Tag Archives: Clean Rooms

Acquisition strengthens LumaSense’s presence in high growth global sensor instrumentation market

February 9, 2007 — /MARKET WIRE/ — SANTA CLARA, CA and OAKLAND, NJ — LumaSense Technologies, Inc., a leading provider of sensing solutions, and Mikron Infrared (NASDAQ: MIKR) today announced LumaSense Technologies will acquire Mikron Infrared, a leader in the field of infrared non-contact temperature measurement and thermal imaging since 1969. Mikron’s board of directors has approved the transaction subject to receipt of regulatory approval.

“Mikron is an exceptional company with very talented people and unique solutions that will significantly strengthen our position in sensor instrumentation for the industrial, medical and energy markets,” said Vivek Joshi, CEO of LumaSense Technologies. “Mikron provides significant opportunities for synergies in research & development, manufacturing, and marketing & sales. We are excited about what this means for our current and future customers as we continue to complement and enhance our offerings through strategic acquisitions and organic growth.”

Mikron is an innovative provider of infrared non-contact temperature solutions for the industrial, medical and energy markets. The company provides customers with a broad range of instruments with exceptional accuracy and capability, from lightweight, convenient, portable units to process and laboratory instruments, to sophisticated, computer compatible thermal imaging systems. Mikron is also in the forefront in the near and far infrared thermal imaging technology with systems that include high speed, high accuracy, high resolution Thermal Imaging for preventive and predictive maintenance as well as process and research applications.

Commenting on the acquisition, Gerry Posner, CEO of Mikron, said, “Becoming part of LumaSense is a great way forward for Mikron given our complementary offerings and services. We look forward to providing the market with leading edge solutions as we grow our business globally.”

Houlihan Lokey Howard & Zukin acted as financial advisor to Mikron. Arent Fox LLP acted as legal advisor to the Company. Jones Day acted as legal advisor to LumaSense.

About LumaSense Technologies, Inc.
LumaSense Technologies is a global leader in providing quality sensor instrumentation to the industrial, medical and energy markets. LumaSense is an operating company with a strategy to acquire other leading sensor instrumentation companies serving similar customers with complementary technologies and products. LumaSense’s first two acquisitions are industry pioneers with hundreds of global customers: Luxtron Corporation — fiber optic temperature measurement sensors and Innova AirTech Instruments — trace gas monitoring and analysis. LumaSense is backed by Oak Investment Partners, a leading multi-stage venture capital firm with a 28-year history.

About Mikron
Mikron Infrared, Inc., founded in 1969, is a leading, global provider of advanced non-contact temperature measurement products based on infrared technology. It offers a line of infrared temperature measurement instruments, thermal imaging systems, radiometers, spectrometers, and blackbody sources for the calibration of infrared thermometers. These products are used in industries such as steel, glass, semiconductor, chemical, power generation and medical for condition monitoring and preventative and predictable maintenance purposes. Mikron is headquartered in Oakland, New Jersey with manufacturing and sales facilities in the United States and Western Europe.

For More Information Contact:
LumaSense Technologies
Harry Hirschman
408-235-3892
[email protected]

Mikron Infrared
Paul Kohmescher
201-405-0900

SOURCE: LumaSense Technologies

Expansion will serve regional demand growth for semiconductors and flat panel displays

February 12, 2007 — /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ — LEHIGH VALLEY, Pa. — Air Products (NYSE:APD) today announced it has broken ground on the first phase of its nitrogen trifluoride (NF3) plant in Ulsan, Korea. The new production facility, which will be operated by Air Products Korea Electronics, will produce more than 500 metric tons per year when completed in late 2007.

“The recent groundbreaking reinforces our commitment to our semiconductor and TFT-LCD customers around the globe that we will remain the world’s leading supplier of NF3,” said Corning Painter, vice president, Electronics at Air Products.

NF3 is used as a chamber cleaning gas in the manufacture of semiconductors, flat panel displays and other electronic devices. When compared with competing devices, NF3 offers customers significant reductions in emissions, throughput increases of up to 30 percent, longer chamber life and faster clean rates. NF3 is also stable and nonflammable, making it a safe gas to transport, store and deliver to customers around the world.

