Cleanzone 2014: Satisfied faces despite decline in visitors

Florian Dittel

Andreas Lechleitner

Roland Vossen

Andreas Fiebig

Terry R. Becker

Anja_Diete

Frank Duvernell

Gommel_Gail_Weisssieker

61 Exhibitors, eleven more than the previous year, demonstrated at Cleanzone 2014 in Frankfurt how cleanrooms can be operated more energy- and cost-efficiently, as well as more flexibly. The Messe Frankfurt, as organizer, counted 604 trade visitors, about 25 percent fewer than the previous year. Reasons cited for this decline included, on the one hand, the Lufthansa pilot strike, and on the other hand, that last year, alongside Cleanzone, the CPhI pharmaceutical trade fair was held in Frankfurt, one of the most important events in the pharmaceutical industry.

Ruth Lorenz, Head of Technology & Production at Messe Frankfurt, noted in her final report that "Cleanzone has established itself in the dynamically growing field of cleanroom technology." Frank Duvernell, Managing Director of ReinraumAkademie and partner of Cleanzone, also stated that "the market needs this event." Lorenz added that, for the cleanroom industry, projections from 2012 to 2017 anticipate a growth in space of 20 to 25 percent. She particularly highlighted the increasing internationality of the fair: among the top visitor countries, Lorenz listed Switzerland, Austria, the USA, Croatia, and Great Britain, alongside Germany. Participants also traveled from regions such as the Middle East, Asia, and South America.

The Cleanroom Award 2014 went to Initial Cleanroom for the development of the cleanroom suit "Clean Vision" (see separate report).

reinraum-online spoke with exhibitors and trade fair representatives during Cleanzone, asking for their impressions:

"Enormous savings potential"

For more than 20 years, "Dittel Engineering" from Ried in Bavaria has been involved in planning, qualification, and measurement technology for cleanrooms. Florian Dittel, son of the company's founder Prof. Gernod Dittel and CTO of the company, was pleased about many high-quality contacts at Cleanzone. "We met the decision-makers important to us." One of his current key topics is energy savings in cleanrooms. "There are enormous potentials. We estimate savings possibilities of up to 80 percent." Therefore, he believes that considerations about the sensible use of ventilation, heating, and air conditioning technology are worthwhile not only when planning new cleanrooms but also for existing systems. "The main cost factor in cleanrooms is in the basement," says Dittel.

"We are here to communicate"

Laminar flow units in all shapes desired by customers are offered by "Lechleiter GmbH" from Fuchstal-Asch in Bavaria. They convert the turbulent supply air flow from the Hepa filter into a variety of individual jets, ensuring draft-free air in the cleanroom. Andreas Lechleiter, managing partner, and his team showcased, among other things, laminar flow units made of polyarylate, a fabric highly resistant to chemicals. "This is basically the Rolls Royce of our offerings." The frames of the "Golf class" are covered with polyester fabric. Lechleiter, whose booth was directly adjacent to the Cleanzone Plaza, the central meeting point and lecture venue, was very satisfied with the event: "The fair is well organized and should establish itself even more." Especially the many opportunities to talk with industry colleagues excited him: "After all, we are here to communicate."

"See and be seen"

For the second time, Roland Vossen, Managing Director of the Dutch "PEDAK meettechniek," exhibited at Cleanzone. He displayed various products for measuring temperature, humidity, and differential pressure in cleanrooms. New in his range: a device for measuring humidity with four sensors that can be placed at different measurement points. Each sensor is removable and equipped with calibration data. "This way, the measurement chain is never interrupted." On the first day, he registered many contacts with existing and potential customers. Roland Vossen's motto for Cleanzone: "See and be seen."

"Important and great trade fair"

The Austrian Cleanroom Society (ÖRRG) was represented at Cleanzone with a joint booth of four companies. Rupert Körber, secretary of the organization with about 100 members, described Cleanzone as an "important and great trade fair that is growing year by year." The ÖRRG has participated since the first event in 2012 to help its members present themselves internationally. "We represent both users and producers and service providers from the cleanroom industry," said Körber. He also attributed the lower attendance this year compared to 2013 to the Lufthansa strike.

"Lectures on the Plaza are important"

One of the exhibitors at the ÖRRG joint booth was "Niotronic GmbH" from Graz, which offers monitoring systems for seamless surveillance of temperature, humidity, differential pressure, and particles in cleanrooms. Andreas Fiebich, responsible for project management in the pharmaceutical sector, presented, among other things, DDS sensors, which are distinguished from conventional products by improved measurement accuracy, lower susceptibility to interference, and faster, more cost-effective calibration. Niotronic also introduced the "Doormate" sluice control, intended to prevent cross-contamination between cleanrooms. Compared to the previous year, Fiebich noted fewer visitors at his booth, but "it was an exquisite audience," he said. He considered the opportunity to give lectures at Cleanzone Plaza particularly important for the company.

