New year, new job? View the vacancies! More ...

All publications from acp systems AG

To ensure that any substances which may have contaminated the outside of vials during filling do not pose a risk to humans or the environment, the exterior surfaces of containers are increasingly being cleaned. (Photo credit: Bausch+Ströbel)

With the aim of significantly reducing resource consumption in the cleaning of medical and pharmaceutical products, the material compatibility and cytotoxicity of the dry quattroClean snow jet cleaning technology was successfully investigated in a joint project. (Photo credit: acp Systems)

Microscope images of vials with existing damage show no change in the defects before (left) and after (right) worst-case cleaning with the CO2 snow. (Photo credit: Fraunhofer IPA)

Examination results with different test substances before and after cleaning. (Image source: Bausch+Ströbel)

24.03.2026
‌
Cleaning | procedures, devices, agents, media (Wipers, Swaps,...)

Snow instead of ultra-pure water

Cleaning pharmaceutical packaging reliably and resource-efficiently after filling

Cleaning the exterior of pharmaceutical containers such as bottles, vials and cartridges after filling prevents any adhering product residues from becoming a danger to humans and the environment. This process, which is traditionally liquid-based, consumes enormous amounts of energy and water and inc…

The customer-specific planning, documentation, and commissioning of the automation solution for the cleaning system, as well as its integration into existing production lines, complete the range of services offered. (Photo: acp systems AG)

The scalable quattroClean snow jet process is also used for cleaning Front-Opening Unified Pods (FOUP) to ensure the cleanliness of wafers in semiconductor manufacturing during storage and transport. (Photo: acp systems AG)

For process interpretation and determination of the application-specific optimal cleaning parameters, the manufacturer has its own cleanroom technical center. (Photo: acp systems AG)

The dry, resource-saving quattroClean snow jet technology meets the high cleanliness requirements in electronics manufacturing in a stable and reproducible manner. Here is an application from medical technology in which both a chip and its packaging are cleaned. (Photo: acp systems AG)

09.12.2025
‌
Cleaning | procedures, devices, agents, media (Wipers, Swaps,...)

quattroClean snow jet technology - dry and production-integrated cleaning

Sustainable and efficient solutions to cleaning challenges faced by electronics and semiconductor manufacturers

The electronics and semiconductor manufacturing industries face a number of challenges. Increasingly smaller structure sizes, rising demands concerning the power density, dependability and safety of electronic components, as well as new manufacturing technologies call for greater precision and highe…

To effectively reduce resource consumption in the cleaning of medical and pharmaceutical products, the material compatibility and cytotoxicity of the quattroClean snow jet cleaning technology were successfully investigated in a joint project. (Photo credit: Bentley InnoMed)

To cover as broad a range of applications as possible, tests were conducted using test specimens made from materials commonly used in the medical and pharmaceutical industries: stainless steel 1.4301, stainless steel 1.4305, polyetheretherketone (PEEK), polyether (PE), polyoxymethylene (POM), Nitinol, cobalt-chromium, and glass vials. (Image source: Fraunhofer IPA)

In-vitro cytotoxicity tests in accordance with DIN EN ISO 10993:2009-10 confirmed that the CO2 snow does not impair cell vitality in any way. (Photo credit: Fraunhofer IPA)

The photoelectron spectroscopic analyses conducted at NMI – here the HRXPS spectrum of stainless steel 1.4301 – confirm that the CO2 snow jet does not cause any material changes. (Image source: NMI Natural and Medical Sciences Institute at the University of Tübingen)

03.09.2025
‌
Cleaning | procedures, devices, agents, media (Wipers, Swaps,...)

Joint project proves suitability of quattroClean snow jet technology

Resource-saving, reliable cleaning process for life science industries

The surface cleanliness required for medical and pharmaceutical products is generally achieved during manufacture using liquid-based cleaning processes that consume enormous amounts of energy and water. In order to effectively reduce resource consumption, a joint project funded by Invest BW and invo…

The winding system, which also features an inline quality check, enables the automated and digitized manufacture of jelly rolls in different designs and formats. (Photo credit: Fraunhofer IPA / photo: Rainer Bez)

For contacting with welded current collectors, a robot places the tabs on the anode and cathode, which are then joined together using ultrasonic welding. (Photo credit: Fraunhofer IPA / photo: Rainer Bez)

