life science incubator Bayer Co.Lab Berlin, located on the Global

Headquarters Campus of Bayer’s Pharmaceuticals Division, near

world-renowned research and clinical institutions. MyoPax GmbH,

a Berlin-based start-up company specializing in muscle regeneration

therapies and a spin-off from the Charité Universitaetsmedizin

and the Max-Delbrueck-Center of the Helmholtz Association, will

move into the new facility as the first resident.

Bayer Co.Lab Berlin is part of Bayer’s global network of life science

incubators situated in key innovation hubs, including Cam-

bridge (USA), Kobe (Japan), and Shanghai (China). The incubator

will provide state-of-the art laboratories, collaborative working

space and tailored support for start-ups, serving as a crucial pillar in

advancing local innovation in the heart of Berlin.

“Biotechnology plays an incredibly important role in the ongoing

development of Berlin’s pharmaceutical and healthcare sector. The

new Bayer Co.Lab facility in Berlin will enable us to bring science

and business even closer together, propelling us towards our shared

goal of developing pharmaceuticals and medical therapies faster

than before,” said Kai Wegner, Governing Mayor of Berlin. “The

opening of the Co.Lab in Berlin is a meaningful step in our plan to

make Berlin the nexus of an even greater healthcare industry here in

Germany. I want to thank Bayer AG for this fruitful cooperation and

for their confidence in Berlin as a centre of science and innovation.”

Inauguration of the Bayer Co.Lab Berlin: (f.l.t.r.) Christian Rommel, Head

of Research and Development at Bayer Pharmaceuticals; Verena

Schöwel-Wolf, CEO of MyoPax; Kai Wegner, Governing Mayorof Berlin;

Stefan Oelrich, Member of Board of Management of Bayer AG and Head

of the Pharmaceuticals Division; Ruth Shah, Head of Bayer Co.Lab Berlin;

Friedemann Janus, Head of Business Development & Licensing, Co.Lab,

Regional and Divestitures.

Steffen Kugler


page 20/44

“The establishment of Bayer Co.Lab Berlin is an important milestone

of Bayer‘s external innovation strategy, aimed at fostering open

collaboration within the biotechnology ecosystem,” said Juergen

Eckhardt, MD, Head of Business Development & Licensing at Bayer

Pharmaceuticals. “Complementing the future Berlin Center for

Gene and Cell Therapies, Bayer Co.Lab Berlin is a launch pad for Europe´s

top scientists and entrepreneurs and will play a central role in

Berlin’s life sciences ecosystem.”

Through the global community of bespoke incubators, Bayer

provides a comprehensive offering to support startups turning

their ideas into reality. Startups joining Bayer Co.Lab Berlin will

benefit from a well-equipped facility, a global community of like-minded

entrepreneurs, mentorship from Bayer experts across

multiple domains, as well as facilitated connections to ecosystem

partners. This tailored approach will ensure start-ups thrive in

a supportive environment that enables them to rapidly advance

their innovations towards the clinic.

„We are very excited to be the first resident company at Bayer

Co.Lab Berlin“, said Verena Schoewel-Wolf, CEO of MyoPax. „The

incubator will not only provide us with state-of-the-art laboratory

space, but also access to Bayer‘s local and global expertise in R&D,

manufacturing, regulatory and other areas to further our mission of

delivering effective muscle regeneration therapies with our proprietary

muscle stem cell platform.“

The recently announced Berlin Center for Gene & Cell Therapies,

which will have the unique infrastructure for Europe of a cutting-edge

incubator and state-of-the art production facility, will be

home to Bayer Co.Lab Berlin from 2028, further strengthening this

vibrant ecosystem and providing a pathway for growth for resident

companies.

BAYER AG

D 51373 Leverkusen

Entry-Level Solution for Precise Scratch Tests

With the official market launch on November

21, 2024, Anton Paar TriTec is expanding

the Revetest® series with the new RST 100,

a cost-efficient and user-friendly instrument

for precise surface analysis.

Multi-functional tool for material analysis

The RST 100 performs scratch testing and

conventional hardness measurements. Featuring

simplified software focused on essential functionalities, it enables automatic detection

of indentation imprints and scratch features, delivering precise and efficient results for

diverse testing needs.

Reliable surface analysis

During the scratch test procedure, a diamond stylus with a defined geometry is drawn across

the surface of a sample with increasing force. Once the test is complete, the resulting scratch

mark is examined microscopically to analyze damage such as cracks or delamination. The

critical loads at which these damages occur provide precise information about the adhesive

strength of coatings and the scratch resistance of surface materials.

Flexible use for versatile requirements

The RST 100 was developed to meet the requirements of educational institutions, research

departments and companies with limited budgets. The instrument is suitable for quality assurance

in production as well as for material development in research. Educational institutions

in particular benefit from a user-friendly solution that facilitates entry into the world of

materials testing.

Anton Paar Germany GmbH

D 73760 Ostfildern-Scharnhausen


page 21/44

With the newly created capacities, Mediscan in Kremsmünster is developing

into the largest sterilization site in Europe.

Greiner Bio-One subsidiary Mediscan

opens a new sterilisation facility

Mediscan, a sterilisation service provider and subsidiary of Greiner Bio-One International GmbH, has built and officially

opened a new sterilisation facility at its Kremsmünster/Rohr site.

Sterilisation service provider Mediscan,

headquartered in Kremsmünster, has built

a new facility adjacent to its existing site to

sterilise medical products, disinfect food

packaging, and refine plastics and semiconductors.

The company has invested a

total of €22 million and, in addition to the

construction of the new building, the facility

includes a powerful electron accelerator

and highly automated conveyor technology.

The facility, which had been in trial operation

since August, was officially opened on

13 November.

Increasing demand for sterilisation

services

Since the last site expansion in 2015, the

production volumes of Greiner Bio-One

and the demand for sterilisation services

have continued to increase. Mediscan treats

the manufactured medical devices before

they are delivered to customers worldwide.

However, demand from third-party customers,

not just from the medical sector, but

also from the food, automotive and electronics

industries, now plays an increasingly

important role. Mediscan currently generates

around 70 percent of its turnover from

demand from third-party customers.

State-of-the-art technology

and expertise

The system technology used meets the latest

standards. It has undergone further

technological development compared to

the initial site and once again combines two

different treatment technologies in a single

system. The electrons accelerated in an

electron accelerator are used either directly

as electron beams (E-beams) or indirectly

after conversion to X-ray photons (X-rays) to

sterilise and disinfect products. This means

that individual product requirements can be

© Roland Pelzl

met with the highest accuracy and quality.

Commitment to the Upper Austria site

Also in the field of sterilisation services, the

international market environment is characterised

by sharp price increases and limited

availability. This makes it all the more important

for Greiner Bio-One to ensure this

service for its products and thus the supply

of its customers.

Mediscan GmbH & Co KG

AT 4550 Kremsmünster


page 22/44

Becoming a process partner

Together - from lab to production

A breath of fresh air blows through the laboratory and the halls in Schwarzenbek in northern Germany: At Fette Compacting

headquarters, pharmacists and machine experts are continuing to advance our development towards becoming an integrated

process partner. This change opens up far-reaching advantages for manufacturers.

Time is a critical factor in the pharmaceutical and nutraceutical market.

Efficiency and flexibility therefore play a central role from the

development phase onward. Pharmaceutical companies in particular

are under enormous pressure to bring new drugs to market faster

without compromising on quality and safety. This is precisely where

Fette Compacting’s new strategy comes in.

“We acknowledge that it is no longer enough to supply highly

efficient machines and process equipment. Our aim is to use our decades

of expertise and intensive, partnership-based exchanges with

our customers to accompany the entire process from the initial idea

to the marketable product – ‘Together – from lab to production,’”

explains Joachim Dittrich, CEO of Fette Compacting. In addition to

efficiency gains, this approach also promises tangible added value

for customers: Pharmaceutical manufacturers can optimize their

processes, react more quickly to market changes, and accelerate the

launch of new products.

Understanding processes at an early stage

“We already offer our customers a wide range of services well in

advance of production,” adds Dr. Marten Klukkert, Vice President

Customer Development Center at Fette Compacting. “This means

that we support pharmaceutical and nutraceutical companies from

formulation development through to validation of their processes.

The main aim is to integrate knowledge and technology to take the

entire production process to a new level and ensure real added value

for manufacturers.”

Comprehensive process consulting begins with a from many

tests and applications: the QED (Qualified Expert Database) knowledge

database provides empirical values from more than seven decades

of tableting experience. This source makes it possible for us

to find specific solutions for every product and every process. “With

QED, we can offer our customers a comprehensive pool of specialist

knowledge. This allows us to quickly determine the best processes

and machine configurations,” enthuses Klukkert.

Precise analysis of powders and tablets

While QED forms the digital basis for process partnerships, practical

implementation begins in the laboratory area of Fette Compacting.

This is where material and powder analysis is the first and already

essential step in the development of medications and nutraceuticals.

One of the core concerns of pharmaceutical production is the precise

characterization and analysis of sensitive, highly regulated materials.

To this end, Fette Compacting develops innovative solutions

in its Customer Development Center that support users in the early

development phase and create the best conditions for an efficient


page 23/44

production process.

“The laboratory-based services start with advice on a new formulation

and range from intensive powder characterization to test

trials. In order to transfer the successes from the laboratory to the

customer, we offer on-site training and application consulting,”

reports Dr. Ina Petry, Group Lead Application Consulting at Fette

Compacting. “More than ever before, consulting and training now

go hand in hand with all aspects relating to the process. Manufacturers

are often faced with the challenge that the pharmacists work

on formulations of their active ingredients and excipients while the

engineers work separately on production technologies. We can unite

these two worlds by working closely together as an interdisciplinary

team.”