"Important for introducing new products"

Terry R. Becker, responsible for Sales & Management at "Hydroflex OHG" from Gladenbach in Hesse, considers Cleanzone an increasingly important trade fair for presenting new technologies and engaging in discussions with old and new customers. The company offers materials for cleaning cleanrooms, covering manual cleaning with mops as well as machine cleaning with vacuums. This year, Becker and his colleagues introduced a microfiber mop cover that, thanks to embedded bristle strips, also removes deposits from the floor. Becker was not surprised that visitor numbers decreased compared to the previous year: last year, the CPhI pharmaceutical trade fair was held in Frankfurt simultaneously, which is considered one of the most important events in the pharmaceutical industry.

"The congress concept has proven successful"

Anja Diete, responsible for organizing Cleanzone at "Messe Frankfurt Exhibition GmbH," believes the relatively young trade fair is on the right track. Year after year, more exhibitors participate (2012: 39; this year: 61). Compared to the previous year, the exhibition space has also increased by 30 percent. She views the greater internationality of visitors as a very positive sign. "On the first day alone, we registered guests from Australia and Mexico." The goal is to continue offering a high-quality trade fair in the future. Cleanzone should grow both on the exhibitor and visitor sides, but it is not intended to become a mass event. Diete was very satisfied with the revised concept of the Cleanzone Congress, which in the mornings provided basic knowledge about cleanrooms and in the afternoons delved deeper into specialized topics. Preparations for the next Cleanzone, scheduled for October 27-28, 2015, in Frankfurt, are already underway.

"Higher management not represented"

Prof. Dr. Horst Weißsieker, who has contributed to the development of standards for cleanrooms in various roles over the years, offered some tempered remarks. "I wish for even more internationality and more decision-makers at Cleanzone," he said. Higher management levels were not represented this year. "Cleanzone must become a trade fair for managers and executives," Weißsieker urged in an interview with "reinraum-online." He referred to very positive experiences he had last year, for example, with a roadshow for "Deerns Deutschland GmbH," where he has been active since early 2013 as authorized signatory and IP Director for cleanroom and laboratory technology. Deerns Deutschland, a subsidiary of the Dutch company of the same name, offers consulting, planning, construction supervision, project management, and the creation of studies and reports in the field of technical systems.

"Standards or being standardized"

Thomas Wollstein, Dipl.-Physicist and responsible for the topic of cleanrooms at VDI, explained at the opening press conference why it is so important to shape technical standards: "Either you set standards — or you will be standardized." He lamented that Germans tend to follow Americans in this regard, despite having a clear technological lead. The VDI 2083 guideline series, now consisting of 23 sheets, "is years ahead of ISO," said Wollstein. Cleanzone is an ideal platform to showcase the competencies of domestic companies. As an internationally oriented trade fair in cleanroom technology, it supports Germany's economic and technological position.

"There is no way around standardization"

Prof. Gernod Dittel has identified some resistance within parts of the industry against standards and guidelines for cleanrooms. "They often see it as an obstacle that leads to increased personnel effort," he said. However, Dittel himself believes that there is no way around standardization to ensure safe production conditions. After all, products manufactured in cleanrooms are increasingly used in many areas of life. As an everyday example, he mentioned drives for electric toothbrushes. Dittel, who is also Deputy Chairman of the German Cleanroom Institute, teaches at Carinthia University in Villach, Austria, and at Xi'an Technical University in China. He sees excellent career prospects for his students: "They already have their jobs secured before they graduate."

"No life without bacteria"

Prof. Dr. Rupert Gerzer, head of the Institute for Aerospace Medicine at the German Aerospace Center (DLR) in Cologne, explained the contamination problems faced by space technology. Due to human presence in space and on other planets, microorganisms are also brought along from Earth — without knowing exactly what happens to them. It is clear, however, that spores on space stations are highly resistant and can survive millions of years. The obvious idea of sterilizing the stations is not feasible, because there are always humans on board whose lives are unthinkable without bacteria. The astronauts in space stations are also exposed to high stresses: "Since the immune system does not function properly in microgravity, fungi and germs love the climate in space stations," said Gerzer. Astronauts returning from space, such as German Alexander Gerst, who is scheduled to land precisely at the start of Cologne Carnival on November 11, must therefore be carefully protected against possible infection risks.