New cleanroom boosts medical technology and collaboration with businesses

(from left): Adem Aksu (KLS Martin), Prof. Dr. Volker Bucher (Head of the Institute for Microsystems Technology), and Frank Reinauer (KLS Martin)

Furtwangen University (HFU) has inaugurated a new laboratory at its Research Center in Rottweil. The new facilities open up innovative opportunities for the university’s researchers in the field of applied research, for example in the manufacture of medical technology products. “The new cleanroom offers us a wide range of opportunities to further strengthen the link between research and knowledge transfer,” emphasised Internal link opens in the same window:Prof. Dr Volker Bucher at the official opening of the new laboratory. HFU has been operating the Research Center Rottweil for ten years now – the opening of the laboratory and the anniversary were celebrated with an open day. 

“The ISO 7-class cleanroom enables research and development under controlled, low-particle conditions – for example for applications in medical technology”, said Internal link opens in the same window:Prof. Dr Christoph Reich, Deputy Vice-President at HFU and Vice-President for Research and Sustainability.

Numerous guests from business, society and politics attended the opening, gaining an insight into current research at the Research Center.

In her welcoming address, Dr Maria-Lena Weiss, Member of the Bundestag, emphasised the laboratory’s role as a place where science and industry can work together on solutions. Stefan Teufel, Member of the State Parliament, also praised the initiative, saying: “This is a sound investment in the future.” Congratulations also came from Artur Eichin, a Member of the State Parliament, who reminded those present that business and science need one another and that the future can be shaped.

Dr Christian Ruf, Lord Mayor of Rottweil, spoke about the remarkable development of the Research Center over the last ten years. Ruf had already visited the new research laboratory prior to the opening, together with District Administrator Christoph Keckeisen.

The cleanroom project was made possible by KLS Martin SE & Co. KG from Tuttlingen, which donated the laboratory equipment as well as two metal 3D printers. Frank Reinauer, Head of the Implants Division, and Adem Aksu, Head of Development for Implants and Biomaterials at KLS Martin, were delighted that the cleanroom’s spirit of innovation would continue at its new location. They even named this “spirit” – Prof. Dr Volker Bucher. “I happened to hear that KLS Martin wanted to expand and asked whether the room was still needed. It’s particularly great that it worked out and that everyone was on board. My whole team pitched in to set up the room – that was one of the best experiences I’ve had since I started working,” Bucher reported enthusiastically.

Following the opening, invited guests and the public were able to tour the cleanroom and find out about other research projects, such as those on microplastics and robotic arms. At the HFU Research Center, teaching, research and industrial applications are closely intertwined. The research and technology transfer projects are supported by the City of Rottweil.

“We’re currently using the cleanroom to apply a gold coating to Rottweil carnival figures,” explained Bucher. The academic and his team are also working on new plasma processes that can replace climate-damaging gases used in the cleaning of printed circuit boards. A research project with surgeons from Rottweil is planned for the future, which will focus on the development of patient-specific finger joint replacement implants.