Fraunhofer IPA Survey: Consumables in Pure Manufacturing

Investment costs in cleanroom technology and expenses for consumables in 2011 (Source: Mcilvaine Company, as of 2013)

Proportion of different consumables in total expenses in 2011 (Source: Mcilvaine Company, as of 2013)

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The manufacturing of many products today must be carried out with consideration of cleanliness aspects, starting from computer chips, pharmaceuticals, implants to food and satellites. To meet the quality characteristic "purity," manufacturing often relies on cleanroom conditions. However, the cleanroom alone does not guarantee a pure product: the influence of the consumables used must also not be underestimated, as they pose an immediate contamination risk. At the same time, the economic relevance of consumables, reflected in expenditures of 6.4 billion US dollars in 2011 and thus significantly exceeding the investment costs of 3.9 billion US dollars for cleanroom technology in the comparison year, is also impressive.

To provide a basis for decision-making in selecting suitable consumables, their properties such as particle emission, outgassing behavior, chemical resistance, or cleanability must be evaluated in advance using meaningful methods. Current procedures only partially guarantee this. The VDI guideline committee 2083/9.2 "Consumables" is therefore currently working to close this gap and develop representative tests.

To gauge industry opinions on the topic of consumables, their exact requirements, and needs, Fraunhofer IPA is conducting a survey, from which immediate action needs and further research activities will be derived. Participants in the survey will have access to the survey results.

Further information about the survey and participation details will be available from early August at www.reinheitstechnik.de.

Contact:
Nicole Göldner
+49-711-970-1863
Nicole.Goeldner@ipa.fraunhofer.de