With stainless steel for added security

Ob Pharma industry, microelectronics, food industry, and other sectors: The production of sterile or germ-free products places the highest demands on facilities, personnel, work techniques, and materials. Contaminations in sensitive production areas cause damages amounting to millions annually, especially in Germany. Often, the cause is only identified when it is already too late. "That is why it is all the more important to proactively counteract with appropriate measures," says Steffen Hild, Managing Director of CAT Clean Air Technology GmbH based in Stuttgart.

For example, through the use of stainless steel tools, such as those that CAT has been offering for years as a specialist service provider for acceptance measurements in cleanrooms, as well as qualification and validation of cleanroom technical production facilities. As a supplier of such tools, the company has established an international reputation and now considers itself one of the market leaders. Accordingly, the number of reference customers from pharmaceuticals, medical technology, microelectronics, and food industry is extensive. The current range includes over 2,000 parts, from all types of screwdrivers, bits, and wrenches to hammers, ratchets, and torque tools, as well as pliers, scissors, tweezers, and clamps. Additionally, measuring tools, fixation systems, pallets, and much more are available. The product range is regularly expanded; soon, CAT will introduce a cleanroom-compatible torque wrench with a flexibly adjustable torque.

Homogeneous Material for Highest Quality Demands

The focus on stainless steel tools is not accidental but simply because this material offers maximum safety regarding sterility and germ-freeness, as well as product risks. Background: Normal tools made from chrome-vanadium, for example, can release harmful particles when surfaces crack, peel, or rust. For this reason, stainless steel tools are particularly suitable for critical production processes and sterile or food-related areas, where autoclaves or more aggressive media are used. The recurring contact corrosion on stainless steel screws, which occurs with the use of chrome-vanadium tools, is also prevented.
This is especially true for the pharmaceutical industry, which sets the highest quality standards in its sterile areas. An example of this is the regular sterilization through steam-pressure autoclaving at up to 134 degrees Celsius / two bar. Since stainless steel tools are made from a homogeneous material, there is no flaking of the surface even after multiple autoclave cycles, drops from great heights, or simple mechanical stress during daily use.

Similarly, hairline cracks do not develop—whereas chromed tools do after just one to five autoclave cycles. Last but not least, the stainless steel tools manufactured by CAT exclusively in Germany according to DIN standards are oil- and grease-free. Therefore, there is no risk of contamination during production, machine maintenance, experiments, measurements, or other interventions.

Tool Cart with RFID Lock

It is clear: anyone who needs a larger number of tools in the cleanroom cannot avoid the question of organized storage. For this purpose, CAT offers, in addition to tool cases, tool carts with customized dimensions and drawer configurations. It goes without saying that such carts, which are delivered with individual configurations upon request, are secured against unauthorized access. Increasing requirements prevent more and more customers from introducing standard keys into the cleanroom. For this purpose, CAT equips the tool carts with an electronic RFID lock (RFID = radio-frequency identification) upon request. The highlight of this custom feature: The employee wears the chip as a bracelet under the cleanroom clothing to open the lock, allowing contactless unlocking. "This technology is an absolute innovation in this field," emphasizes Steffen Hild. "Because with the bracelet solution, we achieve a high degree of flexibility, regardless of the employee's size," the cleanroom expert continues. With a chip in the pocket, not all employees would have access to the lock. An intelligent solution that underscores CAT's claim to develop customized concepts for customers, even regarding tools.

Overview

Advantages of stainless steel tools over conventional tools:

- Corrosion resistance;
- low-maintenance durability;
- overall lower costs, as higher initial investment is offset by lower follow-up costs;
- reduced cleaning effort;
- sterilization possible an unlimited number of times;
- environmentally friendly, as recyclable;
- food-grade;
- compatible with other types of stainless steel or plastics;
- no metal coating or plating, thus no release of harmful particles due to cracking, peeling, or rusting of the surface.