Upon completion, Air Products global capacity will be more than 2,500 metric tons annually. The company has safely manufactured and distributed NF3 for more than 25 years from its manufacturing facility in Hometown, Pa. Air Products will continue to operate its three existing NF3 plants at that location to ensure a reliable global supply of NF3.

Air Products (NYSE:APD) serves customers in industrial, energy, technology and healthcare markets worldwide with a unique portfolio of atmospheric gases, process and specialty gases, performance materials, and equipment and services. Founded in 1940, Air Products has built leading positions in key growth markets such as semiconductor materials, refinery hydrogen, home healthcare services, natural gas liquefaction, and advanced coatings and adhesives. The company is recognized for its innovative culture, operational excellence and commitment to safety and the environment and is listed in the Dow Jones Sustainability and FTSE4Good Indices. The company has annual revenues of $9 billion, operations in over 40 countries, and over 20,000 employees around the globe. For more information, visit http://www.airproducts.com/.

***NOTE: This release may contain forward-looking statements. Actual results could vary materially, due to changes in current expectations.

Source: Air Products

CONTACT: Media Inquiries: (Asia) Jessica Cheng, (852) 2863-0585,
[email protected], or (U.S.) Robert Brown, +1-610-481-1192,
[email protected]; or Investor Inquiries: Nelson Squires,
+1-610-481-7461, [email protected], all of Air Products

Web site: http://www.airproducts.com/

Gift of semiconductor wafer chamber and associated pumps to help further the research facility’s mission to move nanotechnology from laboratory to manufacturing

February 12, 2007 — /BOC EDWARDS/ — WILMINGTON, MASS — BOC Edwards, a leading supplier of vacuum, abatement, chemical management equipment and services to the world’s semiconductor OEMs and fabs, announced today that it has donated one DFP 200 Dense Fluid Processor High-precision Advanced Wafer Chamber System and associated pumps, valves and other components to the MassNanoTech Institute. The University of Massachusetts Amherst’s campus-wide initiative for nanoscale science and engineering.

The donation will be used by the MassNanoTech Institute in support of its educational and research programs under the auspices of the Center for Hierarchical Manufacturing.

“BOC Edwards is interested in supporting the local community and universities whenever possible,” said Phil Blakey, US semiconductor president, BOC Edwards. “This donation is meant to assist in furthering education and technological innovation.”

“We are pleased to accept this generous donation from BOC Edwards,” said James Watkins, director, MassNanoTech Institute. “One of the goals of the MassNanoTech Institute is to fabricate new nanoscale devices and collaborate with industry in the development of prototypes and new technology. This equipment will assist in our R&D programs that are focused on moving nanotechnology from the laboratory to manufacturing.”

About BOC Edwards
A member of The Linde Group, BOC Edwards employs around 4600 people and is a leading supplier of integrated solutions for the manufacture of microelectronic devices, including semiconductors and flat panel displays. Partnering with fabs, foundries and process tool manufacturers, BOC Edwards provides process-enabling subsystems that are supported by best-in-class operations and maintenance services for its global customer base.

The Linde Group is a world leading industrial gases and engineering company with more than 53,000 employees working in around 70 countries worldwide. Following the acquisition of The BOC Group the company has gases and engineering sales of approximately 12 billion euro. The strategy of The Linde Group is geared towards earnings-based growth and focuses on the expansion of its international business with forward-looking products and services. For more information, please see The Linde Group online at http://www.linde.com

Specific information on BOC Edwards can be found at www.bocedwards.com .
E-mail inquiries can be sent to [email protected] .

About MassNanoTech
The MassNanoTech Institute is the University of Massachusetts Amherst’s campus-wide initiative for nanoscale science and engineering. The campus has built a strong reputation for innovation in nanoscale research, with breadth across many departments. Over 50 faculty investigators from eight departments in three colleges are working in the field of nanotechnology, generating over $36 million in research funding since 1997 from a variety of federal and industry sources. Ongoing efforts include multiple prestigious NSF awards, licensing of key technology, acquisition of specialized characterization equipment, and the education and training of many talented graduate students working on innovative technologies in individual faculty labs. MassNanoTech provides a single point of contacts for academic and industrial collaborators.

