MARCH 25–AUSTIN, Texas–In response to the rapid growth of demand for touch components in global markets, Touch International has expanded its business operations to new corporate headquarters here.

With close to 22,000 square feet of new manufacturing space, its capacity is expected to increase by 400 percent and will allow the company to three full shifts each day.

The move is part of Touch International’s strategic manufacturing expansion plan, with future planned replication of two other custom solutions centers in Europe and Pacific Rim. With Touch International’s high volume manufacturing facilities in Japan and Malaysia, this move allows Touch International to offer a complete touch solution from prototyping to custom to high volume touch sensors.

The Austin Custom Solutions Center will allow Touch International to double its local employee base and is a full optical lamination cell factory featuring cleanrooms with specialized equipment for manufacturing a wide range of touch screen technology. The Austin factory currently builds custom products for internationally known, Fortune 1000 corporations such as Rockwell Collins, and the US Air Force and services the aerospace, military, industrial, and medical markets.

At the new production facility, employees are currently assembling Digital Ink, the world’s thinnest and only form fitting, unbreakable touch screen. This new touch technology that Touch International recently released brings the functionality of a touch screen to any material, including a window store front, table top, or bullet proof glass.

Compiled by Steve Smith

Worldwide growth in pharmaceuticals and biotechnology, plus a move toward global adaptation of ISO standards, make the particle counter an increasingly important tool for contamination control. Here are some of the newest devices and enhancements:

Battery-operated counter

Click here to enlarge image

The Solair 5100+ line of battery-operated laser particle counters offer a sensitivity of 0.5 µm and a flow rate of 1.0 cfm (28.3 LPM), with a wide dynamic range up to 25.0 µm. The series features a new large, color (5.7″) backlit touchscreen interface. Particle count data from six channels and from up to four environmental sensors can be stored—all downloadable to either computer or the counter's own built-in thermal printer. A lithium-ion battery is rechargeable. The manufacturer says its instrument can be used as a stand-alone portable counter or integrated into a larger facility-monitoring or management system.
Lighthouse Worldwide Solutions
Milpitas, CA
www.golighthouse.com

Portable airborne particle counter

Click here to enlarge image

Portable APC airborne particle counters are used for the detection of particulate contamination in controlled environments, or anywhere particulate contamination is a concern. Features include 0.2-micrometer particle sensitivity, ability to measure six size ranges simultaneously, 1 cubic foot per minute flow rate, and three concentration modes (total particles, particles/m³, particles/L and particles/ft³.
Biotest Diagnostics Corp.
Denville, NJ
www.BiotestUSA.com

Facility monitoring software

Click here to enlarge image

CIMScan facility monitoring software is designed for easy monitoring of particle counter instrumentation and key parameters in critical areas of a facility. The software provides a complete environmental monitoring solution and, according to the company, typically requires no special training for configuration and use. Parameters monitored include particle counts, filter conditions, airflow rates, electrostatic discharge, temperature, relative humidity and differential pressure. Collected data can be analyzed in real time or linked to an ODBC database or Microsoft Excel program.
Hach Ultra Analytics
Grants Pass, OR
www.hachultra.com

Four-parameter particle counter

Click here to enlarge image

The Kanomax Model 3886 (shown with optional probes) hand-held particle counter is, according to the manufacturer, the only instrument of its kind on the market that is capable of measuring four parameters: particles, air velocity, temperature, and relative humidity. The device measures five particle sizes (0.3, 0.5, 1, 3 and 5 µm), and is designed to hold 500 samples in data memory. The company says that its Model 3886 is especially suited for monitoring and verifying cleanrroms and test filters, and for tracking down particle sources. A new three-channel version particle counter will be introduced this month at CleanRooms East/PDA.SciTech Summit in Orlando, Fla.
Kanomax USA Inc.
New York, NY
www.kanomax-usa.com

