FiT2clean Award: pioneering innovations for industrial part cleaning

At the third presentation of the FiT2clean Award, (from left to right) Philipp Kist (Kist + Escherich GmbH), Dr.-Ing. Ronny Zwinkau (PartikelART Solution GmbH), and Karl-Heinz Menauer (acp systems AG) were pleased to receive the Innovation Award. (Image source: Fachverband industrielle Teilereinigung e.V.)

The FiT2clean Award 2024, endowed with €10,000 and a one-year free membership, was awarded to PartikelART Solution GmbH, represented by Managing Director Dr.-Ing Ronny Zwinkau (center), for the development of an AI-based app for quick and easy particle analysis using a smartphone. The award presentation was carried out by Juliane Schulze and Michael Flämmich. (Image source: Fachverband industrielle Teilereinigung e.V.)

With the “FiT2clean Award,” the Industry Association for Industrial Part Cleaning e. V. (FiT) annually honors outstanding achievements and solutions for industrial component cleaning. The €10,000 endowed innovation award was awarded for the third time this year. Among the three finalists, who presented their solutions on September 11th during the 32nd Specialist Conference “Industrial Component Cleaning” to the attendees, PartikelART Solution GmbH secured first place with an innovative app for quick and easy particle analysis. Behind them were solutions from acp systems AG and Kist + Escherich GmbH.

Component cleaning is not the most glamorous topic in the manufacturing chain, but it is crucial for the quality of subsequent processes and products. Innovative solutions in cleaning technology also contribute to sustainable and economical production, for example by reducing consumption and waste. And often, they are necessary to turn product ideas into reality. “That is exactly why the Industry Association for Industrial Part Cleaning has been awarding the annual FiT2clean Award since 2022,” reports Dr. Michael Flämmich, Chairman of the Board of FiT. “We want to promote and advance innovations in industrial cleaning technology.” In 2024, a total of nine companies and institutions applied for the innovation award with new and further developed solutions. “These were consistently exciting and forward-looking developments, all of which deserved an award,” adds Michael Flämmich. The three finalists, acp systems AG, Kist + Escherich GmbH, and PartikelART Solution GmbH, presented their developments during the 32nd Specialist Conference “Industrial Component Cleaning” on September 11th to over 120 conference participants, who could also help decide the winner.

AI-based App for Measuring and Classifying Particles

The winner of the €10,000 prize and a one-year free membership in the association is PartikelART Solution GmbH. The company developed an AI-based, easy-to-use app for Android and iOS smartphones, which allows particles from 200 µm Feret max to be quickly, simply, and reliably measured and classified directly on the line. A purple square serves as a reference for size measurement, for example, on a particle trap or a particle stamp. The classification of particles into metallic, non-metallic, and fibers is performed using AI-based image processing. The measurement results can be output as a report, similar to microscopic analysis, and sent or saved directly via email. Compared to laboratory analyses, controlling technical cleanliness with the app is significantly more cost-effective. Furthermore, the results are immediately available, allowing for instant reaction if necessary.

CO2 Snow as an Extraction Medium for Particle Analysis

The innovation of acp systems AG, which secured second place, also deals with technical cleanliness testing. For particle extraction, which is traditionally done by rinsing with a liquid medium often harmful to health and the environment or by blowing or vacuuming the component, the company has developed a completely new extraction device. It is based on the already established CO2 snow cleaning, where recycled carbon dioxide is used as the medium. Since particles can be removed down to the sub-micrometer range, the innovative extraction solution is particularly suitable for components with specified particle sizes below 50 µm and for electronic components that cannot be tested by rinsing or that previously had to be scrapped after testing. This allows the extraction device to save costs on the one hand, and critical raw materials, energy, and electronic waste on the other.

Dry, Contactless Cleaning of Circuit Board Carriers

The third place was secured by Kist + Escherich GmbH with a new cleaning solution for circuit board carriers. These complex containers are used in the electronics industry for transporting circuit boards (PCBs, PCBAs), and during their use in placement machines, particles accumulate in the magazine slots, which can be transported into subsequent processes or products. The cleaning of circuit board carriers, which has so far been done manually or only sporadically, is now performed in a new system that is all-encompassing, dry, and contactless. Dust and particles are loosened by ionized compressed air through rotating nozzles, captured by a suction stream, and fed into an embedded filter unit. The integrated electrostatic discharge is optimized for ESD applications. The system can be used both offline and inline and is programmable for different magazine sizes. The automated, dry cleaning of the magazines significantly reduces the risk of particle-related defects or even failures in sensitive electronic components.

The Next FiT2clean Award Is Already Waiting

“It’s not only the outstanding innovations but also the other submitted new and further developed solutions that ensure providers of industrial cleaning technology contribute to more efficient, process-safe, and sustainable implementation of current requirements in industrial component cleaning,” notes Michael Flämmich. “And since work is constantly being done on new solutions, we are very curious about the submissions for the FiT2clean Award 2025.” The FiT innovation prize will be awarded next year at parts2clean, which will be held from October 7 to 9, 2025, at the Stuttgart exhibition grounds.