For more information, please see http://www.umass.edu/massnanotech/index.htm

February 7, 2007 — /Micralyne/ — Edmonton, Alberta — Micralyne Inc., a world leading independent MEMS microfabrication company, has broken ground on a facility expansion that will increase its manufacturing capacity to accommodate its growing customer base.

A key component of this expansion is the 10,000 square feet deployment of new manufacturing space within the existing building, which will include both Class 10 and Class 1000 clean rooms for silicon MEMS fabrication, testing, and assembly. An extension to the current facility is also being built for additional offices and meeting rooms.

With this expansion, Class 10 clean room space will increase by 70% and Class 1000 clean room space by 50%. This will position Micralyne for continued revenue growth in the coming years.

“The push behind our expansion is due to an increase in customer demand as well as the need to relieve congestion within our existing clean rooms”, said Chris Lumb, President & CEO of Micralyne. “With the new space we will be able to serve the needs of our current customers plus have strategic capacity available for prospective customers who are considering outsourcing their current MEMS production.”

“Our plans to expand the facility have actually been on the agenda for a while”, continued Lumb. “Our revenues have grown steadily and our employee base has more than doubled to 175 since 2005. Furthermore, with the new space, we will have the room to add new equipment for an even broader product and service offering.”

Expected completion date is October 2007

About Micralyne
Micralyne is one of the world’s largest independent MEMS (Micro-Electro-Mechanical-Systems) manufacturers. MEMS technology is built on the premise of making industrial components smaller, faster and less expensive. Micralyne’s micron-scale solutions (i.e. 1000 microns = 1 millimetre) are found in automotive sensors for control systems, lab-on-a-chip devices for drug discovery, optical switching technology in telecommunication networks, and precise measurement devices for oil and gas exploration. Micralyne is a fast growing company headquartered in Edmonton, Alberta, Canada.

For further information contact:
Mr. Chris Lumb
President & CEO
Micralyne Inc.
1911 – 94 Street
Edmonton, Alberta
Canada T6N 1E6
Phone: 780-431-4400
[email protected]

February 7, 2007 — /PRNewswire/ — PHOENIX — Applied Mechanical Corporation of Austin, TX announced today the acquisition of Phoenix-based Cleanroom Sciences in an all cash transaction. Applied Mechanical will now offer Test, Certification, and Maintenance services for cleanrooms and mini-environments. This strategic move further establishes Applied Mechanical’s position as the leading outsource provider of on-site engineering, management, technical, and logistical support for advanced technology manufacturing.

“CRS is known as the value leader for Cleanroom Certification Services in advanced technology industries and is a perfect complement to the suite of technical services A-M currently provides to these same markets,” said Kelly McAndrew, President and CEO of Applied Mechanical. “The high level of professionalism and technical competence with which Gary Rolf and his CRS team conduct their business make this an easy fit operationally. Both organizations have strong cultures based on trust, honesty and team work, and both have a reputation for uncompromising commitment to their customers, their employees, and their communities.”

Applied Mechanical’s CFO, Johannes Brinkmann said, “The acquisition is part of our strategy to achieve consistently strong, stable growth by delivering the scope and quality of services that our customers expect. The considerable investments we made in our G&A and operational infrastructures over the past five years have enabled a new avenue of growth for Applied Mechanical.”

Cleanroom Sciences will take its place as Applied Mechanical’s fifth business unit along with: Construction Management Service, Semiconductor Equipment Services, Quality Assurance/ Quality Control Services, and Capital Equipment Relocation Services.

Applied Mechanical owner and Chairman Tim Self said, “The shareholders and board are very pleased with management’s execution of this strategic objective.”

