LPW Test and Service Center reopens

The new cleanroom has been significantly improved in its range of performance regarding monitoring, energy efficiency, and performance. (Photo: LPW)

In the new Test and Service Center (TDZ), LPW offers its customers the opportunity to carry out applications and tests related to future-proof fine and ultra-fine cleaning, in addition to payroll cleaning. (Photo: LPW)

After just under six months of construction, the test and service center for precision cleaning at LPW's company location in Riederich was recently reopened. Due to a fire at the beginning of the year, it had to be rebuilt from scratch. The cleaning specialists took this as an opportunity to make the TDZ even more modern and efficient, equipping it with high-tech at the highest level worth over one million euros.

Covering a total of 380 square meters, it now hosts customer trials, contract cleaning, and work on research projects. The new setup offers even more possibilities in process and procedure development for external users as well as internal company activities. Gerhard Koblenzer, CEO of LPW Cleaning Systems GmbH: “Of course, the fire was a shock at first. But we made the best of it and took the opportunity during reconstruction to bring the TDZ up to date with the latest technology three years after opening and to make it more future-proof. In addition to the insurance payout, we invested our own money.”

The technical equipment now includes:

– Completely new media supply (air, technical gases, and liquids in the form of a VE and ultrapure water supply)
- ISO 7 cleanroom with integrated air particle measurement and the ability to darken the entire cleanroom for UV light inspection
– Mobile laminar flow unit in the cleanroom to create an operating environment under ISO 5 conditions for inspection, handling, and packaging of cleaned components
– Three-stage precision cleaning system (PowerJet 670T3 CNp), integrated in the cleanroom, with US cleaning/rinsing, injection flooding, CNp cleaning/rinsing, ultrapure water rinsing, integrated hot air/vacuum drying, contactless IR/CNp drying, and integrated batch-based process monitoring
– Vacuum packaging unit that allows single- or multi-layer processing of cleaned and dried components, even under nitrogen atmosphere
– Pre-cleaning in the gray area with a PowerJet 670T2 Basic: two-stage cleaning/rinsing process with integrated US/CNp cleaning and subsequent hot air/vacuum drying

With the LPW ultrapure water system supplying the laboratory areas and final cleaning in the cleanroom, even the most demanding requirements from medical technology, precision component manufacturing, optical industry, and the new portfolio of the automotive sector can be met. Additionally, a central control system documents all process procedures and environmental conditions. Furthermore, the laboratory facilities are now equipped so that, in addition to cleanliness analytics, semi-automatic preliminary tests can be conducted on a CNp wet bench or on a CNp/ultrasound double-tank system for chemical selection/compatibility, as well as for rinsing tests and process definition.

Koblenzer: “The TDZ is already operating at full capacity again. Since demand is immense, we plan to expand contract cleaning capacities around the turn of the year by integrating additional systems.”

The LPW Applications Engineering team, led by Christian Koblenzer, is responsible for managing the test and service center in Riederich near Metzingen. Inquiries and appointment scheduling can be made via email at info@lpw-cleaning.com.