With Lab Solutions, Fette Compacting offers a range of services

that focus on the characterization of powders and tablets. “We help

our customers to determine and analyze the critical material properties

of their active ingredients, because the behavior of a powder is

often the decisive factor for the efficiency and quality of subsequent

tableting,” emphasizes Petry.

Fette Compacting’s Customer Development Center supports the

principle of Quality by Design. This approach aims to optimize product

quality through a deep understanding of production processes.

“It means that we can identify the critical process parameters and

quality attributes at an early stage and develop appropriate control

strategies for, and with, our customers. In this way, they create robust

processes for consistently high product quality,” Petry continues.

An essential part of this entails the analysis of the powder’s

compaction and compacting properties. With the modular powder

compaction analysis units of the F Lab Series, Fette Compacting can

precisely examine the physical properties of powders. The analysis

includes factors such as particle size distribution, density and flowability

– all important parameters for a stable tableting process.

Emulating processes instead of simulating them

The next important step along the product life cycle involves process

development. When passionate collaboration meets optimal technical

equipment, entirely new possibilities open up. One of the most

important technologies which will soon be in Schwarzenbek – and

then in all Competence Centers – are several emulators that mimic

real production conditions. In contrast to simulators, these analysis

systems have the potential to test processes without conversion

steps and loss of time under particularly close-to-production conditions.

In the long term, they offer companies the advantage of validating

their recipes and process parameters at an early stage and

eliminating potential faults in the development phase before they

occur in production. By using small quantities of material, valuable

resources can be saved and precise predictions made about the subsequent

production process.

Faster to production

Let’s move on to technology transfer: the transition from research

and development to commercial production is often associated with

considerable challenges. This is where Fette Compacting provides

support in the form of a seamless transfer service. “We offer various

solutions that enable our customers to transfer their projects to production

more quickly and react flexibly to changes,” explains Klukkert.

Support during scale-up is particularly valuable for users, as this

not only saves time but also reduces the risks that can occur during

commercial production.

In addition to increasing efficiency and optimizing processes,

sustainability is also playing an increasingly important role, as explained

by Dr. Martin Schöler, Vice President Technology at Fette

Compacting: “The concept of sustainability is deeply embedded

in our DNA, in every development and design. We are highly committed

to minimizing material consumption and making processes

more resource-efficient. One key to this is the FE CPS continuous

processing system, which enables us to work with minimal quantities

of material during the development phase. This allows us to

gain valuable insights with just a few kilograms of material, which

considerably speeds up the development process and significantly

reduces material loss.”

FE CPS milestone

The FE CPS has also provided the decisive impetus to grow more

strongly in the direction of process. As the system adapts to a wide

range of production scenarios, it offers optimum conditions for development

and production. With continuous direct pressing, the

powder is fed from the dosing-mixing unit via the powder transport

system into the tablet press without additional granulating. Compared

to granulation-based production, several steps are eliminated,

which reduces the space and energy requirements as well as the

process costs.

The birthplace of this world first is Fette Compacting’s innovation

center in Mechelen, Belgium. This is where the idea of revolutionizing

tablet production through continuous manufacturing

was born. By testing various material and process-related scenarios,

the system was enabled to process a wide range of ingredients

in a throughput range of five to over 200 kilograms per hour. It can

dose and mix up to six different powdered raw materials and transfer

them to the downstream processes.

In the meantime, numerous product trials and several sales

have confirmed the enormous interest in the FE CPS on the part

of pharmaceutical and nutraceutical producers. In addition, there is

a key component that was developed in close cooperation between

Schwarzenbek and Mechelen: embedded Process Analytical Technology

(ePAT). “With ePAT, we can continuously monitor the most

important quality in real time and react immediately in the event of

deviations,” says Dr. Anna Novikova, Head of Process Consultancy at

Fette Compacting. Using near-infrared spectroscopy (NIRS), ePAT

monitors product quality directly during the production process.

This technology makes it possible to check the chemical composition

and physical properties of powders and tablets without incurring

any interruptions or delays. “With ePAT, process control finally becomes

simple, robust and efficient. The integrated sensor technology

helps manufacturers ensure consistently high product quality and

detect potential production errors at an early stage,” says Novikova.

Proven technologies and services

In addition, it goes without saying that batch-to-batch process technologies

are still available to users. The decisive factor is which solution

is best suited to a specific product and production environment.

For classic tableting, for example, users can rely on the tablet presses

from the new i Series. It offers modernized models that allow flexible

adjustments, advanced energy management, high network capability,

innovative safety solutions for operator protection, and many

other design advantages.

The proven production support services and performance consulting

also come into play, as Lars Plüschau, Vice President Global

Sales at Fette Compacting, explains: “Customer support is crucial to

the success of our customers. The comprehensive consulting, training

and modernization services offered by Fette Compacting are

aimed at optimizing production efficiency and product develop-


page 24/44

ment time (time to market). Tableting tools also play an important

role in this. By supplying machines and tools from a single source,

interface problems can be avoided, which considerably simplifies

the production process and saves customers both time and money.

This underlines our orientation as a reliable process partner that not

only offers machines, but also customized solutions for the entire life

cycle of a product.”

The journey continues

“Together – from lab to production” is the direction for Fette Compacting’s

development journey. Meanwhile, the Schwarzenbek site

is already working on its next innovation: expanding cleanroom capacities

with the new ISO 8 standard opens up additional opportunities

to test highly active substances under strictly controlled conditions.

The planned cleanrooms will expand the portfolio, as more

products can be tested under real conditions using all of the technologies

available at Fette Compacting. This will make it possible to

further expand collaboration with customers from the early stages of

development, ultimately shortening the time to market.

Fette Compacting GmbH

D 21493 Schwarzenbeck

GEMÜ honoured as „Global Market Leader“

for the ninth time

in a row

The Ingelfingen-based technology company GEMÜ is being

awarded the title of „Global Market Leader“ for yet another

year, earning the distinction „Champion 2025“ as part of the

global market leader index of the University of St. Gallen

and the Academy of German Global Market Leaders.

WirtschaftsWoche has awarded the owner-managed valve specialist

GEMÜ the WirtschaftsWoche quality seal „Global Market

Leader – Champion 2025“ for the ninth time in a row. In doing so,

WirtschaftsWoche has recognized GEMÜ‘s renewed inclusion in

the global market leader index in the segment „Valves and automation

components: Valves, process and control systems for sterile applications“.

The global market leader index is compiled using objective criteria

and transparent selection processes under the scientific direction

of Prof. Dr Christoph Müller from the University of St. Gallen,

in cooperation with the Academy of German Global Market Leaders

(ADWM). In a special edition in November 2024, the business magazine

WirtschaftsWoche published a list of almost 520 global market

leaders, including a good 50 companies from Austria and Switzerland.

The researchers designate companies as „Global Market Leader

Champions“ if they are first or second in the relevant market segment,

are represented on at least three continents with their own

production and/or sales companies, have an annual turnover of at

least 50 million euros, and can demonstrate an export share or foreign

share of at least 50% of their turnover. Another important criterion

for a company to obtain the award of „Global Market Leader

Champion“ is to be (owner-)managed with headquarters in the German-speaking

region (Germany, Austria or Switzerland).

As an owner-managed, family-owned enterprise with headquarters

in Ingelfingen-Criesbach (Baden-Württemberg), 25 subsidiaries

and eight manufacturing sites worldwide, GEMÜ fulfils the

framework conditions. In addition to these prerequisites, it was the

cutting-edge technology and market leadership in the area of valves,

measurement and control systems for sterile applications that served

as a crucial factor for WirtschaftsWoche in awarding the accolade

and the WirtschaftsWoche quality seal of „Global Market Leader

– Champion 2025“ to GEMÜ yet again.

„In the year of our 60th company anniversary, being recognized

as a global market leader once again confirms that we are on the right

track with our focus on innovations. And, in accordance with our anniversary

motto „60 years of GEMÜ – 60 years of the future“, we presented

a totally newly developed product generation this year, which

enables us to respond even more quickly and precisely to customized

requirements. In doing so, we are taking a big step towards the

future and laying the foundation for further successes,“ comments

Gert Müller, Managing Partner of the GEMÜ Group, when talking

about the award.

GEMÜ Gebr. Müller Apparatebau GmbH & Co. KG

D 74653 Ingelfingen


page 25/44

Development of bio-based, climate-neutral

building materials by means of biogenic material

production using phototrophic microorganisms

Based on an industry-oriented competence portfolio, the Fraunhofer Institute for Electron Beam and Plasma Technology

FEP in Dresden offers a broad spectrum of scalable research and development opportunities. Our mission is to apply our

technological innovation potential for novel production processes and to harness it to meet society‘s need for resource

conservation and climate neutrality. Considering the growing demand for climate-neutral building materials, new manufacturing

processes are also being sought in the construction sector. The Fraunhofer FEP is conducting research into innovative

electron beam-assisted processes for increased biogenic limestone synthesis using phototrophic microorganisms

in order to support the decarbonization of the cement industry. In this way, the CO2 footprint of cement formulations can

be further reduced in the future and fossil limestone can be gradually replaced as a primary resource. This research project

will be presented at the BAU 2025 trade fair in Munich, from January 13 – 17, 2025, at the joint booth of Fraunhofer in hall

C2, booth no. 528.

Due to the close links between Fraunhofer

FEP and industry, the results of applied

research are transferred into a wide range

of applications and products. A particular

focus is directed on the strategic research

fields of sustainability, life science and environmental

technologies, and in application

fields such as the construction sector and

smart buildings. In particular, low-energy,

non-thermal electron beam technology

is a multifunctional tool with omnipotent

potential for use in a wide range of environmental

and biotechnological applications

and can be integrated into existing production

lines. Due to growing demands for sustainable

and resource-saving processes and

to achieve climate targets, the need for biobased

substitution processes in the construction

sector is also growing. For ecologically

relevant issues, such as the biotechnological

extraction of resources, the scientists

at Fraunhofer FEP can utilize the chemical

and biological effects of low-energy accelerated

electrons for application-specific process

development.