About Applied Mechanical
Applied Mechanical (http://www.appliedmech.com/ ) is based in Austin, TX and Dublin, Ireland. With nearly 300 employees, they are the largest privately owned provider of out source technical, engineering and project management services to the semiconductor industry. The company’s five business units address the entire spectrum of service needs of semiconductor manufacturers. These include: cleanroom services, QA/QC testing of the chemical and gas delivery systems, construction and project management, OEM- level tool installation and service, and tool de-installation and relocation.

About Cleanroom Sciences
Cleanroom Sciences (http://www.crsaz.com/ ) is a Phoenix based company founded by cleanroom certification pioneer Gary Rolf. They are one of only a handful of companies to offer the complete range of services for cleanrooms and other controlled environments. CRS has helped author many of the standards that govern the cleanroom industry today and they have been a major contributor to the development of procedures, test media, training, and reporting formats that are now the de facto standards in the industry. In addition to services provided by their own NEBB accredited employees, they conduct certification classes for other individuals and service companies in support of IEST, NEBB, ASHREA and other industry organizations.

Source: Applied Mechanical Corporation

CONTACT: Steven Rorabacher, Director of Marketing of Applied Mechanical
Corporation, +1-505-922-6014 or [email protected]

Web site: http://www.appliedmech.com/
http://www.crsaz.com/

Imaging biomarkers may enable diagnosis of debilitating diseases before major symptoms set in

February 7, 2007 — LOS ANGELES & HOFFMAN ESTATES, Ill.–(BUSINESS WIRE)–Siemens Medical Solutions today opened the doors to a new state-of-the-art research facility dedicated exclusively to the development of molecular imaging biomarkers, which will become in vivo diagnostic tools for identifying debilitating diseases such as cancer, and neurological diseases at their earliest stages.

The opening of the Siemens Medical Solutions Molecular Imaging (MI) Biomarker Research facility is the latest step for the company in becoming the world’s first full-service diagnostics company, integrating in vivo and in vitro imaging diagnostics capabilities. Siemens recently launched Siemens Medical Solutions Diagnostics as the in vitro complement to the portfolio on the heels of acquisitions of Bayer Diagnostics and Los Angeles-based Diagnostic Products Corporation.

“Molecular medicine is heralding a new era in diagnostic capabilities that could change the lives of millions of Americans – and Siemens is helping lead the field out of the research lab and into practical use,” said Michael Reitermann, president, Molecular Imaging division, Siemens Medical Solutions. “Advancing this field brings with it the promise of personalized therapeutics, which would not only improve the efficiency of health care, but most importantly, would also improve the quality of health care for patients.”

Siemens Medical Solutions MI Biomarker Research facility will be dedicated solely to the discovery and development of new imaging biomarkers to spur the growth of in vivo molecular diagnostics. Imaging biomarkers are molecules that are specifically designed to seek out disease indicators that may appear in individual cells or tissue in the organism and that may provide early warning signs of disease. Once these imaging biomarkers bind to the diseased cells or tissues, they cause them to “light up” when scanned using PET-CT (Positron Emission Tomography-Computed Tomography) or SPECT-CT (Single-Photon Emission Computed Tomography).

Imaging biomarkers not only enable early diagnosis, but also allow the measurement of how well certain therapies, such as prescription drugs, chemotherapy and radiation therapy, may be working by measuring the impact of treatments on the disease indicators. This may aid the development of new therapies, and enable clinicians to non-invasively assess therapeutic success and quickly adjust therapeutic approaches to arrive at optimum outcomes.

The new Siemens’ facility will be led by Hartmuth Kolb, Ph.D, vice president, Siemens Medical Solutions MI Biomarker Research. The facility will house scientists, dedicated to the discovery of new imaging agents and their clinical development, with the goal of bringing several new agents to the market over the next 5 – 10 years. Research and development efforts conducted at the facility will focus largely on oncology and neurology, and also include other areas such as inflammation and microfluidics/nanotechnology research.

The facility features the latest technology in molecular medicine applied across its research portfolio, including the facility’s discovery chemistry lab, in vitro biology lab, preclinical imaging lab, clean room for microfluidics research, instrument room for microfluidics development and a PET radiochemistry lab.