The notching of the anode and cathode is performed with an integrated laser cutting system. The various contact options can be combined as desired. (Image source: Fraunhofer IPA / Photo: Rainer Bez)

The buffer ensures that sufficient cathode and anode material is always supplied to the continuous winding process. (Image source: Fraunhofer IPA/Photo: Rainer Bez)

The quality of the windings is checked in the system by means of a hi-pot test. The dimensional accuracy regarding winding geometry and current collector position is verified through optical inline inspection. N.i.O. cells are automatically sorted out. (Photo source: Fraunhofer IPA / Photo: Rainer Bez)

15.05.2025
‌
Products, devices, systems, plants for applications

Innovative winding machine for cylindrical battery cells offering a unique range of formats and contacting possibilities

Highly flexible, automated and digitized jelly roll production with various testing options

Battery cells are crucial for energy storage in e-mobility and other applications - and a major cost factor. In order to reduce reject rates significantly, improve quality and develop innovative cell designs, an automated and digitized production line for cylindrical battery cells has been developed…

The robot for image processing-assisted handling solution was mounted on the ceiling of the loading area of the coating system due to space constraints and has a reach of 1,000 mm. (Image source: AZUR SPACE Solar Power)

The flat vacuum gripping system, which can be quickly exchanged for different wafer sizes, reliably maintains the specified positioning accuracy of +/- 0.1 mm during the loading of the workpiece carriers. (Image source: AZUR SPACE Solar Power)

The camera system above the backlit alignment table detects the precise position of the wafer and transmits this information to the software. Based on this, the position and angle compensation are calculated, which must be applied to insert the wafer into the carrier nest. (Image source: AZUR SPACE Solar Power)

For turning the solar cells so that they can be coated on both sides, a flipping station is integrated into the handling system. (Photo: AZUR SPACE Solar Power)

Before the coated solar cells are placed back into the cassettes, the camera system checks whether the edges of the wafers are free of damage. (Photo: AZUR SPACE Solar Power)

29.04.2025
‌
Robot

Vision-assisted robotics for handling delicate products with high accuracy

Positioning wafers with micrometer precision for PECVD coating

For loading and unloading workpiece carriers containing wafers of different sizes in an automated process prior to PECVD coating, acp systems has developed a robotic solution aided by image processing for a leading manufacturer of space solar technology. It ensures that the specified positioning acc…

Thomas Lang has been responsible for the newly created Executive Board department

16.02.2025
‌
Company

acp systems AG expands executive board

Thomas Lang is responsible for the new Automation department

With the newly created Executive Board department "Automation," acp systems AG is addressing the rapidly increasing importance of this business segment in recent years. Thomas Lang was appointed to this corporate division as a responsible member of the Executive Board effective February 1, 2025.

Cust…

The compact cleaning module can be adapted to the respective web width and easily integrated into roll-to-roll production lines. (Photo credit: Research project team PV-CO2)

The automated CO2 snow jet cleaning system reliably removes burrs in an industrial-compatible process. The cleaning effect is based on a combination of thermal, mechanical, solvent, and sublimation effects. (Image source: Research project team PV-CO2)

The effects of deburring were demonstrated by measuring the IV curve of modules produced on substrates that were untreated (d), manually cleaned (e), and cleaned using the CO2 snow jet technology (f). b and c show the light and dark curves of the three differently-treated modules. In the DLIT images of the modules (d, e, f), the bright areas indicate hot, localized spots, which are particularly visible in the interconnection zones of the uncleaned modules. (Photo credit: Research project team PV-CO2)

The thickness of the layer stack (without the PET layer, which serves as a carrier material for the layer stack) of a printed solar cell (ETL - electron transport layer, AL - active layer, HTL - hole transport layer, AgNW - silver nanowire electrode, IMI electrode is laser structured) is significantly less than one micrometer. (Photo credit: Research project team PV-CO2)

The 300R2RCompact R&D platform, into which the cleaning solution can be easily integrated, enables a wide range of roll-to-roll coating and printing experiments. It supports the upscaling of laboratory tests to small production series. (Photo credit: Sciprios GmbH)

19.09.2024
‌
Cleaning | procedures, devices, agents, media (Wipers, Swaps,...)

quattroClean snow jet technology for cleaning electrodes after laser structuring

Automated cleaning process for printed photovoltaic modules manufactured using roll-to-roll technology