Thermally-chilled counter

Click here to enlarge image

Billed as the first monitor to use a thermally-chilled, solid-state diode laser to count 0.1 µm particles, the LASAIR II-110 aerosol particle monitor is designed to provide accuracy and reduced operating costs while offering a three-year laser warranty. The device stores 3,000 samples, provides a wide range of data collection and recipe features; and, according to the manufacturer, the LASAIR II-110 is the only particle counter you can control from your desktop Web browser as it samples in the cleanroom and then downloads data in Excel. (You can also download the data into FacilityNet for advanced analyses and reports.)
Particle Measuring Systems
Boulder, CO
www.pmeasuring.com

JULY 15–MILPITAS, Calif.–Lighthouse Worldwide Solutions has unveiled the Handheld 2016, a 0.2-micron particle counter that displays both cumulative and differential particle count data.

According to Lighthouse, the 2016 also displays temperature and relative humidity data on a 3.8-inch touch screen.

A removable lithium ion battery not only maximizes uptime, but allows the unit be a mobile particle monitor as well as a part of larger facility management system as well. Data is downloaded using the Lighthouse’s LMS Express software.

The 2016 also features a user-friendly touch screen and a handle design for comfort. The unit has a large memory for storing data and has a built-in temperature/relative humidity sensor as well.

November 27, 2001 — HAUPPAUGE, NY — Spectrum Homeland Security Solutions, Inc. (SHSS) has signed an exclusive distribution, marketing and global internet rights agreement with Spectronics Corporation, for the DEGERM-INATOR.

Homeland Security Solutions, Inc. is in a strategic alliance to develop and distribute UV Technology sterilization devices for commercial and residential applications.

The DEGERM-INATOR is a hand held instrument that uses discrete germicidal ultraviolet radiation to kill or render harmless many germs, viruses, microorganisms or other pathogens, these include but are not limited to the following; Escherichia coli (E. coli), salmonella, paratyphi-enteric fever, nitric comma (Cholera), leptospira canicola (infectious jaundice), infectious hepatitis, and influenza. The DEGERM-INATOR sanitizes a wide range of products which people use on a daily basis, such as, computer keyboards, doorknobs, telephone receivers, toilet flush handles and ATM touch screens.

Spectrum Brands will be launching a National Direct Response Marketing Program for the DEGERM-INATOR. Thereafter, Spectrum intends to sell through traditional retail outlets.

“With the recent focus on bacteria and germs and the detrimental effect on our society, we feel that this is a highly effective and practical product to offer to the American people. Additionally, I believe this will be a very successful product for Spectrum Brands,” said Michael J. Burns, president of Speptrum.

For more than 40 years, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has recommended the ultraviolet germicidal method to destroy disease-causing germs.

Sterilizers

These Class 100 sterilizers feature a flush front door with an automatic, pneumatically powered interlock mechanism that incorporates a hidden latch system. The units also come with a touchscreen PLC, temperature recorder, a custom transfer card, a 66-ft3 workspace, and a maximum temperature of 280 degrees Celsius. They are suitable for biotech, medical and diagnostic applications.

Gruenberg

Williamsport, PA

(570) 326-1770

Aerosol particle sensor

Particle Measuring Systems` new family of Airnet aerosol sensors offers a small footprint and provides continuous measurement of contaminants at multiple locations within a cleanroom environment. Sizing sensitivities start at 0.2 microns, and flow rates are available at 0.1 or 1.0 cfm for sampling in critical production areas. Two or four channels are available to enable an operator to analyze specific sizes. Airnet sensors are constructed of non-shedding material and contain no pumps or fans, ensuring non-contaminating operation. Either wall-mounted or on a level work surface, they have built-in status indicators to display power, laser and flow activity on each unit. Data can be transmitted by Ethernet connection, which allows particulate information to be sent directly on the network to a workstation for real-time analysis. PMS also offers a facility monitoring software package called Facility-view, which provides a comprehensive account of the environmental conditions within a cleanroom environment. For situations where a standalone configuration is required, particulate data can be transmitted to a touch screen data acquisition system called Data Touch. Data can be viewed on one screen representing a tabular display, time plot, status conditions, and system parameters.

Particle Measuring Systems, Booth No. 505

Boulder, CO

(303) 443-7100