Innovation in cleanroom technology

The automation manufacturer TRAPO from Gescher-Hochmoor in Westphalia has been developing automated material flow systems for many years for companies that produce under cleanroom conditions. Now, the company has achieved a remarkable breakthrough on the way to emission-free material transport. Behind the name "Shuttle 100" is an automation solution that has successfully been certified for use in production environments up to ISO 5 cleanroom class according to ISO 14644-1.

"The main challenge in transport solutions for cleanrooms is reducing particle emissions caused by the abrasion of moving parts into the air," explains product developer Arthur Klemmer. "Therefore, our focus was on preventing friction altogether. This led to the idea of contactless power transfer."

As a result, the shuttles glide along the transport tracks at speeds of up to 55 km/h thanks to a novel drive concept with inductive power supply, without any friction and almost silently. This nearly eliminates the entry of particles into the production room.

The fact that this new drive form brings a range of positive side effects, which are not to be underestimated from an economic perspective, only became clear during the development process. "Product tests showed that wear on the rollers is extremely low due to the absence of friction and vibrations, as they only serve to support and guide the shuttle. Consequently, a significant portion of maintenance effort is eliminated," says Klemmer, who points out that systems with contactless power transfer are by no means dependent on a purely clean environment. Even though the "natural habitat" of the shuttle is in the cleanroom, the developer is certain: "Especially in dirty and wet environments, such as outdoor use, the absence of friction naturally solves many maintenance problems."