Germany has set itself the ambitious

goal of achieving climate neutrality by 2045

and reducing greenhouse gas emissions

under the Climate Protection Act, which

represents an enormous challenge for the

industry. The construction sector is one of

the world‘s largest economic sectors, which

is why climate-neutral and circular construction

of the future will require a wide

range of transformations. The development

of new bio-based and sustainable materials

to permanently capture CO2 is a starting

point for research and development that

project manager Dr. Ulla König is working

on in her Biocompatible Materials group at

the Fraunhofer FEP.

Cement, the world‘s most widely produced

material, is indispensable as a binding

agent in the construction industry, with global

cement consumption continuing to rise

REAMODE – Test facility for the modification of organic materials with

accelerated electrons. © Fraunhofer FEP, Finn Hoyer

Fraunhofer FEP photobioreactor for

the cultivation of phototrophic microorganisms

on a laboratory scale under

defined light, temperature and

gas conditions.

© Fraunhofer FEP, Finn Hoyer


page 26/44

due to population growth, urbanization and

increasing infrastructure development. The

cement industry is a major source of greenhouse

gas emissions, which is why climate

neutrality in this sector can only be achieved

through alternative approaches. Decarbonization

is therefore a promising strategy

in which the development of CO2-reduced

cements will be an essential task.

At Fraunhofer FEP, researchers in the

Biocompatible Materials Group, in cooperation

with the institute‘s own biomedical

service laboratory, are conducting intensive

research into the biogenic material development

of secondary limestone using phototrophic

microorganisms that consume CO2.

These are able to fix and convert carbon dioxide

from the atmosphere through photosynthesis.

The focus of the research is to be

able to implement the process of microbio-

logical limestone formation, which has existed

in nature for billions of years, on an industrial

scale and to improve its productivity

so that low-emission building materials can

be produced in later stages that permanently

capture CO2 and thus make a sustainable

contribution to the circular economy.

Group manager Dr. Ulla König explains:

“The optimization and scalability of biogenic

limestone synthesis based on the microbial

biomineralization process plays a key

role for future large-scale applications. At

Fraunhofer FEP, we have therefore combined

the optimization of the biomineralization

of phototrophic microorganisms with

a novel approach. To this end, we utilize the

biostimulating potential of electron beam

technology. We are tapping into the dosedependent

biopositive effect of low-energy,

non-thermal electron beam processes

on the metabolic processes of phototrophic

microorganisms in order to increase the

effectiveness and efficiency of biogenic limestone

synthesis.”

As part of collaborations, circular manufacturing

processes can then be developed

in the next stage of development, including

the recycling of waste and residual materials

to create sustainable, bio-based building

and construction materials. At the BAU

2025 trade fair in Munich from January 13

– 17, 2025, the scientists will present these

new research approaches and other perspectives

at the joint Fraunhofer stand and

will be available for discussions on joint project

ideas and research projects.

Fraunhofer-Institut für Elektronenstrahl-

und Plasmatechnik FEP

D 01277 Dresden

New member on the Romaco Group Board of Management

Ann-Xiaoyan Li appointed new Group CFO

and Managing Director of the Romaco Group

Romaco Holding GmbH has just appointed Ann-Xiaoyan Li as new Group CFO and Managing Director of the Romaco

Group. She succeeds Markus Kimpel, who has stepped out of the company at his own request. Romaco is an international

manufacturer of processing and packaging technologies for the pharmaceutical, food and chemical industries.

Ann-Xiaoyan Li, CFO & Managing Director

Romaco Group

Ann-Xiaoyan Li has just been appointed by

Romaco Holding GmbH as new Group CFO

(Chief Financial Officer) and Managing

Director of the Romaco Group. She will be

responsible in this role for Finance & Controlling,

HR Services and IT Management at

Romaco Holding GmbH as well as Finance

& Controlling at the Romaco Group’s six

production sites and ten international Sales

& Service Centers (SSC). She succeeds Markus

Kimpel, who has left the company at his

own request after five years, during which

he made a decisive contribution to Romaco’s

ongoing development.

“I’m delighted we’ve been able to get

Ann-Xiaoyan Li on board the management

of the Romaco Group and as Group CFO”,

explained Jens Torkel, Managing Director

Romaco Group. “She impressed me with

her clear and pragmatic style of leadership,

which is just what we need to gain optimal

benefit from the synergistic effects within

the group and boost our internal efficiency.

Her presence on the management team will

allow us to continue standardizing processes

throughout our decentralized corporate

structure as we drive the expansion of our

worldwide service network.”

Ann-Xiaoyan Li can draw on extensive

management experience as CFO at various

mid-market companies in the automotive

and commercial vehicle sectors. Among

other things, she can look back on over five

years in charge of financial affairs at a traditional

German manufacturer of automotive

lighting systems. She initially completed a

Bachelor’s degree in International Finance

at Northwest University in Xi’an (China)

before going on to study for a Bachelor and

Master of Business Administration at Bielefeld

University (Germany).

“I’m looking forward with great excitement

and fire in my belly to my new tasks

at this old-established and yet highly dynamic,

globally operating group of companies”,

emphasized Ann-Xiaoyan Li, CFO &

Managing Director Romaco Group. “I see

myself as a reliable partner to the Business

Units, Sales & Service Centers and specialist

departments that report to me, all of which

are united by a common goal: to generate

growth and tap into new markets with a proactive

approach and strategic solutions.”

Romaco Group

D 76227 Karlsruhe


page 27/44

Site manager Albrecht Werner opens Syntegon‘s

new office building at Crailsheim.

Syntegon moves

into a new office building

– State-of-the-art facility built to boost collaboration

– Designed with the customer in mind

– Construction project completed ahead of schedule after 18 months

The leading provider of processing and packaging solutions Syntegon

has completed the construction of its new office building at

its Crailsheim premises. Site manager Albrecht Werner officially

opened the new facility on December 12 before employees moved

in to take up their new workplaces. Syntegon completed the project

ahead of schedule after just over a year and a half in the works. The

building was originally slated to open in the first half of 2025.

The four-story, 2,100 square-meter facility features around 100

new workplaces, a rooftop terrace, and multipurpose collaboration

rooms. It stands as a symbol of Syntegon‘s commitment to seamless

processes and customer-centricity. The building offers the perfect

environment for all customer-facing departments to collaborate,

including Sales, Marketing, Product Management, and Project Management.

Syntegon designed and built the facility to enable the

various corporate functions to best meet customers’ needs. With its

state-of-the-art amenities, the building fulfills the latest standards

for sustainability, accessibility, and acoustics.

„Opened ahead of schedule, our new facility attests to our commitment

to growth and to our Crailsheim site. I want to express my

gratitude to everyone involved for their dedication, and wish my colleagues

great enjoyment and success in their new working environment“,

said site manager Albrecht Werner during the event.

SYNSPACES – a fresh concept for modern working environments

The new office building is one of the first to be designed fully in line

with the SYNSPACES concept. This Syntegon-wide initiative is all

about how people will work together in the future. „We are using

SYNSPACES to create working worlds that foster smooth processes,

innovative ideas, and sustainable solutions,“ says Syntegon project

architect Ulrike Bosch. „This concept prioritizes the unique needs

of all users. It creates zones perfectly suited for cross-departmental

collaboration, while also offering space for creativity and individuality.

This generates real added value.“

The new building on Blaufelder Straße stands as a symbol

of Syntegon‘s aspirations for growth at Crailsheim.

Syntegon Technology GmbH

Blaufelder Straße 45

D 74654 Crailsheim

Telefon: +49 7951 4020

eMail: packaging-ph@syntegon.com

Internet: http://www.syntegon.com


page 28/44

The VDL200 data logger extends the Ethernet connectivity capabilities of the Vaisala

viewLinc Continuous Monitoring system with secure, multi-parameter measurement.

Vaisala’s newest data logger

provides secure environmental

monitoring for GxP compliance

Vaisala, a global leader in weather, environmental, and industrial

measurements, has launched its latest data logger designed for fast

and reliable communication to the viewLinc Continuous Monitoring

System. The new VDL200 data loggers monitor Relative Humidity,

Temperature and Carbon Dioxide in controlled environments

and GxP-regulated applications.

Effortless set-up, Simplified PoE monitoring

The VDL200 data logger combines Vaisala’s proven sensor technology

with viewLinc’s easy-to-use software designed for data integrity

and compliance with global regulations in life science industries.

Ideal for applications where communications performance is a priority,

the VDL200’s Power over Ethernet connectivity simplifies installation

and ensures easy configuration.

“The viewLinc monitoring system is used in thousands of life

science environments globally. While we have a leading wireless

technology with VaiNet, many customers still use hard-wired data

loggers in specific data logging applications. The VDL200 uses a single

cable for power and data, enabling convenient and easy installation,”

said Product Manager Anniina Uotila.

“Many viewLinc users prefer data loggers that monitor multiple

parameters, especially in applications like cleanrooms where

avoiding excess equipment in the environment is commonplace.

The VDL200 has probe inputs for monitoring temperature, relative

humidity, and CO2, providing monitoring solutions for a variety of

applications. Installation of a data logger only requires an Ethernet

port, making it easy to scale from small chambers to large installations.

We’ve also made the data logger extremely simple to set up,

reducing any need for IT understanding or resources. Connectivity

to Vaisala Insight PC software also allows many field-service friendly

features, including on-site calibration.”

