CLEAN ROOMS | APPLICATION REPORT
particulate generation was not a concern, APPI would typically provide a tension plate or roller made from steel or stainless steel. The substitution of UHMWPE material is one example of the extensive custom work that occurs in clean room applications. “Everything (in clean rooms) is application-based and dependent on customer requirements,” Peterson says. “Our bread and butter is when customers bring an application requirement to us and we determine how to meet it.” These sorts of projects appear to be in high demand. APPI has recently seen an uptick in clean room equipment inquiries, and one long-term client doubled its orders in the last year. However, despite the high rate of custom
work, some solutions work for multiple clean room installations. Peterson says APPI will often provide a design solution consisting of a clean room-safe change- of-direction sheave within the clean room, which enables the wire rope or strap to exit the clean room to the hoist. This approach enables APPI to provide a solution that positions the hoist outside the clean room while keeping the control panel and hook inside the clean room. Manipulating the environment and assembly itself is a creative and effective means of meeting clean room requirements. Thornton says that sometimes, there are workarounds that enable the use of an otherwise problematic material.
“Coatings on wire ropes and strap
AN OUT-OF-THIS-WORLD CHALLENGE
The European Space Agency’s Rosalind Franklin Mars rover, scheduled for launch in 2022, will undertake a seven-month mission to search for evidence that Mars was once home to living organisms. To prepare for the ExoMars mission, Bouygues Construction in Paris, France, an ESA contractor, built the Mars Yard, an enclosed clean room designed to recreate every aspect of the Mars environment, from humidity to atmospheric composition to temperature. The Mars Yard will be used for ExoMars simulations. Part of this project involved the
development of a clean room hoist that can lift and move the Rosalind Franklin rover should it fall on its side or need repairs. Hoist UK in Moreton, Wirral, UK designed and built a bespoke monorail hoist with a 1.6-ton lifting capacity and entirely stainless-steel external components. The lifting mechanism is a Dyneema-brand belt made from natural aspect of the design was built according to clean room standards, with polished stainless steel and as few horizontal surfaces as possible.
R A Hoist UK custom-designed 1.6-ton monorail hoist on an electric belt. The hoist uses a natural-fibre Dyneema belt that does not require lubrication.
Hoist UK designed this monorail hoist for Manchester-based Bouygues Energies and Services. The hoist aids in Mars Rover maintenance in the Mars simulation room at the Airbus facility in Stevenage, Hertfordshire.
webbing still generate particulate, but at a significantly reduced rate,” he says. “In addition, they’re easier to clean. We’ve had a lot of cases where there isn’t necessarily a solution that can be met by altering the materials used. In these cases, there’s the option of putting the hoist in a negative pressure containment area that is fitted with HEPA filtration.” The COVID-19 pandemic and the global
semiconductor shortage have dramatically increased demand for clean rooms and clean room equipment. Lifting solutions for this market are highly specialized, high- value, custom-engineered products that must meet specific requirements. Every aspect of installation and maintenance
Q A TAWI VacuCobra stainless steel high- frequency vacuum lifter designed for use in pharmaceutical clean rooms
28 | November 2021 |
www.hoistmagazine.com
work must be carefully planned well in advance, including providing staff with clean room suits, training staff on proper clean room protocols, and creating mitigation measures for preventing particulate contamination. However, the sensitive nature of clean room environments means suppliers that can demonstrate expertise in this niche are likely to find a steady stream of projects. The varied nature of end-use subsectors like pharmaceutical development, semiconductor manufacturing, and aerospace engineering also means that suppliers can diversify their portfolio of clean room projects to access multiple revenue streams and mitigate risks. Companies that can guarantee extreme attention to detail and strict internal quality standards will find the clean room industry a welcoming one. ●
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