Universal Display opens flat panel display facility
Flat panel display developer Universal Display opened its new technology transfer and pilot line facility to produce its products. The 11,000-square-foot facility in Ewing, NJ, has a Class 100 cleanroom used to produce flat panel displays made from organic light emitting devices.—LMN
Steris to produce Steris 20 concentrated sterilant in Australia
Steris (Mentor, OH) has received government permission to manufacture Steris 20 concentrated sterilant. Steris 20 is a single-use, low-temperature chemical sterilant sold as part of the company's Steris System 1 sterilant processing system. The system is part of a line of infection prevention and therapy support products.
According to Steris Corp., the company is the first to receive permission to manufacture a liquid chemical sterilant in Australia. The product is produced in the new Steris facility in Auburn, Australia.—LMN
SDA approves ion pasteurization
The U.S. Department of Agriculture (Washington, DC) has approved ion pasteurization for use in meat irradiation. According to the government agency, only this technology eliminates harmful E. coli bacteria in raw meat. The USDA also stated that ion pasteurization effectively reduces levels of other food pathogens, such as Listeria, Salmonella, and Campylobacter.
In a related announcement, Food Technology Service Inc. announced it is offering ion pasteurization to meat processors. The company is located in Mulberry, FL.—LMN
ST Microelectronics to use Extraction System filters in fab
ST Microelectronics will use Extraction Systems' Vaporsorb II filters in its new 8-inch wafer fab in Rousset, France. ST produces semiconductor integrated circuits and discrete devices for the telecommunications, computer and industrial industries.
The fab will use the filters with its deep ultraviolet lithography systems instead of the more traditional charcoal and ion exchange-based options, according to the company. The Vaporsorb II filter system is polymeric catalyst-based, and reduces airborne molecular contamination to less than 100 parts per trillion molecular base. Extraction Systems Inc. (ESI) sells the filters with a three-year service life guarantee.
For more information about the Vaporsorb II filter product line, contact ESI in Franklin, MA, at (508) 553-3900 or visit their website at www.extractionsystemsinc.com.—LMN
UVP acquires meter maker
UVP Inc. (Upland, CA) expanded its line of light sources and imaging equipment by acquiring MicroPulse Technology, a United Kingdom-based provider of calibration services and a manufacturer of ultraviolet radiometers and light meters.—MAD
IEST members recognized for contributions
The Institute of Environmental Sciences & Technology (IEST) recently recognized the important contributors to the field of contamination control through its 1999 Fellowships. “These people were chosen because they have distinguished themselves over a number of years,” says Julie Kendrick, the IEST's editorial director. “These are the people who come to mind naturally when you think of contamination control,” she adds.
The IEST Fellowships in the area of contamination control were awarded to Robert L. Mielke of Abbott Laboratories, David Jensen of Sematech and Dr. Sheng-Bai Zhu of Asyst Technologies Inc. The three men are known for their efforts to communicate their expertise with others.
Mielke received the James R. Mildon Award for his advancement of the quality of contamination control practices by his continuing development efforts of ISO/TC 209 standards. The IEST noted his willingness to share knowledge through IEST programs and tutorials. He also received this award in 1991. Mielke says that he volunteers his time as that standard group's secretary and as the IEST Contamination Control Division's technical vice president for two very simple reasons: to give back to an industry that has been good to him and to see that contamination control continues to improve.
“My personal goal is not specific to a standard. I wish to see a consensus brought forward so that the industry itself continues to move forward. I also wish to make sure the documentation explaining this consensus is clear and understandable,” says Mielke, who is the senior metrology engineer for Abbott Laboratories in Lake County, IL.
Mielke's standards work has brought him an unexpected benefit. “I've seen different countries work well together,” he says. “I welcome new involvement in IEST activities. I don't think people realize that their work will filter over to the international activities,” Mielke says. “All it takes is for one person to have a different vision and it turns on a light for the others,” he adds.
David Jensen received the Willis J. Whitfield Award while he was with the Semiconductor Manufacturing Technology organization (Sematech) for his leadership when setting semiconductor contamination control standards baselines and when forecasting the growth of those efforts. Jensen's work with the SIA Defect Reduction Technology Working Group and his continuing presence in its publications and reports give IEST members a plan for the future.
