My first experience with cleanrooms was in 1967 with the first laminar flow room built for Honeywell’s Solid State Electronics Center in Plymouth, Minnesota. That room has been in constant use for 39 years. There were no filter changes in those 39 years. The system was upgraded with ULPA (ultra low penetration air) filters in 2004 even though the HEPA(high efficiency particulate air) filters were not loaded.

Then in the early 1970s, Medtronic built their headquarter campus on the north side of the Twin Cities. Manufacturing was moved from St. Anthony to the new campus and a new cleanroom. This room was the first cleanroom for medical device manufacturing in the area. It was a “unidirectional” cross flow design. It has been in continuous use since it was constructed. In the beginning, a cross flow design was selected because all the manufacturing was done in one room, with the dirtier operations in the return end and the final assembly, cleaning and packaging near the supply wall.

Throughout the next 15 years or so, medical device cleanrooms used ducted modular HEPA filter systems and walls constructed of gypsum and coated with epoxy paint. The Class 10,000 room was the norm for medical device manufacturing. The filtration system began to change in the 1980s with the introduction in 1983 of the fan-filter unit by Envirco, Inc. in Albuquerque, NM. At first, it was thought this system would be too noisy for most operations, but over time this objection disappeared as the new unit proved to be very quiet. Today, over 90% of medical device cleanrooms use the fan-filter system. The reasons are straightforward:

• Lower first cost.
• Lower energy consumption.
• Easier to add or subtract HEPA filtered airflow to any space.
• Easier to take the investment in filtration to a new location.

Fan-filter units today have two basic motor-drive systems: a) permanent split capacitor motor and b) DC motor with built-in rectification from AC supply voltage. The DC motor option lowers energy consumption while maintaining airflow throughout the life of the HEPA filters. The motor automatically adjusts rpm to deliver constant flow through the HEPA filter. One change in medical device cleanrooms that we are beginning to see in our market area is the use of a low cost control system that offers unoccupied set-back of the system airflow. For systems with 40 hours per week peak flow usage, this system pays back the investment quickly. The system also identifies units that are not working and allows for setting individual fan speed from the control console.

Another change we have seen in the past eight years in medical device cleanrooms is the use of modular wall systems. Typically, a large manufacturing area is defined by occupancy separation walls with interior walls being constructed of a cleanroom panel system. This technique is being used because the device manufacturer can’t afford down time for changes to the wall systems. One large manufacturer of implantable devices modifies their wall systems about 20 times per year. Walls are added, moved, and removed all while the cleanroom maintains the cleanliness rating. Technicians are gowned up appropriately and all materials and tools cleaned outside the room before the wall modification begins. By using a modular wall system, the cost of the walls disappears when compared to shutting down a large manufacturing operation for a day or so due to dust created by gypsum walls and painting.

The Clean Workstation

The class 10,000 room has be the standard for medical device manufacturing for the past 30 years or so. But this too may be changing. About four years ago, Medtronic asked Gerbig Engineering to develop and manufacture a clean workstation specifically for medical device assembly. After a couple of prototypes were constructed the design was finalized. The new workstation offered many new ideas in device assembly.

• Double sided airflow with two fans and two HEPA filters. More assembly area per dollar invested.
• Smaller HEPA filter area; only the first few inches above the work surface has HEPA filtered airflow. This reduces heat gain and total energy, but still offers contamination protection superior to conventional assembly stations.
• Putting the airflow at the work surface means fewer HEPA units in the ceiling. In our prototype test, particle counts below 3000 were recorded in an office environment. Less than 100 particles were measured in a Class 10,000 room. Using the clean workstation approach, the room could be designed as a Class 100,000 or unclassified with HEPA filters in the air handling system, while the work area itself can be class 10,000 or better.
• The assembly workstation has quick connects for compressed air and electrical circuits to pass from station to station eliminating drops from th
  Printed Circuit Boards - What are They and How are They Used?
  Printed circuit boards are the basis for many types of electronic and computer components and devices. PCB's for short, printed circuit boards are typically composed of anywhere between 1 to 2 dozen conductive layers. Each layer is separated by a substrate, or an insulating layer, and then laminated together to form a printed circuit board. Conductive layers are usually made of copper. Drilled holes are included on the boards, which are called "vias". These "vias" are electroplated or riveted to make the connection electrical.Manufacturing Of Printed Circuit BoardsTo manufacture printed circuit boards, they start with a substrate and then lay a copper layer over it. Then they "etch" the lay
  , with the dirtier operations in the return end and the final assembly, cleaning and packaging near the supply wall.

