Products of the Year

Each month, CleanRooms brings you innovative products of interest to you and your industry. As we reach the end of 2004, we've compiled this complete collection of the products we've featured over the past year. From apparel to wafer sorters, you'll find it here in “Products of the Year.”

Quiet efficiency

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A comprehensive line of AC and brushless DC (electronically commutated) fan filter units are available in 4×4-ft., 2×4-ft. and custom sizes. These FFUs are designed with acoustically quiet and high-efficiency fans and motors. Brushless DC units incorporate voltage and universal frequency AC power input designed to enable use of one model for both U.S. and overseas applications. Options include room-side replaceable filters, carbon filtration, acoustical insulation that meets UBC flame spread and smoke requirements, and a packaged control and monitoring system.
CLEANPAK International
Clackamas, OR
www.cleanpak.com

Low power-consumption FFU motors

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The MicroWatt motor options to the company's SAM Group of FFUs are available in 2-, 4- and 6-ft. as well as 4×4 units. The motors feature lower power consumption designed to result in lower operating costs. When used with the company's Airlink Control System, SAM units with Micro-Watt motors provide complete control from a remote panel or PC, whether linked individually or in groups.
Clean Rooms International Inc.
Grand Rapids, MI
www.cleanroomsint.com

Constant flow blower

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Lau Blower Units are engineered as integrated wheel/cone/bracket/motor controller packages. They feature the company's backward-curved centrifugal 12-inch wheel with a GE ECM 2.3 series motor that can be programmed to work in conjunction with the blower's performance curve. The blower assembly is designed to offer constant flow operation across a range of system restriction points, quiet operation, and 30 percent improvement in energy consumption over competitive systems.
Lau Industries
Lenexa, KS
www.lau-ind.com

Next-gen system

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The Next Generation FFU System is designed to offer up to 70 percent energy savings compared to a conventional FFU system, plus greater system control that allows for monitoring, remote access and alterations in airflow. The system is designed for new or retrofit environments in a variety of industries, including semiconductor design and manufacturing, food processing, and biomedical and pharmaceutical production. Using computational fluid dynamics, engineers have designed the Huntair AF 300—a new fan and inlet cone assembly with blades and angles matching the FFU's air-flow requirement.
Huntair Inc.
Corvalis, OR
www.huntair.com

For pharm processing

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The MAC 10 Rx FFU is designed specifically for pharmaceutical processing environments. It combines low sound and vibration with low watts and a low profile designed to minimize the presence of contaminants in critical areas. Designated RSRE for room-side-replaceable-everything, the unit features a room-side replaceable 1/3 horsepower ECM motor and gel-seal HEPA filter. Combined with a field-adjustable digital control unit, the brushless DC motor is designed to automatically compensate for filter loading, thereby maintaining constant airflow velocity.
Envirco Corp.
Albuquerque, NM
www.envirco.com

Motor efficiencies

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The GE ECM 2.3 series motors for FFU systems have a speed range of 300 to 1200 RPM. The motor's permanent magnet DC design lets it maintain its efficiency over a wide speed range—as high as 82 percent, or 20 percent more efficient than a standard induction motor at full load. In constant fan speed, the ECM 2.3 consumes 60 to 80 watts, compared to 400 watts for an induction motor.
GE Industrial Systems
Plainville, CT
www.geindustrial.com

FFU for ceiling or wall

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The F2000 is designed to be installed in a T-grid, gypsum ceiling or in a wall or horizontal installation for increasing air changes per hour in any room in need of upgrading. Constructed of stainless steel, the FFU can draw air from the top or ends. Variable speed control allows for a minimum of 60-150 FPM, with an average noise level of 63 db. The motor/blower design allows for 90 FPM average. Certified and tested before shipping, the F2000 is available in 2×2-ft. and 2×4-ft. as well as custom sizes.
Laminar Flow Inc.
Ivyland, PA
www.laminarflowinc.com

Noises off

Constructed with proprietary sound-inhibiting materials, the Eagle FFU is designed for performance while maintaining exceptionally low decibel readings (below 50) especially suited for cleanrooms with a higher percentage of filter coverage. The Eagle is available in 115 V or 277 V models, and in 2×4-ft. and custom sizes.
Facilities Inc.
Oregon City, OR
www.facilitiesinc.com

Jazz up your room

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The JazzFM fan filter module provides filtration for use in conventional and softwall cleanrooms. The module can be used to retrofit and upgrade an existing area or provide clean air at the point of use. The standard unit draws 1.1 amps for the 115 V version, or .55 amps for the 230 V model. Options include 12-inch duct collar, room-side replaceability, and ULPA filtration.
Ultrapure Technology Inc.
Suwanee, GA
www.ultrapuretechnology.com

Low-cost polyester

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The Novation line of private-label supplies includes a low-cost, high-quality 9×9-inch polyester wiper. The product is laser cut, laundered, double-bagged, and available in various quantities. The company's catalog also offers a diverse mix of wipers from other leading manufacturers.
Cintas Cleanroom Resources
Cincinnati, OH
www.CintasCleanroom.com

Sterile polyester/cellulose

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Comprised of durable hydroentangled polyester/cellulose, and sterilized using gamma irradiation, SterileSorb nonwoven wipers are designed for general purpose cleaning in sterile environments. The extra-absorbent fabric features low levels of particles and extractables. Wipers, available in 9×9-inch and 12×12-inch sizes, are packaged in peelable outer bags and linear tear inner bags. Embossed lot numbers on both bags ensure lot traceability.
Contec
Spartanburg, SC
www.contecinc.com

Thermally-sealed wipers

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ThermaSeal 60 hot-cut polyester wipers are for all-purpose cleaning in critical environments. Thermally-sealed edges provide fiber control. Products are available in 9×9-inch and 4×4-inch sizes, and feature good absorbency, wiping efficiency and abrasion resistance. Recom-mended for ISO Class 3-5 cleanrooms where fiber control is essential, ThermaSeal wipers are produced and packaged in an ISO Class 4 cleanroom laundry. Double-knit construction allows for rigorous wiping with minimal release of particles and fibers.
ITW Texwipe
Upper Saddle River, NJ
www.itwtexwipe.com

Validated wipes

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Validated sterile wipes are gamma irradiated with Cobalt-60 to a sterility assurance level of 10-6 in accordance with procedures outlined in Standard AAMI/ISO 11137-Method 1. Each shipment is lot-traceable and accompanied by Certificates of Processing and Sterility. Linear-tear packaging is designed for easy use while wearing gloves.
Lymtech Scientific

Chicopee, MA
www.lymtech.com

Nonwoven additions

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Anticon by Milliken has added nonwoven wipers to its portfolio, including the Matrix and Captura brands. Matrix is designed to provide what the manufacturer calls “unparalleled” wiping performance, while the Captura family are billed as the most sorbent nonwovens available.
Anticon by Milliken
LaGrange, GA
www.milliken.com

Testing for quality assurance

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The line of cleanroom wipers from Berkshire is subjected to test properties that contamination-control professionals identify as most critical. Special tests are also conducted for absorbency, specific absorbency, and time to half-sorption. Purity testing includes extractables and metallic ions.
Berkshire Corporation
Great Barrington, MA
www.berkshire.com

Battery-operated counter

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