France is strong in industrial sectors, including telecoms, aerospace and defence, pharmaceuticals, chemicals and automobile production. As a leading exponent of nuclear energy, it has developed specialised contamination control knowhow. Per capita spending on medicines and healthcare is among the highest in Europe and it ranks among the top five largest medical device markets in the world. France is a large r&d spender, focused around innovation clusters dedicated to various industry sectors.

Ultraviolet light offers an energy- and cost-efficient method of decontaminating medical and electronic devices. When targeted micro-organisms are directly exposed to UVC light, the radiation penetrates the cell walls. UVC exposure in the Nanoclave Cabinet occurs at room temperature and pressure and doesn’t involve moisture or immersion.

Karlsruhe again plays host to Germany’s growing new event, where learning about cleanrooms is made easy and as comfortable as possible

Manufacture of semiconductor chips requires outstanding precision. Among the components used in lens assemblies are shock absorbers and membranes. Trelleborg Sealing Solutions makes these and packs them in cleanroom conditions at its factory in Tewkesbury in the UK to minimise the risk of contamination.

Antibacterial coatings have had limited success in preventing urinary tract infections in catheter users. Novel patented polymer coatings derived from resorcinarenes have been developed in the UK that prevent the formation of the biofilms that can release toxins and cause inflammation and infection.

LEDs are replacing conventional fluorescent lighting in many areas, but it is important to consider the real energy savings that can be made and the in-service life performance comparisons in a cleanroom environment

US contract precision cleaning company Astro Pak has opened Class 100 and 1000 cleanrooms, which include three ultrasonic cleaning units, a high pressure spray system and more than 35 tons of HVAC equipment, for servicing the medical device, semi-conductor, laser and biopharma markets

Microbiological issues in pharmaceutical plants can result in plant shutdowns and products withdrawn from the market. Failures are common in environmental monitoring, media fill, sterilisation, aseptic practice and gowning. Introducing lean practices can determine optimal batch size and lead to a decreased number of test sessions for bioburden, endotoxins and sterility testing, while taking a risk-based approach to determining objectionable micro-organisms may ease the cost and burden of unnecessary testing but requires a better understanding of the processes and risks involved.

A Flexicon PD12P peristaltic dispensing pump is at the centre of a sterile vial filling system for the processing of animal vaccines. A customised flange was engineered to keep the pump drive and control panel outside the isolator, with only the pumphead sited within it. The peristaltic filling action means that the product is in contact only with the sterile tubing and the filling nozzle.

Initial cost, total cost of ownership, maintenance needs, noise levels, energy consumption, flexibility and cleanroom classification must all be considered when choosing a conveyor for use in a cleanroom. Reconfigurable modular conveyors offer the flexibility of easily changing length and angle configurations as well as easy adaptation of cleanroom accessories and components such as HEPA filters, tunnel enclosures, ionisers and hermetically sealed entry/exit gates. But the most critical requirement is a conveyor’s cleanroom classification.

A coating that resists liquids could result in future development of novel antibacterial or even self-cleaning surfaces. The bio-inspired liquid repellence technology, which creates slippery surfaces by infusing a nano/microstructured porous material with a lubricating fluid, could find applications in biomedical fluid handling, antifouling, fuel transport and anti-icing technologies.

Even brand new flexible bags can contain contaminants that damage sensitive products, including particulates and leachates. Sectors such as the space industry, pharmaceuticals, medical devices and electronics require purpose-made ultra clean packaging. Zeal Clean Supplies has developed a way of producing bags with a particulate count in single figures. Low density polyethylene is produced on site and the final packaging is manufactured inside a Class 1,000 cleanroom.

When toxicity testing resulted in a reduced Occupational Exposure Limit (OEL) for an API from 20µg/m³ to 0.5µg/m³, the contract manufacturing organisation had to re-engineer its facility to provide contained powder handling and processing. ChargePoint Technology was chosen for the equipment and refit.