In addition to continued work on the new research imaging agent to aid in Alzheimer’s detection, the Siemens Medical Solutions MI Biomarker Research team has a number of oncology-related compounds in the discovery and translational research pipeline, which are moving towards clinical development. In collaboration with academia and industry, molecular imaging tracers for cell proliferation (imaging of aggressive tumors), hypoxia (to aid the planning of radiation therapy), and angiogenesis (to aid chemotherapy) are currently being developed. Future research will branch out into neurology and cardiovascular disease areas.

“Imaging biomarkers have increasingly become an essential tool not only for the non-invasive diagnosis of disease such as cancer or cardiovascular disease, but also for the development of new therapeutic drugs by the pharma and biotech industry, said Kolb. “Our vision is to take the entire value chain that Siemens offers – imaging, in vitro diagnostics and IT – and use those offerings in combination with our biomarker research to find potential answers to some of the most complex and burdensome health conditions we face.”

Recent imaging biomarker studies on certain diseases such as Alzheimer’s or tumors have shown that these biomarkers are highly precise in identifying disease indicators. The imaging biomarkers work within the affected cells in a living organism without the need for taking tissue samples, in contrast to in vitro diagnostic tests, which typically require tissue, urine or blood samples to be taken. A December 2006 study published in the New England Journal of Medicine reported that researchers at UCLA using a specific imaging biomarker in conjunction with PET scanning were 98 percent accurate in identifying Alzheimer’s disease among a group of volunteers who presented with only mild cognitive impairment. Siemens and UCLA are now in Phase I clinical trials with the Alzheimer’s imaging biomarker.

Siemens Medical Solutions of Siemens AG (NYSE:SI) is one of the world’s largest suppliers to the healthcare industry. The company is known for bringing together innovative medical technologies, healthcare information systems, management consulting, and support services, to help customers achieve tangible, sustainable, clinical and financial outcomes. Recent acquisitions in the area of in-vitro diagnostics – such as Diagnostic Products Corporation and Bayer Diagnostics – mark a significant milestone for Siemens as it becomes the first full service diagnostics company. Employing more than 41,000 people worldwide and operating in over 130 countries, Siemens Medical Solutions reported sales of 8.23 billion EUR, orders of 9.33 billion EUR and group profit of 1.06 billion EUR for fiscal 2006 (Sept. 30). Further information can be found by visiting www.usa.siemens.com/medical-pressroom.

Contacts
Siemens Medical Solutions
Amanda Naiman
Tel: 610-448-4531
E-mail: [email protected]

February 8, 2007 — /MARKET WIRE/ — LOS ANGELES, CA — Eugene Science (OTCBB: EUSI), developer and marketer of advanced health supplements & nutraceutical products, recently announced that it celebrated groundbreaking of its new plant in January at Hwa-Seong Jang-An Complex in Gyeonggi-do for the manufacture of the cholesterol reducer and bio-tech materials.

Eugene Science became the first bio company to sign the MOU to move into Gyeonggi-do’s Foreign Investment Complex in June 2005, and the new plant will be its infrastructure to produce globally standardized products, ranging from raw materials to end products.

Hwa-Seong Plant will be completed by July 2008. The first step will be the R&D Center and cholesterol reducer (CZ(tm)) processing line, the second step will establish processing lines for other bio-tech materials and world-class (GMP) health supplements.

Hwa-Seong Plant will be sitting on a 23,480m(2) lot within Hwa-Seong Jang-An Complex in Gyeonggi-Do. With Hwa-Seong Plant’s non-stop production system, Eugene Science expects to supply products more efficiently by saving logistics cost and delivery time. Furthermore, the plant will greatly contribute to Eugene Science’s powerful business in Korea and abroad.

Investor Relations:
Mirador Consulting, Inc.
Rich Miller
(561) 989-3600

Capital Group Communications
Richard Carpenter or Mark Bernhard
email: [email protected]
(415) 332-7200

SOURCE: Eugene Science, Inc.

February 6, 2007 — /PRNewswire/ — ALLENTOWN, Pa. — Akrion, Inc. recently completed development work on an extension to its Velocity single-wafer cleaning system.