Another specialist also seeking to advance the collective knowledge of contamination control specialists is Dr. Sheng-Bai Zhu of Abbott Laboratories in Fremont, CA, who received the Maurice Simpson Technical Editors Award for Contamination Control. Dr. Zhu distinguished himself with the publication of the following papers:
- “Theoretical Study of Molecular Contamination on Silicon Wafers: Interactions Between Molecular Contaminants and the Silicon Surface.” 1998 Journal of the IEST, July/August 1998.
- “Theoretical Study of Molecular Contamination on Silicon Wafers: Kinetics.” 1998 Journal of the IEST, September/October 1998.
For more information, contact the IEST at (847) 255-1561 or visit www.iest.org.—LMN
Sparta Surgical begins European initiative
Medical device manufacturer Sparta Surgical (Concord, CA) has completed an upgrade of its recently acquired manufacturing facility. The 20,000-square-foot building was part of its purchase of Olsen Electrosurgical, Inc. Sparta has reorganized and combined its operations with Olsen's within this facility.
To pay for the acquisition, Sparta has financed $1,550,000 debt and equity. Company officials say they will also use these proceeds for marketing and sales initiatives, ISO certification, and a CE Mark application. According to officials, these steps are part of Sparta's European push. For more information visit Sparta Surgical Corp. at http://www.spartasurgical.com.—LMN
Big Apple declares Indoor Air Quality Day
You've heard of Earth Day, the day that heightens environmental awareness. Now, attention has turned to the indoor environment.
In fact, at the end of last year, the New York State Legislature unanimously declared November 10 the first New York State Indoor Air Quality Day.
Joining New Yorkers in this event, held at Four Times Square, the Big Apple's first environmentally friendly skyscraper, was the Sheet Metal Air Conditioning Contractors National Association of New York State (SMACNA-NYS). SMACNA held events statewide to highlight the role that quality and construction and maintenance play in achieving high air quality. SMACNA also distributed 3,000 brochures on air quality to schools, public officials, business groups and public interest groups.
As far back as 1982, the National Institute of Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) noted in a report that 52 percent of all indoor quality problems can be prevented or ameliorated by proper ventilation system construction and maintenance. Moreover, the National Energy Management Institute (NEMI) reported in 1993 that $54.4 billion could be gained from improved indoor air quality.
“Most people spend the majority of their day indoors,” says William Freese, president of SMACNA-NYS. “Office workers' health and productivity are affected by the ventilation system. Illnesses such as asthma can be aggravated by poor indoor air quality. Students' health and their ability to concentrate and learn are also affected.”—MAD
Contec now ISO 9001 certified
Contec Inc. (Spartanburg, SC) is one of the few cleanroom consumable product distributors to receive ISO 9001 certification. The company has received other accolades as well. Last year, the Carolina Counseling recognized the company as the 1999 Employer of the Year Award for “improving the lives of citizens of Spartanburg County. And, in 1998, Jack McBride, chief executive of Contec, was also named a Carolinas Region recipient in the Ernst & Young LLP Entreprenuer of the Year Award for Business Leadership in America.—MAD
ISPE acquires GMP Institute
New Year's Day was the date the GMP Institute officially became a division of the International Society for Pharmaceutical Engineering (ISPE; Tampa, FL).
Based in Cincinnati, OH, GMP helps organizations and individuals coordinate, control and improve performance by integrating the institute's goals of productivity, quality, health and safety and regulatory compliance. As a division of ISPE, the GMP Institute will provide ongoing competency training through workshops, on-site training, publications, and on-line interactive training resources. ISPE plans to relocate GMP to Tampa in 2001.
“The GMP Institute is an educational organization that fits perfectly into ISPE's strategic plan,” says Robert Best, president and chief executive of ISPE. “As the society expands more into basic training, we see to offer our members additional services and programs that will help them improve performance.”
For more informtion on the GMP Institute, contact the ISPE at (813) 960-2105 or logon to www.ispe.org.—MAD
The pulse of the IEST
Richard Matthews was voted to serve as the ISO/TC 209 chairman for another three years at the Institute of Environmental Sciences and Technology (IEST;Oak Brook, IL) Fall Conference, held last November in Oak Brook, IL.
At that conference, cleanroom experts from around the world attended three ISO/TC 209 working groups and the ISO/TC 209 technical committee meetings. Several of the working groups will be meeting again in May, including Working Group 5: Operations; Working Group 2: Biocontamination; and Working Group 7: Enhanced Clean Air Devices.