International standards for the monitoring of airborne particles apply to all cleanrooms or clean zones. The international committee, TC209 Working Group 1, has been examining potential revisions to the first two sections of the ISO 14644 document. One key change in the proposed revision is the normative reference to a calibration standard for the instrument to be used for cleanroom classification. Although calibration will probably create some additional cost, there will be noteworthy benefits in both the repeatability and the reproducibility of the measurements obtained

For microbiologically demanding packaged goods, hygienic packaging is vital to maintain quality. UV irradiation is an environmentally friendly and economical method of disinfecting packaging materials. Bacteria such as salmonella and coli bacteria are extremely vulnerable and very easily destroyed. UV disinfection modules from Heraeus Noblelight have been specially developed for the disinfection of packaging and surfaces, such as in filling and sealing machines for drink products. Various shapes of pots and cups for milk products, sealing foils or bags, caps for glasses or bottle necks are effectively disinfected with UV radiation.

Wiping is the most effective method of cleanroom surface cleaning; in all cleanrooms there is a need for repeatable and validated processes. Wipes that are presaturated with a low surface tension fluid, such as alcohol, are highly suitable for capturing and removing particles and dirt, disturbing biofilms and removing residues. Particle Attraction Technology (PAT) enhances the ability of the wipe to attract and retain fine particles of less than 10µm. Technique is also important to prevent the trapped contamination being re-deposited on a surface

A new cleanroom tool makes invisible hazards visible and highlights areas that have been overlooked during the cleaning and disinfection process. UV light is emitted from a torch and excites the electrons in the atoms or molecules of the particles in question. These absorb the energy from the torch temporarily and emit it as light, making visible particles that cannot be seen by the naked eye.

The University Hospital of North Staffordshire in the UK chose modular stainless steel pipework from Jacob (UK) for what is believed to be the one of the largest modular pipework installations in an NHS hospital in the UK. Modular ducting and pipework is used in several locations, providing protection against, fire, explosion and cross-contamination

Sales of cleanroom consumables are increasing, with gloves and wipes heading the list. Increases in the raw material price of latex have led glove consumers to consider alternative materials, such as nitrile and polychloroprene. For garments, there are fundamentally three options – disposable, reusable (laundered) or a combination of the two. The choice will be governed by the number of garment changes per week. If a reusable system is decided upon, consideration needs to be given to the choice of purchase, lease, lease-to-own or rental.

Chemviron Carbon Cloth Division’s new cleanroom was built on a mezzanine floor to increase production capacity for wound dressings. Transfer hatches were used to reduce the movement of operators and to help eliminate contamination, and Class 7 and Class 8 areas are serviced by a separate gowning and washing areas where production staff are required to wear colour-coded overalls

Decontamination of instruments is a critical link in the surgical pathway. Synergy Health has set up a centre in Leicester to collect, decontaminate, sterilise and pack surgical equipment. Track and trace technology ensures that the correct instruments are returned to the correct client on time

As an early adopter of new technology in the electronics, nuclear and space exploration industries, the US had a pivotal role in setting cleanroom standards that have now been adopted and harmonised across the globe. It is the world's largest medical device market, has a massive pharmaceutical and biologicals manufacturing sector, and is at the forefront of nanotechnology research and developing technology for the next generation of wafers and chips

Advancements in nanotechnology and highly potent APIs mean pharmaceutical production environments rely on strict engineering controls and procedures to comply with an Occupational Exposure Limit (OEL). Smaller particle sizes present greater drug surface area for reaction and are easier to absorb or inhale. Extract air from the laboratory has to be balanced with fresh, conditioned air from outside, without adversely affecting room pressures and fume hood performance. Specialised UV detection equipment is used to monitor contamination zones and to ensure equipment and surfaces are clean.

The Fan Filter Unit (FFU) provides filtered recirculated air to the cleanroom and the more recent negative plenum design enables smaller Air Handling Units. Latest FFU improvements focus on reducing energy costs with the development of High efficiency EC motor technology and improving control with ModBus networks on wall-mounted Control Consoles, PC and PLC platforms and customised LCD touch screens.

Metals with antimicrobial properties such as silver, copper or zinc incorporated into healthcare buildings, either as part of the internal furniture or building fabric can help to prevent the spread of healthcare acquired infections (HCAIs). Antimicrobial PVC-U trunking for cable management can reduce the bioburden of touch surfaces