INTERNATIONAL NEWS

MEETING CURRENT AND FUTURE COMPONENT CLEANING REQUIREMENTS THROUGH DIVERSIFICATION INTO HYDROGEN TECHNOLOGY

The economy is undergoing a transformation that poses challenges for many areas of industry. New products and various megatrends require adjustments to manufacturing technologies, as well as to the range of products and services available. Ecoclean GmbH is proactively addressing this change through greater diversification of its solution portfolio for industrial component cleaning and by introducing the new business area of hydrogen technology.

Energy transition, sustainability, demographic change, mobility, automation and digitalisation, and security: these megatrends are resulting in technological and social changes. And at an increasingly rapid pace. This development demands increasingly higher flexibility and agility from companies, particularly in the field of industrial parts cleaning. Whereas yesterday it felt like the automotive industry was setting the standards in terms of cleanliness requirements, today it is completely different industrial sectors, each with its own specific requirements.

Ecoclean, a global specialist in the supply of equipment and systems for industrial component cleaning, surface treatment and automation, is responding to these changes with a future- and market-oriented diversification strategy. The course for this approach was set several years ago with corresponding financial and personnel investments. As a result, new solutions for high-tech industries are now available, in addition toequipment and systems for tasks in the previous sectors, such as automotive and its associated supply chain, mechanical engineering, joining technology, the jewellery and watchmaking industry, and the aerospace arena.

Also included in this ensemble is the semiconductor industry and its suppliers.To be able to manufacture ever smaller and more powerful microchips by means of EUV lithography, means placing extremely high demands on the components required for the production equipment in terms of purity. In addition to ultra-fine particulate residual impurities in the nanometre range and extremely strict specifications regarding filmic contamination, outgassing rates for organic substances and residual moisture as well as ‘prohibited’ substances/elements play a quality-critical role. Likewise, it is necessary to meet stringent cleanliness requirements for vacuum technology components in the UHV, XHV and UCV range –such as those required in high-power laser systems, high-tech measuring instruments and analysis equipment, for example.

Precision optics, micro-optical parts and sensor systems, among others for semi-automated and autonomous driving as well as industrial digitalisation applications, also require avery high degree of cleanliness for lasting fault-free function. For these challenging tasks, Ecoclean offers industry and application-specific solutions from pre-cleaning to intermediate and final cleaning connected to or integrated in a cleanroom. For the design of process and plant technology, the company has its own High Purity Test Centre with a validated clean room and corresponding measurement technology.

High cleanliness requirements have always been commonplace in medical technology. With the introduction of the European Medical Device Regulation (MDR), the requirements for cleaning medical devices such as implants, instruments and equipment, as well as for qualification, documentation and traceability of the processes, have become even stricter. In the meantime, the US Food & Drug Administration (FDA) is planning to harmonise its quality system regulation with the MDR, so that uniform regulations will apply regardless of market access.

To solve the very different tasks in medical technology in a requirement-oriented, efficient and sustainable manner, Ecoclean offers a complete and globally available portfolio of qualified cleaning systems. Co-operation with renowned partners also enables the realisation of turnkey projects with corresponding packaging and cleanroom solutions.

Software specially developed for medical technology, RFID technology and audit trails ensure the complete fulfilment of all specifications regarding component identification, documentation and traceability. In addition, the company’s experts provide support with qualification (IQ, QQ and PQ) on request. Thanks to the Ecoclean’s comprehensive medical technology and regulatory know-how, combined with extensively equipped technology centres (including a cleanliness laboratory and validated cleanroom), it becomes possible to devise the technically and economically optimal solution for every cleaning task. The potential duplication of this solution for further production sites is straightforward, a process that subsequently accelerates qualification and commissioning.

By entering into the development, manufacture and sale of electrolysers for the production of green hydrogen and solutions for its use, the company is opening up a new business area. To this end, Ecoclean and the Zentrum für Sonnenenergie und Wassersoff-Forschung Baden-Württemberg (ZSW) are pooling their expertise in the joint ‘EcoLyzer BW’ project. Based on robust and well-tested system technology for alkaline pressure electrolysis developed by the ZSW and Ecoclean’s expertise and decades of qualification in process engineering and industrial production technology, electrolysers are designed as modular systems with compact standard modules.

With power classes initially ranging from 1-10 MW, they enable the simple and cost-efficient construction of electrolysers adaptable to a wide range of applications. Typical uses include those for industry, mobility, energy supply for neighbourhoods and storage of re-generatively produced surplus energy from wind power and photovoltaic plants.

A first solution in this area came to fruition in September 2023 with a test rig for alkaline pressure electrolysis. It will make it possible to test and validate electrolysis stacks with an output of up to 500 kW and a diameter of 1200 mm.Through this diversification strategy, Ecoclean is helping to meet the challenges associated with disruptive developments, as well as various megatrends.
For further information www.www.ecoclean-group.net

First-rate contacts, new projects and concrete deals

Technical discussions, a strongly attended expert forum and a positive overall mood on all three days of the trade fair testified to the fact that the recently concluded 20th parts2clean exhibition fulfilled all expectations. More than 3000 trade visitors came to the event, the majority of them armed with tasks and projects, as well as a thirst for new information. This resulted in numerous high-quality contacts, new projects and even direct business deals for the more than 150 exhibitors (from 14 countries) at the event.