More than a measurement device; a flexible sensor platform

Compatible with Vaisala’s high-performance, interchangeable probes,

the VDL200 ensures data integrity with redundant, indelible

data recording. Data is recorded at the point-of-measurement in the

data logger’s internal memory and in viewLinc’s secure data base,

ensuring that no data is ever lost. As the software component of

the Vaisala environmental monitoring system, viewLinc Enterprise

Server provides alarming, real-time trend data, and reports for compliance

with GxP regulations. With the addition of the VDL200, the

system can support network connectivity that matches the demands

of each application, wired or wireless.

Vaisala GmbH

Rheinwerkallee 2

Telefon: +49 228 249710

Telefax: +49 228 2497111

D 53227 Bonn

eMail: vertrieb@vaisala.com

Internet: http://www.vaisala.de


page 29/44

New standard cell architecture offers the most optimal trade-off between

area efficiency and process complexity for logic and SRAM

Imec proposes double-row

CFET for the A7 technology node

At the 2024 IEEE International Electron Devices Meeting (IEDM), imec, a world-leading research and innovation hub in

nanoelectronics and digital technologies, presents a new CFET-based standard cell architecture containing two rows of

CFETs with a shared signal routing wall in between. The main benefits of this double-row CFET architecture are process

simplification, and significant logic and SRAM cell area reduction according to imec’s design-technology co-optimization

(DTCO) study. The new architecture allows standard cell heights to be reduced from 4 to 3.5T, compared to conventional

single-row CFETs.

The semiconductor industry is making

considerable progress in fabricating (monolithic)

CFET devices that are envisioned

to succeed gate-all-around nanosheets

(NSHs) in the logic technology roadmap.

The stacking of n- and pFET devices promises

benefits in power, performance, and

area (PPA) when combined with backside

technologies for power delivery and signal

routing. At the circuit level, however, several

options are still open for integrating the

CFETs into a standard cell to sustain or enhance

the expected PPA benefits. Especially

challenging is the middle-of-line (MOL)

connectivity, i.e., the interconnects that

connect source/drain and gate contacts to

the first metal lines (at back- and frontside)

and ensure top-to-bottom connectivity for

both power and signal.

From a DTCO study comparing standard

cell architectures, imec shows that the

double-row CFET offers the most optimal

trade-off between manufacturability and

area efficiency for A7 logic nodes. This new

architecture starts from a base cell in which

one side of the CFET is optimized for power

connections – including a power rail (VSS)

to deliver power from the backside to the

top device and a direct backside connection

for the bottom device. The other side is optimized

for signal connections by providing

a middle routing wall (MRW) for top-tobottom

connectivity. The double-row CFET

standard cell (with two rows of stacked devices)

is then formed by mirroring two base

cells, which share the same MRW for signal

connectivity (see Figure 1).

Geert Hellings, Program Director DTCO

Figure 2 – Virtual process flow for building a double-row CFET architecture. The process flow, simulated

with 3D Coventor, started from the specifications of a ‘virtual’ CFET fab, projecting future

processing capabilities and design margins (H. Kuekner et al., IEDM 2024). The zoom-in represents

a TEM of a monolithic CFET technology demonstrator fabricated within imec’s 300mm R&D cleanroom

facility (A. Vandooren et al., IEDM 2024).

Figure 1 – Conceptual representation of (a) a single-row CFET and (b) a double-row CFET. The layout

of a flip-flop (D-type flip-flop or DFF) shows a reduction of the cell height & area with 24nm (or

12.5%) when transitioning from a single-row to a double-row CFET (H. Kuekner et al., IEDM 2024).


page 30/44

at imec: “Our DTCO study shows that one

shared MRW for every 3.7 FET is sufficient

to build logic and SRAM cells. This allows us

to further reduce standard cell heights from

4 to 3.5T, compared to ‘classical’ single-row

CFETs. This translates into a significant

area reduction of 15 percent for SRAM cells.

Compared to SRAMs built with, e.g., A14

NSH technology, double-row CFET-based

SRAMs enable more than 40 percent area

shrinkage, providing a further scaling path

for SRAMs.” The double-row CFET also

leads to process simplification because of

the shared MRW trench between two rows

of CFET devices. This eliminates the need

for an extra high-aspect-ratio via to connect

the top and bottom devices, if necessary,

reducing MOL processing complexity and

cost.

“Since the 7nm technology node, standard

cell optimization through DTCO is

providing an increasingly large share of node-to-node

density increase, in addition to

conventional device scaling,” adds Geert

Hellings. “For our DTCO study on CFET

architectures, we started from the process

capabilities envisioned in future CFET fabs

to ensure industry-relevant process flows

(Figure 2). In addition, we validate our virtual

fab concept with technology proofsof-concept

performed in imec’s 300mm

cleanroom. This combination of virtual fab

and real pilot line activities is a crucial step

in advancing our roadmaps.” As such, also at

IEDM, imec experimentally demonstrated a

key building block of this double-row CFET

architecture: a functional monolithic CFET

with direct backside contact to the source/

drain of the bottom pMOS device. This was

realized through EUV backside patterning

that ensured dense backside power and signal

wiring and tight overlay (<3nm accuracy)

between the source/drain created from the

frontside, backside contact, and subsequent

backside metal layers (Figure 2).

IMEC Belgium

BL 3001 Leuven

Braunform wins the prestigious

“Excellence in Production” 2024

competition in the category “External

Tool & Die Making above 50 Employees”

For more than 20 years, the Laboratory for Machine Tools and Production

Engineering WZL at RWTH Aachen University and the

Fraunhofer Institute for Production Technology IPT have been selecting

the mold maker of the year as part of the “Excellence in Production”

award. On September 26, 2024, the jury nominated twelve

companies for the final for the title of “mold maker of the year 2024”.

The finalists were selected by a ten-member jury from science, politics,

associations and industry after experts from the Laboratory

for Machine Tools and Production Engineering (WZL) at RWTH

Aachen University visited and audited the best-placed companies.

Technological performance, organizational excellence, future-proof

Left to right: Oliver Bornhäuser, Christian Himmelsbach, Thomas Adler,

Joachim Stiller, Klaus Bühler, Verena Bohnhorst, Erich Braun.

corporate orientation and sustainability activities were evaluated.

This year, Braunform GmbH was awarded with the prestigious

title in the category “External Tool & Die Making above 50 Employees”

in the “Excellence in Production” award. The award ceremony

took place on 13.11.2024 in the magnificent Coronation Hall of

Aachen City Hall and was a highlight of the industry.

“I am very proud! A very big thanks to our fantastic team! This

award was only possible thanks to their tireless commitment, enthusiasm

and loyalty. We are celebrating this success together”, says Pamela

Braun, Managing Partner of Braunform GmbH.

The jury was particularly impressed by the overall standardization

of the mold shop at Braunform through the innovative MED

Mold® standard, which ensures the safe use of injection molds in

clean rooms. With an air-conditioned production area and a high

degree of automation in eroding and milling, Braunform is setting

new standards in the industry. The company also emphasizes the

training of young talents in a state-of-the-art apprenticeship department.

Since its foundation in 1977, Braunform GmbH, with 380 employees,

has developed into one of the world‘s leading companies

in plastic mold making for medical technology. Braunform offers

full-service engineering and specializes in multi-component molds,

multi-cavity molds and molds for medical technology. The fully airconditioned

precision mold shop serves the pharmaceutical, precision

farming and personal care industries.

Braunform GmbH

D 79353 Bahlingen


page 31/44

Sustainable growth:

Syntegon achieves SBTi validation

– Sustainability confirmed as key element of Syntegon’s corporate strategy

– Syntegon aims to reduce Scope 3 CO2 emissions by 25 percent, as well as Scope 1 and 2 emissions

by 48.3 percent until 2030

– Lifecycle approach along the value chain: from seamless processes and innovative technologies to sustainable solutions

Syntegon has accomplished another milestone

in its sustainability strategy. The

Science Based Targets initiative (SBTi) has

officially validated the company’s climate

targets, confirming their relevance in achieving

the global 1.5°C objective. Sustainable

solutions are a cornerstone of Syntegon’s

corporate and growth strategy: until 2030,

the processing and packaging specialist

aims to reduce its so-called Scope 1 and 2

emissions by 48.3 percent compared to 2019

– these result from direct emissions from

owned and controlled sources, such as heating

fuel, as well as indirect emissions from

purchased energy, such as electricity. Additionally,

Syntegon plans to cut its Scope

3 CO2 emissions, which include emissions

from purchased goods and the use of sold

machines, by 25 percent compared to 2022.

“This is an ambitious goal, as our machines

are designed for a long lifespan and we need

to plan well into the future,” explains Steffen

Carbon, coordinator for development

methods at Syntegon. “By establishing longterm

partnerships with our customers, we

support them on their way to more sustainability

– with newly developed, resource-efficient

technologies and lifecycle services.”

Ambitious targets with real reductions

The SBTi develops standards, tools, and

guidelines that enable companies to set

themselves targets for reducing greenhouse

gas emissions to limit global warming to

1.5°C and achieve a net-zero level by 2050.

The validation confirms that Syntegon’s

sustainability targets are in line with this

goal. While being an ambitious target, it

addresses the right levers as Scope 3 alone

accounts for 95 percent of the company’s

total CO2 emissions, primarily caused by

the operation of its machines at customer

premises. And Syntegon goes even further:

“We opt for real reductions rather than CO2

compensations,” Carbon underlines.

The SBTi develops standards and tools to

help companies set targets for reducing

greenhouse gas emissions with its work,

the SBTi supports the goal to limit global

warming to 1.5°C..

Sustainable supply chain through

reduced energy use

and lower emissions

Syntegon focuses on reducing the energy

consumption of its machines. This not only

significantly reduces emissions, but also

lowers operating costs. Sustainability along

the entire supply chain is also a top priority

for Syntegon. This includes measures

to reduce emissions with environmentally

friendly alternatives such as green steel and

renewable energy in its own production.

