Controlled area technology – the best conditions for technically clean products
The functionality and service life of technical products is directly connected with the amount of particulate contamination. The idea of “Technical cleanliness” is becoming increasingly important, particularly for optical applications. As in these cases, even smallest particles on displays can be seen as black spots. Therefore, Keune & Lauber cleans and packs plastic parts, for which even the smallest amount of particulate contamination could lead to a problem, under controlled area conditions.
Technically clean products for a long-lasting, smooth function
Today, cleanliness is becoming more and more important in injection molding production. It no longer just applies to plastic parts used in medical technology, but also for the automotive industry, the electrical industry and many other sectors. The parts manufactured using injection molding processes are becoming more complex and therefore more prone to contamination. At the same time, requirements in terms of function and quality are increasing. Since the turn of the millennium, technical cleanliness has become one of the most important quality criterion in many sectors. The adherence to cleanliness standards is also increasing in importance in production plants in order to meet the increasingly higher quality requirements and to decrease rejection and error rates.
What does technical cleanliness mean?
The technical cleanliness is defined by the amount of contamination on the surface of a part or component. The actual state of cleanliness is determined by the number, size and composition of the dirt particles. In practice, you as the customer determine the limit values of the contamination of your component. We keep to these limits by implementing appropriate measures, for example through the use of controlled area technology, and check the technical cleanliness by performing regular measurements.
Controlled areas and clean rooms – what’s the difference?
Controlled areas and clean rooms are almost identical with regards to their basic structure. Both can be adjusted to fit requirements. The difference lies more in the dimensioning of the ventilation and filter technology. Whilst in the controlled areas particle sizes of up to 600 micrometers are tolerated, in accordance with VDA [German Association of the Automotive Industry] 19, and are not filtered out of the air, the limit value in clean rooms is significantly lower at <= 5 micrometers. In our controlled areas, the pressure is constantly above the atmospheric level which ensures that no external impurities can enter. Continuous investigations ensure that the number of particles on the finished part do not exceed the limit values and that all requirements regarding the maximum particle size are adhered to.
Controlled area technology at Keune & Lauber
With the production of cleanliness-sensitive parts, attention must be paid to all areas such as manufacturing, assembly and personnel, but also cleaning, packaging, storage and transport. For each of the individual process steps, measures are taken to minimize or avoid impurities to ensure that the defined requirements are met. At Keune & Lauber, injection molding production takes place under normal conditions. Any undesired impurities are removed afterwards in the controlled area. The technical cleaning and the packing under controlled area conditions ensures the absence of particles required for further processing. The check is done by a clean room laboratory in the controlled area with the help of innovative analysis technology. With the cleaning and packaging of our injection molded products in the controlled areas and specifically coordinated logistics, Keune & Lauber GmbH is optimally equipped for the challenges of the future. You can also benefit from our experience and know-how in this area.
