These were the lounges in 2019

More exhibitors and more visitors than last year, this is a very positive development that has been evident since the move to Karlsruhe.

250 contributions, divided into lectures, activities, and product shows, provided visitors with many opportunities to gather information.

Activities and product shows were the highlight of the lounges alongside the many lectures

Lectures by exhibitors, government representatives, and organizations form the foundation each year and represent the theoretical part of the event. Activities and product shows are becoming increasingly popular and attract many visitors to the booths and special areas.

The Innovation Forum focused on innovative materials and surfaces in process and space

This area was part of the lounges for the second time. Since the sustainable operation of cleanrooms largely depends on the functionality and durability of the materials used and the surfaces produced, there was great interest. The topic is not only relevant for new constructions but especially for existing structures that are to be reused more frequently in the context of expanding laboratories and production facilities. Already today, innovative concepts and materials are available that significantly improve the technical and economic conditions during the construction and operation of cleanrooms but are not yet adequately implemented in practice. The noticeable shift in construction, increasingly driven by megatrends such as climate change, resource scarcity, or digitalization, makes it necessary to establish innovations much faster in construction and cleanroom design. Only then can the opportunities offered by the performance of these materials be recognized and utilized in a timely manner.

The Hygienic Design Forum addressed the why and the efficient use and offered opportunities for discussion

Safety in the process and the finished products is of the highest priority. Additionally, operators aim to achieve maximum plant availability. In this regard, plant construction must respond to these needs and explore new ways. Independent evaluations prove that certain requirements are met. It is crucial that users are aware of these requirements and can assess the usefulness of certificates accordingly. Construction criteria for hygienic design have been published for many years. However, these have never been standardized, so designers and plant builders face the dilemma of having to apply custom solutions. This requires a high level of effort and does not guarantee that the desired features are optimally implemented. Training helps only to a limited extent in this area. Exchange of experience among participants in the hygienic design community is necessary to establish best practice solutions as standard.

The Cleanroom Technology Forum provided a glimpse into the future and highlighted trends

The trend toward digitization of workflows and processes is unmistakable and also affects critical cleanliness production. The development of the ISO 14644 series of guidelines, which focus on aspects of manufacturing and production facilities, is also due to the fact that humans are increasingly removed from the direct contamination control area and replaced by automation components.

Fraunhofer Cleanroom Technology Award Reiner! 2019 awarded

Formerly Clean!, now Reiner! For the first time under the name Reiner!, the Fraunhofer Cleanroom Technology Award was presented at the lounges. The first innovation award went to F. Hoffmann-La Roche for the use of robotics in controlled environments and the design of a suitable drug-product (DP) plant. Dastex and Hydroflex Group tied for second place. Dastex was recognized for a filter testing stand for cleanroom textiles under realistic load conditions, while Hydroflex impressed with a sterile and pre-sterilized cleanroom mop.

Live at the lounges and online 365 days a year – 365 days of expert information for interested parties, exchange, and lead generation for exhibitors instead of just 3 days of live “trade fair”

Coinciding with the 2019 lounges, x4com presented its new platform, which all exhibitors and visitors of the lounges, as well as all interested parties after registration, can use. The new platform knows no borders; content is presented in German and English and can also be accessed if one cannot attend the lounges.

The website features a new NEWS update page that presents all company information, company news, product news, job news, product catalogs, technical articles, advertisements, videos, lectures, activities, shows, industry events, and much more. Networks can be established or simply communicated with all users. Currently, over 6,000 users are active on the platform.

From the very beginning, the platform was used very effectively, providing exhibitors who actively participated with many interesting contacts even before the event. Users have made numerous new contacts online and inform themselves daily about new content.

The platform's usage exceeds all expectations – more new features will be available by the end of March.