“Thanks to our comprehensive goals, we are

a reliable partner for customers who also set

high standards for sustainability and increasingly

expect the same from their suppliers.

We share their values and actively support

them in implementing a future-proof sustainability

strategy,” explains Torsten Türling,

CEO of the Syntegon Group.

Syntegon’s climate targets have been validated by the Science Based Targets initiative (SBTi),

reinforcing the company’s commitment to sustainability as a key part of its growth strategy.

Syntegon Technology GmbH

Blaufelder Straße 45

D 74654 Crailsheim

Telefon: +49 7951 4020

eMail: packaging-ph@syntegon.com

Internet: http://www.syntegon.com


page 32/44

Arburg at Formnext 2024

ARBURGadditive impresses with

innovative applications and new machine

– Varied: Innovative applications, new materials and research projects for industrial 3D printing

– Special: Dedicated exhibition area for medical technology

– Freeformer 550-3X: New industrial 3D printer is very well received by the public

At Formnext 2024 in Frankfurt, Germany, ARBURGadditive showcased its broad

portfolio for industrial production based on plastic granules, filaments and

liquid silicone (LSR) with a total of six machine exhibits and numerous component

examples. Highlights included the premiere of the Freeformer 550-3X, the

„Medical“ exhibition area, and new materials for industrial 3D printing. Innovative

applications and research projects from the fields of medical technology, mobility,

aviation and electronics rounded off the thoroughly successful trade fair

appearance.

„With our variety of processes, materials and

applications, we have a suitable solution

for a wide range of additive manufacturing

requirements. We were very satisfied with

both the number of trade visitors and the

quality of the discussions and interest in

specific solutions to problems,“ summarised

Martin Neff, Director Sales APF at AR-

BURGadditive. „Customers from both the

injection moulding sector and industrial

additive manufacturing are interested in the

solutions we offer worldwide.“

Expanded range of materials

As of Formnext 2024, two new materials are

available for use in ARBURG Plastic Freeforming

(APF) with the Freeformer: TR 90,

which is approved for food and drinking

water, and LMPAEK as an alternative to

another available material, PEEK. For the

medical technology sector, the company

also presented implants made of resorbable

materials and a cartilage replacement made

of TPE that can eliminate the need for major

knee operations.

Capacitive sensors were a highlight in

the electronics segment – a first result of

the „Seestern“ (Starfish) research project,

which aims to combine the APF process

for plastic components with StarJet technology

for metal printing in a Freeformer

and develop it for industrial applications.

One customer project presented, for example,

were hollow valve housings that can be

produced with a Freeformer 750-3X in an

With its wide range of machines, materials and applications for industrial 3D printing, ARBURGadditive

was a crowd-puller at Formnext 2024. (Photo: Arburg)

airtight and resilient hard/soft combination.

The fast and cost-effective production

of grippers and operating materials was

also demonstrated using many application

examples and was very well received by the

trade visitors.

On the topic of sustainability, there were

presentations on recyclable support material,

the processing of Arboblend bioplastic,

and the ORAM research project, which

aims to create a material cycle from plastic

aircraft components. The advantage of the

APF process is that flakes and granules can

be processed, with no further process step

required for the production of filaments.

Machine premiere

A prototype of the Freeformer 550-3X with

the latest technology for processing a wide

range of different original plastic granules

using the APF process celebrated its machine

premiere at Formnext 2024. The machine

was also equipped with the Gestica

control system‘s new production assistant,

designed to actively support operators so

that even non-experts can additively manufacture

components in a reliable, errorfree

process and to a high standard of quality.

The additive manufacturing of complex

components from original LSR is unique.

For this purpose, the LiQ 5 3D printer from

innovatiQ is now equipped with a second

print head for the discharge of support material.

A Freeformer 750-3X equipped for

high temperatures processed Ultem 9085

with support material, which is of interest

to the aerospace industry, while a TiQ 8 filament

printer demonstrated the additive

manufacturing of components made from

flame-retardant materials such as PC and

PEKK. In turn, the TiQ 2 entry-level machine

is ideal for the 3D printing of grippers and

operating materials.

ARBURG GmbH + Co KG

D 72290 Loßburg


page 33/44

Ahead of the Curve

ASYS Group Technology Days 2024:

A Record-Breaking Celebration of Innovation

The ASYS Group hosted a highly successful Technology Days event from October

23 to 24, 2024, at its headquarters in Dornstadt, Germany. Welcoming a record

number of over 350 enthusiastic visitors from industries including Electronics,

Life Science, and Energy, the event showcased cutting-edge technologies across

1,000 square meters of exhibition space. From a new software platform to an AIpowered

solution, ASYS presented its latest advancements, solidifying its position

as a leader in automation and innovation.

A Deeper Dive: Keynotes

and Tech Sessions

Under the theme „Ahead of the curve“ the

two-day event offered four inspiring keynotes

and 16 in-depth tech sessions. Kicking

off the program, ASYS Group CEO Jürgen

Ries shared the company’s vision, driving

innovation across all business segments: „I

don’t see another company in our industry

delivering this level of innovation while making

customers feel part of our journey.“

Highlights from the event included:

– SynapticaOS Launch: ASYS introduced

its groundbreaking software platform,

SynapticaOS. This re-invention of industrial

software combines the simplicity of

consumer software with robust industrial

capabilities, it enables instant data availability,

eliminates redundant data entry,

and enhances operational efficiency. Visitors

were impressed by its user-friendly

design, requiring minimal training.

– Sustainability Focus: Discussions centered

on the importance of reducing the

product carbon footprint. Energy efficiency

features in the VEGO GenS Line, a

key ASYS innovation, were well-received

as decisive factors for future investments.

Keynotes: Bridging Innovation

and Inspiration

On Day 2, big wave surfer and adventurer

Freddy Olander delivered a captivating

keynote, drawing parallels between conquering

extreme challenges and pushing

technological boundaries. His message,

„Riding the Wave of Innovation,“ resonated

with the audience, inspiring bold, forward-thinking

approaches.

Other keynote highlights included:

– Frank Häußler from ZSW (Center for

Solar Energy and Hydrogen Research

Baden-Württemberg) in Ulm, discussing

advancements in fuel cell technology.

– Dr. Sebastian Tepner, Director of

Technology at EKRA, emphasizing

ASYS’s customer-centric philosophy.

Tech Sessions: Spotlight on Innovation

The event featured specialized tech sessions

of ASYS Group experts, including:

– Energy Sector: Franz Plachy, Director of


page 34/44

Business Development Printing, presented

innovations in bipolar plate manufacturing

and advanced printing technologies

for high-volume production.

– Life Science Integration: Oliver Bleher,

Director Life Science Technology, demonstrated

how integrating Design for

Automation (DfA) into medical device

development streamlines the transition to

automated production.

Looking Ahead

ASYS’s Technology Days 2024 not only

highlighted its current achievements but

also set the stage for future innovation. With

a commitment to advancing automation,

sustainability, and customer-centric solutions,

ASYS is poised to lead the industry

into the next era.

CEO Jürgen Ries summed it up best:

„Markets are tough, but the potential is immense.

It’s our mission to deliver tailored

benefits and address future customer needs.

- We want to get our customers in prime

position to ride the wave that is sweeping

through the industry.”

Conclusion

The Technology Days 2024 were a resounding

success, blending inspiration, technical

innovation, and customer collaboration. As

ASYS continues to embrace challenges and

opportunities, the industry can look forward

to more groundbreaking solutions from this

automation pioneer.

ASYS Prozess- und Reinraumtechnik GmbH

Lerchenbergstraße 31

D 89160 Dornstadt

Telefon: +49 7348 98560

Telefax: +49 7348 985691

eMail: info@asys-reinraum.de

Internet: http://www.asys-reinraum.de

Three internal additions will join existing managing directors to serve the company

Vetter strengthens senior management team

for further sustainable growth

Das neue Vetter-Führungsteam ab 1. Januar 2025: Titus Ottinger,

Thomas Otto, Henryk Badack, Peter Sölkner, Carsten Press (v.l.n.r.).

© Vetter Pharma International GmbH

We have announced the appointment of three senior leaders to take

on the role of managing directors alongside Thomas Otto and Peter

Soelkner. As of January 1, 2025, Henryk Badack, Titus Ottinger and

Carsten Press will join the management team to continue guiding

Vetter on its path of sustainable growth.

“We at Vetter are committed to investing in our future and the

continuous successes of our customers,” shared Senator h.c. Udo J.

Vetter, Chairman of the Advisory Board and member of the owner

family.

“By expanding the managing directors’ team, we are continuing

the course for a sustainably successful future and further growth. Ultimately,

we view this enhancement as a commitment to meeting the

increasingly complex needs and expectations of our global customer

base, in order to take care for patients in need worldwide. We take

great pride in welcoming our three new managing directors to their

upcoming roles.”

Henryk Badack will lead the company’s quality and development

service departments. In his prior role, he served as Senior Vice President

Technical Services and Internal Project Management where he

was responsible for all internal, technical and infrastructure projects

as well as the plant and site development, environmental health and

safety, and Vetter Optimization Systems. He also previously led the

company’s global sustainability initiatives, starting with the company

in 2003.

Titus Ottinger will continue to lead finance and controlling, moving

from Senior Vice President Finance & Controlling to Managing

Director. He has been responsible for the company’s finances and

external accounting. Risk management, insurance, and information

for controlling business processes are likewise under his guidance.

He originally joined Vetter in 2004.

Carsten Press joins the Managing Directors’ team with responsibility

for the company’s supply chain management and human resources

departments. Previously, he served as Senior Vice President

Global Sales Organization & Supply Chain Management where he

oversaw the global sales and supply chain organization along with

product management and marketing. He has been with the company

since 2009.

