ILMAC 2013: Focus on Contact Maintenance

ILMAC_2013_Trade Fair Hall

Rino Woyczyk

Stefanie Rud

Werner Straub

ILMAC_01_Duvernell

Markus Renkl

Norbert Otto

Hans Zingre

Dr. Hans Schicht

The ILMAC industrial fair in Basel is considered an important industry meeting point for specialists in process and laboratory technology from the fields of pharmaceuticals, chemicals, food, beverages, cosmetics, and biotechnology. It takes place every three years, and starting next year, it will be complemented by the ILMAC Lounges (see separate report).

Also this year, numerous exhibitors from the cleanroom sector were present in Basel. Members of SwissCCS (Swiss Contamination Control Society – formerly the Swiss Society for Cleanroom Technology (SRRT)) showcased themselves with around 20 exhibitors for the third time on a large special area in Hall 1.1. According to the organizer, 12,046 trade visitors attended ILMAC this year, about 5,000 fewer than in 2010. reinraum-online spoke with some representatives of the cleanroom industry at ILMAC and asked them about their impressions of the trade fair.

Rino Woyczyk is responsible for the Life Science sector at Drees & Sommer AG, an internationally active consulting firm for the construction and real estate sector. "The goal of our first ILMAC appearance was to establish contacts with clients and to present the '3C Management' for construction projects, which we developed together with the GMP expert gpex GmbH," said Woyczyk. The term '3C Management' involves the idea of ensuring smooth and cost-effective processes through integrated management concerning Construction, Commissioning, and Compliance. Woyczyk was satisfied with the conversations held at ILMAC.

Stefanie Rud, Vice President of Ortner Reinraumtechnik GmbH from Villach, Austria, which specializes in equipment and plant engineering for cleanroom requirements in the life sciences industry, was also pleased with her company's first ILMAC appearance. She was happy to meet with existing customers and to make new contacts. "Since we have had our own branch in Zurich for several years, it is especially important for us to be present here," she said.

Werner Straub was present at ILMAC in two roles: as secretary of SwissCCS (Swiss Contamination Control Society), where he organized the joint booth, and as a representative of the cleanroom industry. He appreciated the opportunity to provide a platform for the industry. "Many large pharmaceutical companies believe they have cleanroom technology under control, but there is often a lack of expertise," Straub noted. Therefore, it is so important to showcase the work of the mostly small and medium-sized companies from the cleanroom sector at a trade fair like ILMAC. Having now mastered the topic of 'clean air,' companies are increasingly focusing on creating clean surfaces. As a representative of Cofely AG, a major provider of building technology systems, he presented concepts for energy optimization—not only in cleanrooms. Especially where systems have grown over the years, there is significant potential for savings. Like many other exhibitors, his focus was not on concrete deals but primarily on initiating and deepening contacts.

Networking was also the main focus for Frank Duvernell. His company profi-con offers professional cleanroom cleaning services, complemented by training programs under the name "ReinraumAkademie" in Germany and "CleanroomAcademy" in Switzerland. Like many other exhibitors, he also noted a decline in visitor numbers at this year's ILMAC.

Markus Renkl, Sales Manager for Life Sciences and Electronics at the water analysis specialist HACH LANGE GmbH, describes ILMAC as a "must be": "We are here regularly"—as most of his colleagues, mainly for maintaining contacts rather than closing deals directly. He particularly praised the joint presentation of SwissCCS members.

For the second time, Norbert Otto from Rottenburg in Swabia was at ILMAC, where his company "C-tec Cleanroom-Technology GmbH" monitors and maintains clean air systems. Otto, also a board member of SwissCSS, traveled to Basel with the expectation of gaining new customer contacts and engaging in many conversations. His interim assessment on the second day was cautious: "There could be more visitors."

At the booth of MBV AG from Stäfa, Switzerland, a very relaxed Hans Zingre was found for several reasons: on the second day of the fair, the owner and chairman of the supervisory board of the company, which specializes in manufacturing air germ collectors, celebrated his birthday, and he was also pleased as president of SwissCSS about the successful trade fair appearance. He considers the presence of MBV AG at ILMAC essential: "We are part of the pharmaceutical family."

Calling Dr. Hans H. Schicht a pioneer of cleanroom technology is certainly not wrong. In 1966, shortly after completing his mechanical engineering degree and earning his doctorate in process engineering, he engaged with the then very new idea of working in cleanrooms. "The difference between what we did back then and what I see today at ILMAC is worlds apart," said the now 76-year-old, who still works as a consultant for cleanroom technology, during his tour of the Basel exhibition halls. He was pleased to note that there are increasingly more companies in the industry. One topic still remains underrepresented for him: energy saving in cleanrooms. "There is still enormous potential for cost savings there."