The company now offers two versions of the platform: Velocity4 and Velocity6. Both are designed with high productivity in mind. Velocity4 utilizes three FOUPS and four chambers for throughputs of up to 150 wafers per hour while the slightly larger Velocity6 has four FOUPS, six chambers and throughputs of up to 220 wafers per hour.

Velocity’s patented stacked process chambers result in minimal footprint and both versions offer full 300mm factory automation compliance and a wide range of technologies devised for advanced FEOL and BEOL cleaning applications. Available subsystems include: patented Goldfinger(TM) megasonics, JetStream(TM) and JetStream-Nano(TM) spray technology, as well as Sahara(TM) and Sahara-HT(TM) surface-tension-gradient dryers.

Goldfinger(TM) XP megasonics utilize dynamic power and frequency tuning as well as proprietary electronic controls to manage advanced performance on delicate high aspect ratio structures and materials. Responding to the same performance/damage concern, Akrion’s new JetStream-Nano(TM) spray technology cleans with ultra-fine aerosol droplets of water and/or chemicals. The Sahara dryers are designed to dry without watermarks. The new version, Sahara-HT, uses proprietary technology for hydrogen terminated wafer surface conditioning.

Akrion’s single-wafer system is designed to reduce CD loss compared to any other wet clean tool on the market. Akrion’s single wafer cleaning technology is focused on providing controlled physical force technologies to assist ultra diluted chemicals in cleaning without damage and with minimal etching of the device.

Other new technologies used on Velocity include “fast swap” dual end effectors that allow dual wafer picks from SEMI standard FOUPS with swap times of less than 3 seconds and micro-chemical dispense which uses as little as 50ml of chemical per 300mm wafer to reduce cost of ownership.

Configurations are available now for a wide variety of applications for both front- and back-end-of-line cleaning.

About Akrion
Akrion is a leading provider of single-wafer and batch-immersion cleaning systems for the semiconductor industry. The company’s products are used in the production of a diverse range of semiconductor and related devices, including integrated circuits for DRAM, NAND Flash, Logic and MEMS as well as new and reclaimed wafers, and photomasks. Headquartered in Allentown, Pa., Akrion’s Allentown production facility is ISO 9001:2000 and ISO 14001:2004 certified. The company Web site is located at http://www.akrion.com/.

Source: Akrion, Inc.

CONTACT: Corporate Contact, James Whittle, Akrion, Inc., 1-610-530-3358

Web site: http://www.akrion.com/

Leading memory manufacturer orders over 10 RadiantStrip systems based on demonstrated reliability and process flexibility

February 7, 2007 — /BUSINESS WIRE/ — BEVERLY, Mass. — Axcelis Technologies, Inc. (NASDAQ: ACLS) has received a significant follow-on order for over 10 RadiantStrip 320 photoresist dry strip systems from a major memory device manufacturer. Designed for 300mm front-end-of-line cleaning applications, the dual-chamber systems will be used in the customer’s fabs at multiple global sites supporting high-volume device production. The systems will begin to ship in the first quarter.

The RadiantStrip 320 has been adopted by customers worldwide for its ability to effectively address a wide range of post-implant and post-etch cleaning applications, including the fast, complete and uniform removal of heavily implanted photoresist.

“Our customer’s order for multiple RadiantStrip 320 systems confirms our platform’s long track record of reliability and process versatility in the most demanding environments,” said Mary Puma, chairman and CEO of Axcelis. “It is ideally suited to their diverse production requirements, supporting multi-temperature stripping and heavily implanted photoresists. This ensures high productivity and compatibility with current and next-generation materials.”

Axcelis designed the RadiantStrip 320 for dependability and productivity in high-volume, low cost-of-ownership manufacturing environments. The machine offers a modular and scalable platform for bulk photoresist strip, advanced polymer removal and complete dry clean processes in the same chamber.