Thomas Otto and Peter Soelkner will both continue their successful

leadership roles within the company. Under their guidance,

the pharmaceutical service provider has experienced a remarkable

positive development in the past decades. Thomas Otto will continue

to lead the production/engineering and technical service/internal

project management departments. He has served as a Managing

Director since 2002. Peter Soelkner, serving as a Managing Director

since 2008, will continue his role with a focus on corporate development

and global sales.

The expansion of the management board takes into account the

departments’ increasing growth and importance. It signals our role

as a growing, global and independent operating industry leader.

Vetter Pharma International GmbH

D 88212 Ravensburg


page 35/44

(Image source: Deutsche Messe AG)

21st parts2clean (7 – 9 October 2025)

parts2clean 2025:

Enhanced role for parts

cleaning in industry

Technological and societal changes are forcing industrial

companies around the world to make changes – not only

to their products and services, but also to their production

technology and supply chains. As a result, the sphere of

industrial parts and surface cleaning is faced with a set of

new tasks and challenges. parts2clean 2025 will be showcasing

an expanded range of solutions, accompanied by an

extensive supporting program. From deburring, degreasing

and classic component cleaning to high-purity applications,

the exhibition covers an even more comprehensive range

of applications than the previous event. The 21st edition of

the leading international trade fair for industrial parts and

surface cleaning will be staged at the Stuttgart Exhibition

Center, running from 7 to 9 October 2025.

With its globally unique range of solutions for component and surface

cleaning, parts2clean covers the gamut of industrial tasks. As

the leading international trade fair for its field, it not only aims to

reflect the market, but also to promote professional networking and

provide users with the inspiration for efficient, reliable and sustainable

solutions to new cleaning tasks. “This is why, in addition to the

core areas of industrial parts and surface cleaning, the next chapter

of the highlight topic, ‘High Purity’, will be opened at the upcoming

parts2clean,” reports Christoph Nowak, Project Director at Deutsche

Messe. “What is more, there is going to be a much stronger focus on

the topic of deburring than in the past,” he adds.

High purity – the next chapter

When the topic of “high purity” was introduced at the last event,

(Image source: Deutsche Messe AG)

the focus was on the terminology used by the cleaning industry in

this area and the relevant aspects to be considered, such as the production

chain and the production environment. “Under the motto

of ‚High Purity. Next Chapter’, the spotlight at parts2clean 2025

will increasingly be on applications-focused factors and criteria,”

explains Christoph Nowak. The organizers are thus taking into account

the growing number of cleaning tasks in which extremely high

requirements for particulate cleanliness, sometimes down to the

nanometer range, and particularly strict specifications regarding residual

film contamination must be met, in part involving the use of

hydrogen-induced outgassing (HIO) substances. Cleaning solutions

for such tasks are required in the semiconductor, optical and optoelectronic

industries, electronics, sensor technology, photonics, thinfilm

technology, vacuum, laser and analysis technology, aerospace,

defense technology, medical and pharmaceutical technology as well

as in various areas of e-mobility.

Deburring reloaded

The deburring production step has been part of the parts2clean

exhibition spectrum from the very beginning. Widely growing demands

on particulate cleanliness have made it the focus of another

highlight topic at the upcoming event. The new requirements cannot

be achieved without optimally deburred components. “In discussions

with exhibiting companies and visitors, it became clear that

they would like to see a much stronger representation of the topic

of deburring at parts2clean, due to the enormous dependence on

technical cleanliness,” according to Christoph Nowak. “parts2clean

not only fulfills this wish, but also presents the holistic process of

component and surface cleaning in even greater detail.”

Future-proof, sustainable and efficient cleaning

Thanks to the expanded exhibition portfolio with the highlight topics

of high purity and deburring, parts2clean presents the most ad-


page 36/44

vanced and comprehensive range of solutions worldwide for current

and future tasks. Automation, digitalization, artificial intelligence

(AI) and resource efficiency as well as stricter regulatory requirements

in several industries also play a role. “This makes parts2clean

the ideal international information and procurement platform for all

sectors of industry,” adds Christoph Nowak.

Comprehensive supporting program, including the p2c.Expertforum,

on offer

The supporting program of the flagship trade fair, including the bilingual

p2c.EXPERTFORUM, features as a mainstay of the event.

Established in response to industry demands for an expert forum,

the event is organized and held in cooperation with the Fraunhofer

Cleaning Division and the German Industrial Parts Cleaning Association

(FiT). English-language p2c.TOURS enable visitors to find

out more about specific topics and trade fair highlights. In addition,

the new p2c.WEBINAR program covers the knowledge requirements

for industrial parts and surface cleaning during the biennial

tradeshow off-years. The first event, free of charge for attendees,

took place on 4 December 2024.

Deutsche Messe AG

D 30521 Hannover

Ecovadis Sustainability Award

Gold again for Arburg

– Award: Gold medal from Ecovadis

– Top position: Arburg among the top five per cent

– Tradition: Sustainability firmly rooted in the company‘s DNA

Arburg has done it again in 2024 with another Gold Medal from Ecovadis! A great achievement, especially as the requirements

have been raised again compared to the previous year. Scoring a total of 78 points, Arburg was able to secure a leading

position among the top five per cent of the world‘s most sustainable industrial companies, thereby receiving impartial confirmation

of the success of its extensive sustainability activities under the arburgGREENworld programme.

Ecovadis is a comprehensive sustainability rating platform for global

supply chains. In addition to environmental impact and sustainable

procurement, the focus is also on ethics as well as labour and human

rights. In all four areas, Arburg improved further compared to

the previous year with its score of 78 points, putting it in the top five

per cent of more than 100,000 companies whose data is evaluated

by Ecovadis.

Decades-long focus on sustainability

„We are very proud to have once again been awarded an Ecovadis

Gold Medal,“ says Managing Partner Michael Hehl, responsible for

Premises Development and Spokesperson for the Management

Proud of their Ecovadis Gold Medal: Managing Partners Michael and

Juliane Hehl. (Photo: ARBURG)

Team. „This is a great result for our sustainability activities. Not only

does it prove that we are doing very well with our arburgGREENworld

programme, but also that we are continuously improving.“

„Sustainability is firmly rooted in the DNA of our family business,“

adds Managing Partner Juliane Hehl, who is responsible for

Global Marketing and Business Development. „That‘s why we have

always invested a great deal in the areas of sustainability and resource

conservation, and on reducing our carbon footprint.“

Clear commitment to reducing greenhouse gases

„With our climate strategy, we are pursuing greenhouse gas reduction

targets validated by the Science Based Targets Initiative (SBTi),“

says Michael Hehl, citing an example of the high standards that Arburg

sets for itself. Arburg GmbH + Co KG is committed to achieving

net-zero greenhouse gas emissions along its entire value chain

by 2050. In the shorter term, the company aims to reduce absolute

greenhouse gas emissions by 42 per cent in Scopes 1 and 2 and by 25

per cent in Scope 3 by 2030, followed by a long-term reduction of 90

per cent in Scopes 1, 2 and 3 by 2050.

„For years now, our Arburg Sustainability Report has been providing

an overview of all arburgGREENworld topics alongside a host

of interesting facts and figures,“adds Juliane Hehl. „This year, we also

published a report in accordance with Global Reporting Initiative

(GRI) Standards, enabling the extensive activities of our company to

be compared internationally. This is an aspect that will continue to

gain in importance in the future.“

ARBURG GmbH + Co KG

D 72290 Loßburg


page 37/44

The new edition of the proven, multifunctional Omniport hand-held measuring device from

E+E Elektronik focuses on increasing efficiency and reducing costs at the same time, especially

for applications in maintenance technology.

Versatile, efficient, convenient - up to 50% time

savings with the new Omniport 40

With the Omniport 40, E+E Elektronik is launching the new generation of its tried-and-tested hand-held measuring device.

The device is characterized by a wide range of measurement options with up to seven measured variables, maximum convenience

and high efficiency. The Omniport 40 is particularly suitable for applications in the areas of maintenance, process

monitoring or servicing. Coupled with an integrated oil database, extensive data logging functions and user-friendly and

flexible operation, the Omniport 40 is the ideal companion for demanding applications in the field or during maintenance

work.

The Omniport 40 hand-held measuring device

has been redesigned both visually and

technically and offers a wide range of measuring

options. A large selection of handheld

and process sensors enables the recording

of various parameters such as temperature,

humidity, flow, dew point (down to -60°

Td), moisture in oil or CO2 - precisely and

on site with just a single device. This saves

time required for individual measurements.

All devices are supplied with a 2.2 calibration

certificate and the connected sensors

can be adjusted directly via the hand-held

measuring device.

Maximum convenience thanks to automatic

sensor detection

The Omniport 40 enables the parallel connection

and use of up to two sensors, which

are automatically detected. The user benefits

from maximum convenience thanks to

the simple interchangeability of the sensors

and the ability to record several measured

variables simultaneously. This not only reduces

the time required and possible sources

of error, but also noticeably increases the

efficiency of measurement data acquisition

and analysis. In addition, the Omniport 40

offers an extensive data logging function

that allows up to 1 million data records to

be stored. This makes it possible to store a

large amount of measurement data over a

long period of time without having to export

the recordings regularly. The stored data can

be retrieved at any time. The high storage

capacity reduces administration costs and

increases the efficiency of data evaluation.

Omniport 40 - The hand-held measuring device

from E+E Elektronik. (Photo: E+E Elektronik

Ges.m.b.H.)

Targeted data collection through

predefined measuring points

With the Omniport 40‘s data-collecting

function, measurements can be recorded

specifically at predefined measuring points.

This enables structured and efficient data

collection, as the user can define precise

measuring points and take recurring measurements.

This not only ensures the consistency

of the measurement data, but also reduces

the amount of manual input required.

