Cleanroom Talk: "Stainless Steel in the Cleanroom"

Christoph Mützel and Timo Speck

The Cleanroom Forge Expert Portal is back and entering its eighth round. In the eighth edition of the Cleanroom Talk, an absolute expert from the cleanroom scene is a guest, who can definitely make a lot with a forge. "As a metalworker, the word 'forge' naturally immediately comes to mind, which is why I am very pleased to be here," says Christoph Mützel at the very beginning of the eighth episode of the Cleanroom Talk. He is the managing director of Friedrich Sailer GmbH. He has been leading the company in the third generation and took over about 20 years ago. "Forging is not the main topic for cleanroom equipment, but in the early days, it was a big issue for us," Mützel recalls.

Friedrich Sailer and Microclean work hand in hand

This time, the Cleanroom Forge Expert Portal is working hand in hand, because Friedrich Sailer strives to produce items in such a way that they can be thoroughly cleaned during cleanroom cleaning. The host, Timo Speck, with his company Mikroclean, which brings extensive expertise in cleanroom cleaning, is involved in the latter. To ensure that cleanrooms can also be cleaned professionally by Mikroclean, the right equipment is needed—and Friedrich Sailer is responsible for that. It is always important that this equipment is designed for cleanroom use. Of course, Speck and Mützel have a lot to discuss—and some stories to share as well.

"Stainless steel is often the key word. That's how we got into the topic of cleanrooms," Mützel revealed: "Behind the description 'cleanroom-compatible,' there is a lot. Stainless steel has great properties that can be used in cleanrooms. But you have to go much further to make stainless steel equipment truly cleanroom-compatible." When it comes to furnishings, many factors are involved, from the surface to the usage.

Due to the many aspects involved in manufacturing such items, Christoph Mützel has a tip for all interested parties and customers: "We recommend a structured approach. The specialist planner describing an item must consider the material quality. It is important to know what environment it will be used in and which disinfectants need to be used. Then, the surface structure becomes important, as it affects how the items are cleaned. Customers should specify this structure. Then, you can assume that the delivered product meets the requirements."

Hygienic Design could soon be regarded as a standard

From his broad experience, Timo Speck knows all too well that space in a cleanroom is always limited. That was also a topic in the Cleanroom Forge Expert Portal. For ideal cleanroom cleaning, space is a crucial factor—and therefore, the items from Friedrich Sailer GmbH, founded by Mützel's grandfather, are so important. An important keyword that Speck mentions in connection with cleanroom cleaning and equipment is Hygienic Design. And Mützel has quite a bit to say about this.

"I understand it as the design that facilitates cleaning. How must an item, or the entire system, be designed to be cleanroom-compatible? It’s about design. I consider how the cleaning takes place and how the item can support that," said the managing director of Friedrich Sailer in the Cleanroom Forge Expert Portal. He also has some examples ready: "Often, you can't reach into corners or seams with a cleaning agent—and then you can't perform a good cleaning. That's where Hygienic Design comes into play: thinking about how to design something for cleaning purposes. For the producer, each element represents a development. We have been dealing with this for a long time and keep coming back to points where we can improve further."

And where is Hygienic Design needed? Christoph Mützel also provided an answer in the Cleanroom Forge Expert Portal: "In sterile areas and areas with high requirements, I see it as a must. We also see strong demand for these products in the food industry."

Personnel lock as a critical point in cleanroom cleaning

During the eighth episode of the Cleanroom Forge Expert Portal, Speck also addressed a weakness of cleanrooms that can be mitigated through Hygienic Design. "From a cleaning perspective, we often find that Hygienic Design can always achieve good values in cleanroom cleaning. However, these values drop at personnel locks. This is usually related to the behavior of the personnel," he revealed. "The personnel lock is a critical element in cleanroom technology. It has a lot of traffic," Mützel agrees, but offers a solution: "It is important to create possibilities here to enable good cleanroom cleaning. Starting early with Hygienic Design makes sense." Speck agrees: "For the lock doors, it is advisable to install a sloped surface on the surface. This creates Hygienic Design."

As you can see: Mützel and Speck have many interfaces in their work. Therefore, the eighth episode of the Cleanroom Talk is very exciting for everyone interested in cleanrooms and those needing cleanroom cleaning. You can find the current and complete episode on the YouTube channel "Cleanroom Forge." Timo Speck always welcomes you to the Cleanroom Forge Expert Portal. Ideas and suggestions are always appreciated.