"This combination of cleaning and evaluating is unique"

Dr.-Ing. Udo Gommel

30 years ago, the IPA first dealt with cleanroom technology. How did it start, Mr. Gommel?

Before the department focused on cleanliness technology, it was a general store. It did all sorts of things, such as manufacturing microfluids or optimizing a car wash. Then, a request came from the Federal Ministry of Research asking if the IPA could get involved with cleanroom technology. The then-head of department, Professor Wolfgang Schmutz, started building a cleanroom with six people. Initially, it was about semiconductor technology.

Where are the strengths of your department today?

One of our unique selling points is cleanliness validation. We can not only clean but also evaluate the results. This information is extremely important for our customers because they need to know how clean the parts actually are. Especially in medical technology, this is crucial because they often lack the means for quick and efficient validation. Typical measurement methods are not sufficient here. This combination of cleaning and evaluation is unique.

How do you ensure that the cleaned parts do not become contaminated again immediately?

In addition to cleaning and cleanliness technology, we also provide the appropriate packaging, essentially a comprehensive worry-free package. This may sound trivial, but it is not. We use packaging materials that are not only gentle on abrasives but also free from chemical outgassing. These are special plastics or metallic materials, or a combination of both, such as a foil coated with aluminum. Proper packaging is especially important in aerospace, where parts are often stored for years before being launched into space. It must be guaranteed that no contamination occurs from the packaging during this time. The procedures we have developed for this are now also used in medical technology.

From semiconductor production to medical technology. What are the particular challenges here?

In medical technology, we are currently developing many processes that we originally established for the automotive industry. Many people think: cars and medicine – that doesn’t go together. In the automotive industry, it’s about relatively large contaminants of at least 200 to 300 micrometers, mainly metallic and fibrous residues. In medicine, it’s much smaller, mostly organic contaminants. But like in car manufacturing, we are dealing with highly structured components. The processes from semiconductor technology, where the focus is on absolutely flat substrates, cannot be used for dental or hip implants.

What is the future of IPA cleanliness technology?

So far, the technology has developed rapidly, and I see no end in sight. The number of applications is steadily increasing, and miniaturization is everywhere. Just look at your smartphone. Additionally, there is now the networking of machines, a keyword being Industry 4.0. But I don’t even see electronics as our main driving force; rather, many other industries such as medical technology, automotive manufacturing, optical industry, or battery production. All of them have cleanliness issues and can increase their productivity through appropriate measures.