First Cleanzone attracts top international decision-makers

First Cleanzone attracts top international decision-makers

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Technology of Sense wins Cleanroom Award

The right trade fair at the right location: The new Cleanzone in Frankfurt am Main attracted top decision-makers from 13 countries to its debut on October 24 and 25, 2012. "We promised the cleanroom industry to create a strong, independent platform that reaches new visitor target groups internationally and across industries. Our goal to establish a solid foundation for this demanding format was achieved in 2012," says Klaus Reinke, member of the management board of Messe Frankfurt Exhibition GmbH.

A total of around 600 participants from various application areas attended the new international trade fair with congress for cleanroom technology. The exhibitors welcomed the very good participation from abroad as well as the noticeably large presence of senior management on the customer side. "We were convinced by the high visitor quality and the international resonance at Cleanzone. Already on the morning of the first day, we had high-caliber companies from Hungary, Austria, and Switzerland at our booth, each represented by management or top decision-makers, who sought targeted information," emphasizes Prof. Gernod Dittel, CEO of Dittel Engineering. This is also confirmed by Detlef Jäth, Head of Order Processing & Logistics at Daldrop + Dr. Ing. Huber: "The visitors were decision-makers and project managers, some of whom came to us with concrete plans. We were able to establish valuable new contacts. Ultimately, we deepened our network with suppliers and partners and presented our new monitoring system."

Over a quarter of the visitors traveled from abroad within Europe and overseas to the new industry platform. Especially companies with an international presence could benefit from this. "We are satisfied with the 2012 event and think we will participate again next year. We need an international audience. Frankfurt is the right location for that," summarizes Steffen Wessel, Product Management and Sales at VIESSMANN Technologies.

In 2012, the new industry meeting point for cleanroom technology offered 41 exhibitors over two compact event days, numerous highlights such as the presentation of the first Cleanroom Award, the Cleanzone Plaza, and a lively get-together. Among the participants were BSR, CAS Clean-Air-Service, Colandis, Daldrop, Decontam, Dycem, Hydroflex, Kimberly-Clark, Particle Measuring Systems, PPS Pfennig, Technology of Sense, Viessmann, WISAG, as well as Weiss GWE and Weiss Klimatechnik. The high-caliber Cleanzone Congress provided scientific and current expert knowledge from internationally renowned speakers.

Industry Impulse

The impetus for the new event came from within the cleanroom industry itself. "Our industry is challenged to open up new future markets and attractive niches internationally. The signs are good, as more and more manufacturing industries recognize the benefits of cleanroom technology. Now it’s about presenting innovative solutions for their specific requirements — also beyond traditional air technology. Cleanzone is the right platform for that," emphasizes Dr.-Ing. Dipl.-Phys. Udo Gommel, Head of Reinst- and Microproduction Department and Head of the Cleanroom Testing Center at Fraunhofer Institute IPA.

Marketing and content partner for technical consulting is the Cleanroom Academy from Leipzig. Managing Director Frank Duvernell sees the first step taken: "Cleanzone should fulfill two main functions: firstly, as a forward-looking, industry- and country-spanning trade fair, and secondly, as a new industry meeting point that offers not only networking but also high-quality and guideline-compliant expert knowledge. In 2012, we sent an initial signal with the unique congress. Next year, we will broaden its content and, for example, include a session for beginners."

The effort to build a new platform also resonates internationally. Conor Murray, Chairman of the Irish Cleanroom Society (IRE), who also participated as a speaker at the congress, notes: "Meetings like Cleanzone are important for our industry. But they need to offer something — different, relevant, and interesting. Messe Frankfurt made a good start with Cleanzone 2012. Now it’s about expanding it: as a valuable platform for direct exchange at the professional level, with an attractive offering of knowledge, products, and space for networking." Cleanzone received vigorous support for this in 2012 from partners such as the VDI Society Building and Building Services Engineering, the International Confederation of Contamination Control Societies (ICCCS), the Austrian Cleanroom Society, and SwissCCS.

Cleanzone Congress

A highlight of the Cleanzone Congress was the keynote by Prof. Dr. Ulrich Walter. The astronaut inspired his audience not only through the fascination of space but also emphasized the vital importance of cleanroom technology for space travel as a user. Overall, the Cleanzone Congress offered 17 lectures across four sessions: "Concepts and Trends," "Planning and Construction of Clean Zones," "Operation of Cleanrooms," and "Cleanroom Qualification and Monitoring." Speakers included Koos Agricola (ICCCS International Confederation of Contamination Control Societies), Dr.-Ing. Udo Gommel (Fraunhofer IPA), Dipl.-Ing. M. Kuhn (Steinbeis Transfer Center for Energy, Environment, and Cleanroom Technology), and many other industry experts. The topics ranged from future challenges to new purity concepts, climate control & efficiency, measurement methods, cleaning and surfaces, personnel training, to the latest developments in international ISO standards.

First Cleanroom Award to Technology of Sense

For the first time at Cleanzone 2012, the Cleanroom Award was presented by the Cleanroom Academy. The prize, which honors projects characterized by exceptional innovation, sustainability, and efficiency, was awarded on the second day of the fair to the Dutch company Technology of Sense for their product APMON: a novel monitoring system. "The innovation lies in the idea of measuring not the floating particles in the air, but the falling particles," says Jan Gerbrands, Managing Director of Technology of Sense. The real-time implementation of the tightly scheduled measurements on warning and end devices is also innovative. The project originated from a scientific hypothesis by TNO (Netherlands Organization for Applied Scientific Research). "We are known for translating very new technologies into products. That’s why TNO approached us. Winning the award makes us very proud," says Gerbrands. (www.apmon.eu)

The Cleanroom Award is endowed with €3,000. Among the 20 submissions, besides Technology of Sense, the companies Palas, AAF-Lufttechnik, Colandis, and the Graz University of Technology made it to the final selection by the expert jury. All nominated participants presented their projects to visitors of Cleanzone, who selected the winner during the event.

User Tips and Networking

Practical information, tips, and tricks for the application of cleanrooms were provided to visitors in the free lecture area. The two forums "LifeScience" and "Microtechnology" covered topics such as particle measurement, cleanroom cleaning, optimization of cleanroom clothing, as well as safety and surface purity. The first day of the trade fair and congress concluded with a get-together, where all visitors, exhibitors, and speakers were invited. Live music and culinary treats contributed to a relaxed atmosphere, where guests engaged in in-depth conversations and built new networks.

The next Cleanzone will take place in October 2013.

Additional Voices on Cleanzone

Dipl.-Phys. Thomas Wollstein from the German Engineers Association (VDI)
"Cleanroom technology makes various — well-known and new — products possible, but also with many products not directly associated with it, one notices that the use of cleanroom technology leads to quantum leaps in quality. Cleanzone as a trade fair focuses precisely on this: cleanroom technology, independent of industry and internationally. That’s exactly the approach we as VDI also take: the process is the user’s responsibility; cleanroom technology as a generic discipline provides the controlled environment."
Dipl.-Ing. Falk Becker, Sales Manager at WISAG
"We used the young platform to invite our customers and were also able to make interesting new contacts."
Christian Stiebritz, Scientific Area Manager, Kimberly-Clark
"The international orientation of Cleanzone motivated us to present ourselves on this new platform. The concept and location are right and can be expanded. Especially on the second day, we reached customers from abroad and are satisfied."
Hamit Cincin, Regional Key Account Manager, ECOLAB
"The timing fits well, and the internationally oriented Cleanzone can become a good addition to the existing trade fair offerings."