The transportable, contaminant-free manufacturing environment ‘CAPE’ can be used to achieve air cleanliness standards that comply with ISO classes 1 through 9. ISO class 1 dictates that in each cubic meter of air, there must be no more than ten particles bigger than 0.1 micrometers in size, explains the IPA . The cleanroom can be both tailored to customer-specific needs and integrated into existing production zones. The researchers believe that the applications of ‘CAPE’ in industry are manifold, with potential for use in sectors as diverse as chip manufacturing, medical technology, and satellite assembly, and even the automotive industry, where it could be used in the manufacture of battery and fuel cells. A demo system will be on show at HANNOVER MESSE in Hall 17, Stand C83.

Over the last 20 years cleanroom technology has developed into an interdisciplinary technology with its own identity, says Professor Gernod Dittel , Chairman of the Board of the German Cleanroom Institute (DRRI) , which strives to improve networking between industry and users.