Hot topics at Cleanzone Plaza: site security, digitalization, and Nachwuchs

© Messe Frankfurt/Sandra Gätke

On-site security or the networking of technologies – experts discuss the topics that are crucial for the future of manufacturing under controlled conditions at the Cleanzone Plaza. Right in the midst of the trade fair activities, the action stage Cleanzone Plaza takes place. On October 27 and 28 – the two days of the Cleanzone trade fair – panel discussions, exhibitor presentations, the presentation of the nominees, and the awarding of the Cleanroom Award will take place there. Ruth Lorenz, Head of Technology & Production at Messe Frankfurt, explains the idea behind the panel discussions: “High-tech and cleanrooms are two sides of the same coin, meaning: those who produce high-tech must also produce in cleanrooms. The Cleanzone, as an interdisciplinary trade fair, offers industry and research professionals the ideal forum to address the future challenges of production in cleanrooms.”

Cleanroom technology – site security in regional competition: High-caliber representatives from industries that produce high-tech products under cleanroom conditions or test for sterility will speak on this topic on October 27 at 1:15 pm at the Cleanzone Plaza. The participants of the panel discussion are: Dr. Frank Bartels from Bartels Microtechnology, Dr. Klaus Kuhlcke from Eufets, Dr. Maximilian Schlicht from Labor L+S, and Professor Dr. Gernod Dittel from Dittel Engineering. Professor Dittel summarizes the idea of the discussion round: “In the panel discussion, representatives from industry will talk about what should or must change in Germany in education, research, and development so that we remain a high-tech location in the future and are not overtaken by other countries on the sidelines.” According to Dr. Schlicht, the demand for technically and functionally modern, low-maintenance, and highly efficient cleanroom systems in the pharmaceutical environment is driven not only by national and international regulations to optimize product safety in the manufacturing process but also by the intrinsic interests of German and European pharmaceutical and biotech companies themselves. “The competitive advantage of such cleanroom systems in Germany includes the necessary process security. Especially modern, technologically sophisticated, and aseptically produced medicines and biopharmaceuticals are thus protected from secondary contamination, which would lead to costly batch rejects. This operational safety, increasingly offered by modern cleanroom systems in production, also involves the demand to implement such cleanroom concepts in downstream analysis laboratories for quality control.”

The networking of technologies is progressing ever faster. What advantages does digitalization offer for production under controlled conditions? Where is the journey headed in the future? Dr. Robert Ruprecht from Karlsruhe Institute of Technology, Assistant Professor Dr. Stefan Radl from Graz University of Technology, Professor Dipl. Ing. Peter Karlinger from Rosenheim University of Applied Sciences, and Dr. Ing. Erwin Bürkle from Wobbe-Bürkle & Partner will discuss this topic on October 28 at 1 pm on the action stage. Professor Radl provides some initial insights: “Virtualization, i.e., the mapping of cleanrooms in computers, will become faster, cheaper, and more precise in the future. This development is driven by the networking of modern 3D camera technology and sensors, improved software, and sharply falling prices for computer processing power. For example, it will become possible to better understand and predict flow profiles as well as causes of molecular or particulate contamination. I expect the first applications of such technologies in employee training, plant design, and troubleshooting of particularly critical process steps.”

Under the motto “Talent Development,” experts will speak at the Cleanzone Plaza on October 27 at 12:30 pm about training and education. Panel participant Christian Dragosits from Medical Electronics explains: “In cleanroom technology, the need for skilled personnel has increased enormously in recent years. To ensure the necessary qualification of employees, we urgently need specialized training and degree programs that specifically prepare staff for the requirements of working in a cleanroom. Many actors in the cleanroom scene have previously specialized as autodidacts. Today, the time is ripe for certified and qualified training standards. We are using the discussion platform at Cleanzone to coordinate the standards needed for this.”

Another panel discussion on October 28 at 12:30 pm will focus on the topic “Entry into Cleanroom Technology.” This round is aimed at users and suppliers who are new to cleanrooms. Professor Dr. Gerhard Winter from Albstadt/Sigmaringen University of Applied Sciences will present interesting bachelor’s and master’s theses related to cleanrooms. Additionally, the nominees of the Cleanroom Award will showcase their products. The trade fair audience can vote for their favorite among the five stars, which will then also be honored on the action stage. The program of the Cleanzone Plaza is rounded off with presentations from the Cleaning Excellence Center Leonberg on technical cleanliness, the international cleanroom umbrella organization ICCCS on its goals, and various exhibitors of Cleanzone on their innovations.”