Roll-to-roll production lines enable printed photovoltaic modules to be produced particularly cost-effectively. To avoid short circuits, however, conductive burrs created when the front electrode is laser structured previously had to be removed manually in a way that was not compatible with the indu…

The process design and definition of the optimal process parameters are carried out in the company's own cleanroom test facility. The preparation of the process media—carbon dioxide and compressed air—ensures air quality that meets the standards required, for example, in semiconductor manufacturing. (Photo credit: acp systems)

The compact, stainless steel JetCell cleaning cell with rotating nozzles was developed for automated cleaning applications and is capable of cleaning large areas in a short time. It can be easily integrated into an interlinked manufacturing environment or operated as a stand-alone device. (Photo credit: acp systems)

With the dry quattroClean snow jet technology, particulate cleanliness in accordance with ORK 1 can be consistently achieved. For film-like residues, the cleaning results are comparable to those obtained with other fine cleaning methods. (Image source: acp systems)

Effective, dry, and cleanroom-compatible cleaning solutions such as the quattroClean snow jet technology are essential to reliably meet the sometimes enormously increased requirements for technical cleanliness in electronics manufacturing or to clean already assembled components. (Photo credit: acp systems)

15.01.2024
‌
Cleaning | procedures, devices, agents, media (Wipers, Swaps,...)

quattroClean snow jet technology - scalable, inline-capable and cleanroom-compatible

Dry cleaning process for optimum cleaning results in electronics production

Whether energy, mobility or industry - electronic components and systems play a key role in the transformation towards climate neutrality. Due to higher demands on power density and reliability as well as new solutions, the requirements for technical cleanliness during the production of these compon…

The innovative quattroClean Powerjet technology enables dry, fully automated inline cleaning processes. Recycled, liquid carbon dioxide is compressed into granular cleaning material within an integrated system and directed at the surface to be cleaned, accelerated by compressed air. (Image source: acp systems)

The continuous, interruption-free media supply is the essential prerequisite for fully automated, production-integrated cleaning processes in which the nozzle is guided by a robot. (Image source: acp systems)

Differently designed nozzles enable the optimal adaptation of dry cleaning to various tasks. The nozzle design and dimensions also ensure that hard-to-reach component areas can be cleaned. (Image source: acp systems)

24.11.2023
‌
Cleaning | procedures, devices, agents, media (Wipers, Swaps,...)

Innovative quattroClean technology for cleaning with dry CO2 granules from acp systems

Automated, inline powersnow cleaning process with integrated cleaning granule production

For inline dry component cleaning applications, acp systems has developed the new powersnow quattroClean technology. In this innovative process, recycled liquid carbon dioxide is compressed into cleaning granules by a unit integrated into the system. These are then accelerated by compressed air, fed…

Since even the tiniest dust particles and residual manufacturing debris can impair satellite performance, extremely high cleanliness standards must be met. (Image source: OHB System)

For the cleaning of the CFRP structures of satellites – here with integrated cable harness and thermal components – OHB System and acp have designed a solution that allows for cleanliness verification during the cleaning process. (Photo credit: OHB System)

Thanks to the two laser pointers integrated into the nozzle head, the optimal distance from the inner surfaces to be cleaned can be set. (Photo credit: OHB System)

The baffle is placed on the fork of the cleaning machine by crane. An integrated camera system in the nozzle head displays the entire cleaning process live on the monitor. (Image source: acp systems)

The swiveling nozzle head is mounted on a lance, through the openings of which the removed contaminants are suctioned away. The cleanliness verification is carried out using a particle counter integrated into the exhaust air stream. (Image source: acp Systems)

14.11.2023
‌
Cleaning | procedures, devices, agents, media (Wipers, Swaps,...)

quattroClean technology for cleaning lightweight CFRP structures

Snow ensures cleanliness for space missions

When it comes to the performance of satellites and their successful use in space, the tiniest grains of dust or particles of manufacturing residues can be decisive. A global player in the international aerospace industry uses quattroClean snow jet technology as a solution to clean the interior of co…

A look at the NEWSLETTER

Better informed: With YEARBOOK, NEWSLETTER, NEWSFLASH, NEWSEXTRA and EXPERT DIRECTORY

Stay up to date and subscribe to our monthly eMail-NEWSLETTER and our NEWSFLASH and NEWSEXTRA. Get additional information about what is happening in the world of cleanrooms with our printed YEARBOOK. And find out who the cleanroom EXPERTS are with our directory.