“We placed a stronger focus on the range of solutions offered at parts2clean for tasks where the highest cleanliness requirements need to be met,” reportedChristoph Nowak, project director at Deutsche Messe, “We thus succeeded in attracting more visitors from this segment of the industry to parts2clean.”

This was confirmed by Dr Günther Schmauz, board member at ACP systems: “With our high-purity snow-blast cleaning solutions, we were previously more of a niche supplier at parts2clean. At this year’s event, however, we were able to welcome a large number of trade fair guests from the fields of EUV lithography, including system partners and suppliers, as well as e-mobility.”

Rainer Straub, board of management and VPsales andcustomer service at
Ecoclean, expressed similar sentiments: “Parts2clean was significantly more successful for us this year than in 2022, certainly due to the ‘high-purity’ theme, which is a focal point in our programme.”

According to Manfred Holzleg, general manager of Safechem Europe “parts2clean always provides the opportunity to meet a diverse audience. This year, we were able to hold numerous discussions, especially with visitors from industries that are new to us. As a result, we can open up new fields of business.”
For further information www.parts2clean.de/en

Eight times faster shot blasting at ML Constructie

The lack of flexibility and unsatisfactory powder coating qualities at external job shops induced a Dutch manufacturer of industrial furniture to bring its coating operation in-house. Unlike its competitors, ML Constructie decided to also perform paint preparation by shot blasting in-house with an automatic shot blasting machine from Rösler. Compared with manual processes, the shot blasting cycle times are not only eight times faster, the
automatic solution also produces better qualities at lower costs.

Since manual blast operations are hard and exhausting, it is very difficult to find and keep the people for this kind of work. With the Rösler blast machine, however, employees must only place workpieces onto the respective fixtures and remove them after the blast process.

Another significant contribution towards a better working environment is the low noise emissions, which are considerably lower than manual blast rooms. Moreover, the automated shot-blast process is eight to 10 times faster, while another benefit is the blast machine’s two rails in ‘Y’ design. This configuration allows the operator to place workpieces onto the fixture at one rail branch, while workpieces from the other rail branch undergo blasting. Therefore, unproductive idle equipment times aremore or less a thing of the past. Last but not least, the overall blast cleaning quality is considerably better.

“In the automated shot-blast process, blast media gets into even the tiniest workpiece
corners,” says Ben Luizink, co-owner atML Constructie.”This is nearly impossible with manual shot-blasting operations. Furthermore, the Rösler shot-blast machine is very
tight and emits practically no dust. Since we are coating the workpieces in the same production hall, this is a huge benefit.”
For further information www.rosler.com

ModuleWorks partners with Mitsubishi Electric

ModuleWorks, a supplier of software components for the digital manufacturing industry, says Mitsubishi Electric has joined its Strategic Partner Programme. The Strategic Partner Programme initiated by ModuleWorks represents a commitment to driving the development of intelligent, integrated manufacturing solutions by fostering collaboration and innovation between ModuleWorks and key technology providers. Mitsubishi Electric, which is the latest addition to the growing network of partners,collaboratedpreviously with ModuleWorks on its shop-floor digitalisation strategy.
For further information www.moduleworks.com

GrindingHub will be bigger and more international

Five months before the event opens, it is already clear that the next GrindingHub will be bigger and more international. Some 375 companies from 28 countries have already secured a place at the trade fair for grinding technology, which will take place on 14-17 May 2024 in Stuttgart.

The increase in exhibitors from Asia is particularly impressive. The organiser has received just under 50 registrations so far. The first GrindingHub was still suffering from the after-effects of the pandemic, whereas freedom of travel today allows companies from all over the world to make their way to Stuttgart. This is particularly evident among the Chinese: the number of exhibitors from China has grown from four to 32. China is currently the largest national producer and largest market for grinding technology.

As another trend, more abrasives manufacturers will be represented in 2024 than at the launch event, for instance. The broad range on show – including everything from grinding machines themselves to appropriate software tools, process peripherals and measuring and testing systems – raises the appeal of the trade fair for users of grinding technology.

Martin Büsch, head of marketing for central Europe at Saint-Gobain Abrasives, says: “As far as we’re concerned, GrindingHub has established itself as the leading trade fair for grinding technology within a very short space of time. We therefore see it as an excellent and useful opportunity to engage with our customers, potential interested parties and top-class experts.”

Markus Heering, executive director at the VDW, adds: “The VDW will begin the layout planning shortly. We are delighted about having to open a fourth hall thanks to the increase in the number of exhibitors.”
For further information www.grindinghub.de