Rompa cleanrooms are becoming increasingly important to the ITB concern. The latest version is in Boxtel and comes from the Dutch company Highcare Cleanrooms a supplier of modern air-conditioned metal low dust rooms. A unique system.
ITB Boxtel
ITB will incorporate cleanrooms in Boxtel at Rompa, this ISO7, into its standard production process for the pharmaceutical industry.
Highcare
The cleanroom type chosen is perfect for production in industries such as pharmaceuticals, biotechnology, life sciences, microelectronics and food packaging, especially in these Covid times when companies are demanding that everything be as sterile as possible for human health. The Rompa cleanrooms have opted for an innovative high-performance solution where air three-dimensionally flushes the space clean. The unique hollow wall system consists of metal panels that discharge return air through a cavity. The complete system remains demountable and is mobile and can be moved to another location if necessary.
HEPA filters
High quality filters are used to capture the particles that enter inside or through the airflow. Highly efficient particulate air filters are essential for controlling contamination with very small particles. A general standard requirement for a HEPA filter is that the air filter removes at least 99.95% of particles 0.3 microns or larger from the air flowing through. But it also ensures that the air flowing into the room filters the outside air coming in. The air is blown into the Rompa clean room and forced out or recirculated. This process goes round and round, keeping out all pollutants, particles and contaminants.
The classifications
As mentioned above, clean rooms are divided into classifications depending on the product being produced and its needs. Classifications measure the amount of particles of a certain size within a cubic meter of air in the room. The specific requirements are set by the International Standards Organization (ISO). The association ranks cleanrooms on a scale of 1 to 9. ISO class 1 represents the highest possible cleanliness and air purity where ISO class 9 represents the lowest requirements.
Flexibility of a Highcare
All of HIGHCARE’s cleanrooms have high space flexibility. This means that the design is such that the cleanroom Rompa Group can make a quick changeover of equipment for different manufacturing processes. A quick changeover makes the process highly efficient and they shorten time, which translates into cost savings but also minimizes the risk of long-term contamination.
Air locks
The air locks prevent pressure changes in the chamber but are also protected and keep many dusts, harmful chemicals and dirt particles out of the clean room.
ESD screed
By implementing proper grounding, we prevent any electrostatic discharge. Electrical charges can occur during the operation of a clean room. Rompa prevents this by proper grounding but also by proper packaging. Rompa’s specialists perform a static audit to identify potential problems that can occur and be prevented.
Temperature and relative humidity
For Rompa, a very obvious but important consideration was controlling temperature and humidity. To create an environmentally controlled space, instruments to control temperature and humidity are a must for ITB. Humidity is controlled so they can prevent corrosion and reduce static electricity.
Comfortable
ITB also wants employees to work in a comfortable environment, so temperature and humidity for both employees and the production process are considered important.
Overpressure
The wind flow in the rooms is controlled by pressurizing them. All clean rooms are kept at a static pressure higher than atmospheric pressure. When the pressure is higher than atmospheric pressure, wind infiltration is prevented. Also, airflow must be set up so that it moves from clean to less clean areas.
Pharmaceutical
We use, according to one employee, a cleanroom for making things like pharmaceuticals, medical devices and/or electronics. But almost every industry has products that must be produced in a cleanroom because of the interference of small particles that can have an effect on the manufacturing process.
Operators
Employees will need to be trained before they can use the Rompa cleanrooms. Upon entering the clean room, they will go through airlocks, air showers and changing rooms. They also wear special clothing with a unique design to trap all contaminants that the body and skin naturally generate. Even the clothing itself cannot shed particles or fibers, so the suits are carefully selected with this characteristic in mind. What clothing our employees wear in the cleanroom is determined in part by the classification level mentioned above. Sometimes a hairnet and a lab coat are sufficient, but in most cases it is a full suit that they wear.