Optimized data collection increases accuracy

and helps the user to perform meaningful

analyses in a time-saving manner without

wasting valuable resources.

Optimum oil monitoring thanks

to integrated oil library

The Omniport 40‘s integrated oil library

enables precise monitoring of moisture in

oil and water activity in different types of oil.

You can access an extensive selection of oil

data or add your own data to precisely take

The Omniport 40 offers a wide range of

measuring options. (Photo: E+E Elektronik

Ges.m.b.H.)

into account the specific properties of the

oil used. This function ensures reliable monitoring

of the oil quality, prevents potential

damage, and extends the service life of the

systems. At the same time, maintenance

costs can be reduced thanks to the early detection

of signs of wear.

All devices are supplied with a 2.2 calibration

certificate and the connected sensors

can be adjusted directly via the handheld

measuring device - depending on the

type: 1-point, 2-point, offset or gain.

E+E Elektronik Ges.m.b.H.

Langwiesen 7

AT 4209 Engerwitzdorf

Telefon: +43 7235 6050

Telefax: +43 7235 6058

eMail: info@epluse.com

Internet: http://www.epluse.com


page 38/44

RAUMEDIC Achieves ISCC PLUS Certification

for PVC-Focused Medical Tubing Plant

RAUMEDIC has successfully completed the initial audit

for an ISCC PLUS certification at its PVC-focused plant in

Feuchtwangen, Germany. The certification enables the manufacturing

company to produce sustainable PVC medical

tubing by replacing fossil-based polymers with bio-attributed

alternatives – all while maintaining identical chemical

properties and significantly reducing the product carbon

footprint.

This milestone builds on the company’s prior ISCC PLUS certification

at its Helmbrechts headquarters and strengthens RAUMEDIC’s

ability to support their industry partners in sustainability challenges

effectively.

Supporting MedTech’s Sustainable Transition

Under Growing Regulatory Pressure

Maximilian Hofmann, Sustainability Manager at RAUMEDIC,

highlights the importance of this development: “The ISCC PLUS

standard guarantees traceability and compliance with strict sustainability

criteria across the supply chain. With increasing regulatory

pressure from the EU Green Deal affecting medical technology

companies worldwide, RAUMEDIC can now also provide sustainable

alternatives to PVC-based medical technology components.”

Pioneering Sustainable Custom Material Development

Beyond facilitating a seamless switch from fossil-based PVC to

renewable alternatives for customers looking to replace conventional

PVC tubing with a chemically identical solution, RAUMEDIC

also offers expertise in customized material development. Their

in-house materials department develops specialized formulations

tailored to specific requirements for medical and pharmaceutical

applications.

„Thanks to our in-house compounding capabilities at the

Feuchtwangen facility, we mix and optimize raw materials directly

on-site. This enables us to develop customer-specific formulations,

including ISCC PLUS certified PVC compounds.“, says Jessica

Pemp, Materials Engineer at RAUMEDIC.

Raumedic AG

High-quality PVC tubing for medical and (bio)pharmaceutical

use can now be manufactured based on sustainable materials

at RAUMEDIC’s specialized Feuchtwangen facility.

D 95233 Helmbrechts

Kassow Robots Achieves Cleanroom Certification

Company’s collaborative robots can be deployed to environments where low particle emissions are required, including the

semiconductor industry and many more.

Kassow Robots is proud to announce that its collaborative 7-axis robotic

arm KR1410 was certified for use in cleanrooms fulfilling the

specifications according to ISO 14644-1, Class 5.

Company’s collaborative robots can be deployed to environments

where low particle emissions are required, including the semiconductor

industry and many more.

The certification process marks our efforts to expand the capabilities

of our robots, providing more opportunities in industries that

demand high precision and cleanliness.Additionally, we see significant

opportunities in the pharma and semiconductor industries

today, where cleanroom-certified robots are becoming increasingly

essential. (Dieter Pletscher, Global Sales Manager, Kassow Robots)

The certification creates new opportunities for the company’s

highly flexible collaborative robots in industries with strict hygiene

requirements, such as laboratories, pharmaceuticals, food production,

the semiconductor and electronics sectors.

Kassow Robots designs and manufactures all of its robots with

the same principles and high standards. This assures that the rest of

its portfolio, including the Edge Edition, will deliver performance on

par with the KR1410 in cleanroom environments.

Kassow Robots

DK 2770 Kastrup


page 39/44

Watson-Marlow Fluid Technology Solutions

launches WMArchitect single-use solutions to

optimise biopharmaceutical fluid management

– The new range of WMArchitect single-use solutions is designed to streamline

the process, safeguard products, and reduce regulatory burden for biopharmaceutical

companies

– With an open architecture approach, WMArchitect offers both standard,

ready-to-use single-use assemblies as well as customised designs

– WMArchitect offers complete confidence in product quality with WMFTS

as a trusted and skilled extension of a company’s quality system

Watson-Marlow Fluid Technology Solutions

(WMFTS) has launched WMArchitectTM

single-use solutions to offer a wide range of

biopharmaceutical fluid management innovations

from a single, secure supplier.

The flexible, single-use solutions range

has been developed by building on years

of experience including the predecessor

brands of puresu® and asepticsu®, and is

designed to streamline a biopharmaceutical

company’s process, safeguard its product

and reduce its regulatory burden.

WMFTS, a manufacturer of peristaltic

pumps and associated fluid path technologies,

is now offering customised designs

from an extensive component library to

meet a customer’s specifications, as well as

a selection of standard, ready-to-use singleuse

assemblies.

WMArchitect is a new end-to-end,

single-use fluid path management

solution consisting of:

– Customised designs - single-use assemblies

are custom-designed to meet

a company’s specific requirements. The

open architecture model allows full flexibility

and compatibility with existing

fluid-contact materials used in a company’s

bioprocess.

- Single-use fluid transfer assemblies are

ready-to-use, pre-designed assemblies,

all with lot traceable tubing and components,

which optimise fluid transfer between

equipment and process steps. They

can be selected from a menu of validated

components.

– Fill/finish single-use assemblies that

safeguard therapeutic products during

the filling process with a wide range of

sterility-assured assembly configurations.

Representative assemblies are routinely

tested for bioburden, particulates and

endotoxin.

– Validation testing specialists from

WMFTS support users of WMArchitect

with bioprocessing expertise and tailored

validation packages to help reduce a

company’s regulatory burden.

As a trusted partner and a highly skilled extension

of a biopharmaceutical company’s

quality system, WMFTS works with its customers

to ensure complete confidence in

product quality and sterility assurance.

Nicole Hunter, Head of Global WMArchitect,

said: “By listening to the evolving

needs of our biopharmaceutical customers,

we have created WMArchitect to provide

an expert solution that supports them in

mitigating their regulatory and supply chain

risks.“

“WMFTS understands that often, offthe-shelf

products are merely a starting

point. We customise our standard products

to provide a complete and tested solution

from a single supplier that is tailored to meet

a company’s specific requirements.“

“WMArchitect is ideal for high purity

biopharmaceutical process development,

clinical trials and small to large scale production

batches.“

“We recognise that the most critical

component for maximising performance is

where the tubing meets the pump. Our assembly

solutions are designed synergistically

with our best-in-class Watson-Marlow

peristaltic pump technologies and filling solutions.

With quality built-in, our complete

solutions ensure reliable, repeatable performance

for your most sensitive processes.”

All WMArchitect single-use solutions

are manufactured, pre-assembled and packaged

at WMFTS’ global network of stateof-the-art

Class 7 cleanrooms. The WMFTS

global supply network provides uninterrupted

supply security and robust lead times.

By partnering with WMArchitect, biopharmaceutical

companies can be confident

that supply will keep pace as their business

grows.

To ensure our single-use technology

comes ready to use, and meets the requirements

set by current good manufacturing


page 40/44

practice (cGMP) guidelines, lot traceability

of each component can be made available as

part of our detailed documentation.

For an end-to-end fluid management

solution from a single supplier, WMArchitect

can be used in combination with

best-in-class BioPure components, Watson-Marlow

and Flexicon peristaltic pump

technologies and filling solutions.

A dedicated WMArchitect business

unit and additional resources allow for rapid

turn-around from a supplier that will keep

pace as their customers business grows.

Benefits and features:

– Complete confidence in product quality

– Designed to reduce a biopharmaceutical

company’s validation burden

– Support of internal validation protocols

– Flexible integration with an open archi-

tecture approach

– Use in conjunction with Watson-Marlow

peristaltic pumps or Flexicon filling

systems for an end-to-end fluid management

solution

– Supply security with WMFTS’ global

manufacturing and supply network

Watson-Marlow GmbH

D 41569 Rommerskirchen

The mobile lifting aid ezzLIFTmaster is the solution

Handling products and goods

within industrial clean rooms

Industries related to the production of food

as well as pharmaceutical and chemical products

are often using so called clean rooms

that are created artificially with the help

of air-conditioning. If employees handle

goods, heavy loads, materials or containers

in these conditions, they should rely on specially

constructed handling systems which

do not contaminate these clean rooms.

The mobile lifting aid ezzLIFTmaster of

the German manufacturer Best Handling

Technology is perfectly adequate in terms

of such industrial environments. Meeting

every ISO standard, it corresponds with all

the clean room classifications, as sensitive

products like medicine or chips are manufactured

there: this mobile lifting aid has got

all the required features.

One of these features is the ability to

undergo wet cleaning, for all the electrical

structrures of this mobile lifting aid are covered

by housings of the category IP65.

Yet the ezzLIFTmaster offers even more

of appropriate features und options with regard

to industrial clean rooms.

Elastomer cover panels are provided

If employers and companies deploy machines

and handling systems within clean

rooms, all the devices must be constructed

with an even and smooth geometrical surface

and shape. Without these features, dirt

and particles would superimpose the surface

of every machine. Hence, the mobile

lifting aid ezzLIFTmaster does not have any

gaps or cracks, as these are covered by corresponding

elastomer panels.