About Axcelis Technologies, Inc.
Axcelis Technologies, Inc., headquartered in Beverly, Massachusetts, provides innovative, high-productivity solutions for the semiconductor industry. Axcelis is dedicated to developing enabling process applications through the design, manufacture and complete life cycle support of ion implantation, rapid thermal processing, and cleaning and curing systems. Axcelis also licenses its 50% owned joint venture, SEN Corporation, an SHI and Axcelis Company, to manufacture and sell certain implant products in Japan. The company’s Internet address is: www.axcelis.com.
Contacts

Company Contact:
Axcelis Technologies, Inc.
Maureen Hart, +1-978-787-4266
Fax: +1-978-787-4275
[email protected]
or
Investor Contact:
Axcelis Technologies, Inc.
Steve Bassett, +1-978-787-4000
Fax: +1-978-787-9133
[email protected]
or
Agency Contact:
Loomis Group
Heather Smith, +1-617-638-0022
Fax: +1-617-638-0033
[email protected]

February 7, 2007 — /IEST/ — ROLLING MEADOWS, IL — The Institute of Environmental Sciences and Technology (IEST) will hold its annual technical meeting and exposition, ESTECH 2007, April 29-May 2, 2007, at the Indian Lakes Resort in Bloomingdale (Northwest Suburban Chicago), Illinois. Two new certificate programs, along with the certificate program on ISO Standards, and a new stand-alone tutorial, will be offered for contamination control professionals. Each of the tutorials in the certificate program can also be taken as a stand-alone course.

A tutorial certificate program in consumables is one of the new programs this year. The “Application of Consumables to the Cleanroom” tutorial in this program will cover the practical application of consumables for industrial and regulated industries, including gloves, garments, mops, wipes, and swabs; documentation, surface testing, and documentation supplies; and demonstrations in gowning, cleaning, and testing of surfaces. “Selection, Application, Evaluation, and Testing of Wipers and Swabs” will cover the selection of wipers and swabs, how best to use these consumables in cleanroom applications, and evaluation and testing procedures. The course will also describe test data and procedures being considered in the development of a new Recommended Practice on evaluating swabs. This course includes a copy of IEST-RP-CC004. Evaluation and testing of apparel, gloves, finger cots, and garment accessories used in cleanrooms and other controlled environments will be covered in the “Evaluation and Testing of Disposable Garments and Gloves” tutorial. This course includes copies of IEST-RP-CC003 and IEST-RP-CC005.

Sterilization will be the focus on the other new tutorial certificate program. The first tutorial, “Introduction to Microbiology and Cleaning/Disinfection,” will provide a basic background in microbiology, cleaning and disinfection, and sterilization, including terms, definitions, and concepts of microbiology. “Sterilization I” covers radiation and ethylene oxide, the most common sterilization methods used in the medical device industry. The last tutorial in this certificate program is “Sterilization II.” This tutorial will focus on cover steam (moist heat) and aseptic processing, the most common sterilization methods used in the pharmaceutical industry.

The popular certificate program on the ISO Series will be offered again this year. The program will include three tutorials related to ISO 14644-1, -2, and -3: Understanding the ISO Series; Testing to Determine the Classification of Air Cleanliness; and Testing Cleanroom Performance.

In addition to the certificate program is a new stand-alone tutorial, “Critical Cleaning Challenges for High Value Industrial Applications.” This new tutorial will cover sources of contamination, cleaning agents, cleaning processes, materials compatibility, regulatory provisos, economic constraints, surface testing, analytical testing and standards development.

For more information, log on to www.iest.org or contact IEST at (847) 255-1561. Registration and the ESTECH 2007 online advance program are available at http://www.iest.org/estech/estech.htm.

Founded in 1953, IEST is an international not-for-profit technical society of engineers, scientists, and educators that serves its members and the industries they represent (simulating, testing, controlling, and teaching the environments of earth and space) through education and the development of recommended practices and standards.

IEST is an ANSI-accredited standards-developing organization; Secretariat of ISO/TC 209 Cleanrooms and associated controlled environments; Administrator of the ANSI-accredited US TAG to ISO/TC 209; Administrator of the ANSI-accredited US TAG to ISO/TC 142 Cleaning equipment for air and other gases; and a founding member of the ANSI-accredited US TAG to ISO/TC 229 Nanotechnologies.