The Contamination Control Advisory Council was also reestablished at the Fall Conference and now includes several IEST Contamination Control Division members, who will assess the status of the division and map its future.
In addition, Karen Von Holtz of CSI Testing was named chair of the reestablished Working Group- CC019; Brian Ivey of Fisher Container Corp. was named chair of Working Group-CC032 and Mike Rataj of Aramark was named chair of Working Group-CC023.
In other news, the IEST says it can answer the question, “What is the ISO/TC 209 and how does it affect you?”
The answers, the IEST says, are found in the January/February issue of the Journal of the IEST, which gives a first-hand perspective of the International Organization for Standardization's “Cleanrooms and associated controlled environments technical committee” documents.
The IEST is the secretariat for ISO/TC 209, which is charged with developing international documents for standardizing equipment, facilities and operational methods. The January/February issue of the Journalfeatures articles from representatives from ISO/TC 209 Working Groups, including Matthews and Robert Spector, IEST president-elect. David Swinehart, chairman of the IEST Working Group CC100, which produced the Federal Standard 209E, provides insight into the process of determining the future of the document with the dawn of ISO/FDIS 14644-1. Reprints of the January/February Journal are $20, plus shipping and handling. To order call IEST publication sales at (847) 255-1561 fax at (847) 255-1699 or e-mail [email protected].—MAD
Hakuto to distribute Extraction filtration systems
The last two months of 1999 were active for Extraction Systems (Franklin, MA).
In November, it announced a strategic alliance with Hakuto Co. Ltd (Japan) for the latter to represent and distribute its filtration systems to Japanese lithography equipment manufacturers. The agreement gives Hakuto exclusive distribution rights to Extraction's VaporSorb II filtration systems. It also allows Hakuto to market Extraction's airborne molecular contamination filtration technology to Japanese lithography equipment manufacturers and end-users.
Weeks after the strategic alliance announcement, in December, Extraction Systems announced that DNS Electronics has approved VaporSorb II polymeric catalyst-based filter systems as a standard option for use on its DUV photolithography equipment.—MAD
EPA fines Micro Pen for unproven claims
The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has fined Micro Pen $35,000 for unsupported claims that its Micro Cleen-Ball Pen contained an antibacterial agent. Micro Pen of USA Inc. (Buena Park, CA) claimed the Micro Cleen-Ball ballpoint pen reduced the chance of such bacterial infections as food poisoning, bronchitis, urinary tract infections and ear infections. The company marketed the product to hospitals, laboratories, and other facilities.
According to the EPA, there is no evidence that products that incorporate pesticides prevent the spread of germs and bacteria in humans. The EPA levied the penalty against the company for violating the Federal Insecticide, Fungicide, and Rodenticide Act by selling unregistered pesticides and for making unsupported claims. Any company that markets a product that destroys or prevents infection from pests must register it as a pesticide. If the product is unregistered, there is no verification of what agent the product contains.—LMN
X-ray/electron-beam food pasteurization facility coming
Particle accelerator manufacturer Ion Beam Applications will build an X-ray and electron-beam food pasteurization facility. Ion Beam Applications s.a. (IBA; Louvain-La-Neuve, Belgium) will use its U.S.-based company, SteriGenics International Inc., to oversee the plant's operation, which is to process 200 million pounds of food annually. The facility is expected to open in late 2000. IBA acquired the Fremont, CA-based SteriGenics in July.
The SteriGenics facility will be located in Bridgeport, NJ, and will use the IBA Rhodotron accelerator technology, which delivers both e-beam and x-ray processes from a single machine at different voltage levels.—LMN
Praxair buys Materials Research Corp. from Sony
Praxair Inc.'s purchase of Materials Research Corp. from Sony in December is apparently all part of a global plan.
In the last five years, Praxair has acquired 17 companies worldwide that provide surface-technology-related services. The purchase of Materials Research is the largest acquisition to date. “[Materials Research] products compliment our emerging business in complex ceramic sputtering targets for similar appplications,” says Thomas von Krannichfeldt, president of Praxair Surface Technologies Inc. “This acquisition enables us to offer a wider range of products.”
Materials Research employs more than 200 people and operates manufacturing facilities in France, Korea and Orangeburg, NY.—MAD