Clean air is maintained thanks to an electropolished

chassis

Moreover, a clean room must meet special

requirements of the surface qualities of machines

and handling devices: that‘s why the

ezzLIFTmaster‘s chassis is made of stainless

steel which is electropolished, just like the

cover panels. Therefore the surface roughness

of the mobile lifting aid ezzLIFTmaster

amounts to less than 1,2 micrometers.

A mobile lifting aid an its multiple load

suspension devices: it can be customized

regarding every company using clean

rooms

There are many companies and employees

handling a lot of products, materials, heavy

loads and containers within clean rooms. No

matter what kind of corresponding tasks you

may have or how gruelling your challenge

might evolve: the mobile lifting aid ezzLIFTmaster

can be individually customized, as

various load suspension devices are compatible

with it, thus making up a safe, ergonomic

and productive handling systems for

clean rooms.

For instance, not only grippers for drums,

containers and for heavy loads of every geometrical

shape are possible. Furthermore,

there are forks regarding load carriers, and

platforms being made of stainless steel serve

as load suspension devices and enable

employees to load and unload as well as

transport, lift and drop every heavy container

or good. Yet even more load suspension

devices are available and combinable with

Wherever absolutely clean air is needed, the

mobile lifting aid ezzLIFTmaster is able to

handle every good, product or material in clean

rooms of every industrial sector.

this mobile lifting device, such as grippers

for rolls and coils. They have got one thing

in common: they are made of stainless steel,

they are provided with movable and metalclad

parts, and they are equipped with electric

drives and transmission elements.

A further and great advantage of the

mobile lifting aid ezzLIFTmaster is the fact

that you can order your own and individually

customized load suspension device for your

clean room within your company or factory

in terms of your individual logistical or manufacturing

process.

Best Handling Technology GmbH

D 35452 Heuchelheim


page 41/44

GEMÜ sets a milestone in process

technology with new product generation

With its innovative product generation, the valve specialist GEMÜ is launching

significant new features on the market that are geared towards the requirements

of modern process automation. Under the name LEAP - Lean. Effective. Agile.

Platformized. - GEMÜ is presenting a series of advanced products that impress

with their modular design and flexibility and are based on modern manufacturing

methods. The first available highlights of this new generation include two

new valves and an innovative position indicator, which significantly increase efficiency

and safety in the process.

top-mounted air connections. It is designed

for use in industrial applications and allows

wear parts such as the seal packing, spindle,

seat seal and sealing washer to be replaced

quickly. The anti-rotation lock in the piston

makes it easier to replace the spindle, while

the robust design and optimized geometry

of the valve ensure a high level of process

reliability. In addition, a sight glass above

the optical position indicator prevents the

ingress of dirt and cleaning fluids. Thanks to

downward compatibility, the new actuators

can also be retrofitted to existing systems.

GEMÜ 12A0: Electrical position indicator

for the highest demands

Left and right GEMÜ S40 as globe and angle seat valve, in the middle the tank bottom

valve GEMÜ P40. All products are equipped with the electrical position indicator GEMÜ 12A0.

A central component of the new product

range is the GEMÜ 12A0, an intelligent,

electrical position indicator for pneumatic

process valves of the new product generation.

It offers state-of-the-art communication

interfaces such as Asi-5 and IO-Link.

Thanks to contactless position detection

using Hall sensors, the GEMÜ 12A0 provides

a precise and wear-free solution for process

automation. Noteworthy is the independent

initialization of the module, which

enables simple initial operation and maintenance.

In addition, the integrated sensor

technology enables comprehensive condition

monitoring and forms the basis for

predictive maintenance. Unplanned system

downtimes can be avoided by monitoring

parameters such as temperature, humidity

and operating pressure.

GGEMÜ P40: Efficient tank bottom valve

for sterile applications

The GEMÜ P40 is a new, innovative tank

bottom valve for sterile applications. GEMÜ

P40 is based on the proven Plug Diaphragm

(PD) technology, consisting of a radially sealing

PTFE diaphragm, which ensures hermetic

separation of actuator and medium.

Thanks to its optimized design, the tank

Bottom valve reduces the risk of contamination,

avoids potential sediment deposits

and is easy to clean. The valve body and radially

sealing diaphragm are perfectly matched

to ensure optimum idle characteristics

both when the valve is open and closed. In

addition, the dynamic pretensioning of the

patented PD developed specifically for tank

bottom valves ensures low-maintenance

operation.

GEMÜ S40: Varied globe valve for industrial

applications

The new GEMÜ S40 globe valve is characterized

by its wide range of variants and

long service life. The maintenance effort

and assembly time can be significantly reduced

due to the standardized construction

standards, a central union nut and the

Conclusion:

A leap into the future of valve technology.

With the introduction of the new product

generation, GEMÜ is taking a major step

into the future. The new products not only

offer maximum efficiency and reliability, but

also a high degree of flexibility and modularity.

Whether in the field of process automation,

in sterile applications or in industrial

production - the new generation of GEMÜ

valves provides forward-looking solutions

for demanding requirements.


D 74653 Ingelfingen


page 42/44

Reliable Tamper Evidence for Pharmaceutical Packaging

Schreiner MediPharm Offers

Novel Cut-Through Indicator

for Closure Seals

Schreiner MediPharm, a leading developer and manufacturer of innovative functional

labels for the healthcare industry, is presenting an innovative cut-through

indicator function that makes tampering attempts on closure seals clearly visible.

Its special design enables flexible integration of the security feature offering an

effective and cost-efficient solution for product protection and helping secure

the pharmaceutical supply chain.

Tamper evidence is particularly important

for pharmaceutical packaging. With the new

cut-through indicator function from Schreiner

MediPharm any tampering attempt by

cutting closure seals open becomes visible—

and cannot be made undetectable anymore.

This solution effectively prevents the

frequently used method of tampering with

Mosaic: Once the seal with a cut-through indicator function has been opened,

any attempt to re-close it remains visible. © Schreiner MediPharm

Guilloches: Special graphic design wishes can

be integrated, such as guilloches as an added

authentication feature. © Schreiner MediPharm

folding boxes, by cutting open the seal and

reapplying it with transparent adhesive tape.

The cut-through indicator function is

not designed as a standardized label but as

a modular feature that can be integrated individually

into existing or newly developed

closure seals. The cut-through indicator

function is customized to suit the respective

seal and specific application. The singlelayer

structure enables flexible and cost-efficient

adaptation to various materials and

customer-specific designs. In addition, the

function satisfies the highest security requirements

for pharmaceutical packaging

according to ISO 21976 and the European

Falsified Medicines Directive 2011/62/EU.

Particularly conspicuous die-cutting

contours with thin, long, and highly flexible

strips make lateral shifting or defects caused

by tampering attempts visible. Security features

like raised structures and irregular outer

contours can additionally be integrated

and further enhance the protective effect.

Likewise, special graphic design wishes can

be included, such as guilloches as an added

authentication feature.

Drugs that have been faked or tampered

with pose considerable risks—both to patient

health and to the image of pharmaceutical

companies. Security of the supply chain

plays a key role for pharmaceutical companies

and patients because it is instrumental

in helping prevent tampering and illegal

exchange of original drugs. Schreiner MediPharm

supports the integrity of the pharmaceutical

supply chain with customized

security solutions such as the cut-through

indicator function. This ensures that medications

retain their quality and efficacy and

reach the patient safely.

Schreiner MediPharm

D 85764 Oberschleißheim


page 43/44

New standards in pressure measurement

systems for the semiconductor industry

With the new GEMÜ C33 HydraLine pressure gauge, GEMÜ – the valves, measurement and control specialist from Ingelfingen

– is presenting an innovative solution for the demanding requirements of semiconductor production. As the successor

of the tried and tested GEMÜ C32 Hydra-Dry, the new pressure gauge offers an optimized combination of precision,

reliability and flexibility. Thanks to its ceramic sensor and an innovative sealing concept, the GEMÜ C33 HydraLine sets

new standards in process monitoring.

With this innovative pressure gauge, GEMÜ is offering an ideal solution

for the reliable monitoring of filters, precise back pressure control

and the precise measurement of liquid levels. Furthermore, the

GEMÜ C33 HydraLine enables high-precision pressure monitoring

in numerous process applications.

The centrepiece of the GEMÜ C33 HydraLine is its new sealing

GEMÜ C33 HydraLine

concept, which is innovative and unique on the market. A ceramic

sensor is used here, in which separation of media takes place without

transmission fluid as a transfer medium; this is designated as

a „dry system“. This avoids contamination of the process medium in

the event of a leakage.

The ceramic sensor is also characterized by its high resistance

to chemicals, and ensures precise measurement results even under

extreme conditions.

A key feature of the new sealing concept is the complete envelopment

of the sensor and electronic system by a PTFE sensor sheath.

This design manages without media wetted O-rings and substantially

reduces the number of separation points. Furthermore, the

thickness of the diaphragm significantly delays diffusion.

The new GEMÜ C33 HydraLine pressure gauge will impress you

with its compact design, and can be effortlessly integrated into existing

systems and plants. The modular design enables space-saving

use on valve blocks and facilitates future system expansions. In addition,

the fact that compatibility with the predecessor GEMÜ C32

Hydra-Dry has been considered makes the changeover easier for

existing customers.

Two installation versions are available for maximum flexibility:

The in-line version allows the sensor to be easily integrated into the

piping, without the risk of air cushions that could lead to errors of

measurement. With the dead-end version, the sensor can be replaced

while the process is running – ideal for plants that are in continuous

operation.

With the GEMÜ C33 HydraLine, GEMÜ is offering a futureproof

solution for process monitoring in semiconductor production.


D 74653 Ingelfingen

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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