  Throughout the next 15 years or so, medical device cleanrooms used ducted modular HEPA filter systems and walls constructed of gypsum and coated with epoxy paint. The Class 10,000 room was the norm for medical device manufacturing. The filtration system began to change in the 1980s with the introduction in 1983 of the fan-filter unit by Envirco, Inc. in Albuquerque, NM. At first, it was thought this system would be too noisy for most operations, but over time this objection disappeared as the new unit proved to be very quiet. Today, over 90% of medical device cleanrooms use the fan-filter system. The reasons are straightforward:

  • Lower first cost.
  • Lower energy consumption.
  • Easier to add or subtract HEPA filtered airflow to any space.
  • Easier to take the investment in filtration to a new location.

  Fan-filter units today have two basic motor-drive systems: a) permanent split capacitor motor and b) DC motor with built-in rectification from AC supply voltage. The DC motor option lowers energy consumption while maintaining airflow throughout the life of the HEPA filters. The motor automatically adjusts rpm to deliver constant flow through the HEPA filter. One change in medical device cleanrooms that we are beginning to see in our market area is the use of a low cost control system that offers unoccupied set-back of the system airflow. For systems with 40 hours per week peak flow usage, this system pays back the investment quickly. The system also identifies units that are not working and allows for setting individual fan speed from the control console.

  Another change we have seen in the past eight years in medical device cleanrooms is the use of modular wall systems. Typically, a large manufacturing area is defined by occupancy separation walls with interior walls being constructed of a cleanroom panel system. This technique is being used because the device manufacturer can’t afford down time for changes to the wall systems. One large manufacturer of implantable devices modifies their wall systems about 20 times per year. Walls are added, moved, and removed all while the cleanroom maintains the cleanliness rating. Technicians are gowned up appropriately and all materials and tools cleaned outside the room before the wall modification begins. By using a modular wall system, the cost of the walls disappears when compared to shutting down a large manufacturing operation for a day or so due to dust created by gypsum walls and painting.

  The Clean Workstation

  The class 10,000 room has be the standard for medical device manufacturing for the past 30 years or so. But this too may be changing. About four years ago, Medtronic asked Gerbig Engineering to develop and manufacture a clean workstation specifically for medical device assembly. After a couple of prototypes were constructed the design was finalized. The new workstation offered many new ideas in device assembly.

  • Double sided airflow with two fans and two HEPA filters. More assembly area per dollar invested.
  • Smaller HEPA filter area; only the first few inches above the work surface has HEPA filtered airflow. This reduces heat gain and total energy, but still offers contamination protection superior to conventional assembly stations.
  • Putting the airflow at the work surface means fewer HEPA units in the ceiling. In our prototype test, particle counts below 3000 were recorded in an office environment. Less than 100 particles were measured in a Class 10,000 room. Using the clean workstation approach, the room could be designed as a Class 100,000 or unclassified with HEPA filters in the air handling system, while the work area itself can be class 10,000 or better.
  • The assembly workstation has quick connects for compressed air and electrical circuits to pass from station to station eliminating drops from th
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    First of all, to fully understand and appreciate the answer, a couple of givens must be taken into account. What I believe to be the most important item for dealing with an interview successfully is, your attitude. Your attitude determines the outcome of every interview. The core competencies must be there in order for you to get the interview in the first place but, your attitude during the interview will be what ultimately gets you accepted or rejected for the position. If it was as simple as, "I can do the job", there would be no need for an interview in the first place - the employer would just hire based upon the resume.Now that we have determined that attitude will determine the success
    units today have two basic motor-drive systems: a) permanent split capacitor motor and b) DC motor with built-in rectification from AC supply voltage. The DC motor option lowers energy consumption while maintaining airflow throughout the life of the HEPA filters. The motor automatically adjusts rpm to deliver constant flow through the HEPA filter. One change in medical device cleanrooms that we are beginning to see in our market area is the use of a low cost control system that offers unoccupied set-back of the system airflow. For systems with 40 hours per week peak flow usage, this system pays back the investment quickly. The system also identifies units that are not working and allows for setting individual fan speed from the control console.

    Another change we have seen in the past eight years in medical device cleanrooms is the use of modular wall systems. Typically, a large manufacturing area is defined by occupancy separation walls with interior walls being constructed of a cleanroom panel system. This technique is being used because the device manufacturer can’t afford down time for changes to the wall systems. One large manufacturer of implantable devices modifies their wall systems about 20 times per year. Walls are added, moved, and removed all while the cleanroom maintains the cleanliness rating. Technicians are gowned up appropriately and all materials and tools cleaned outside the room before the wall modification begins. By using a modular wall system, the cost of the walls disappears when compared to shutting down a large manufacturing operation for a day or so due to dust created by gypsum walls and painting.

    The Clean Workstation

    The class 10,000 room has be the standard for medical device manufacturing for the past 30 years or so. But this too may be changing. About four years ago, Medtronic asked Gerbig Engineering to develop and manufacture a clean workstation specifically for medical device assembly. After a couple of prototypes were constructed the design was finalized. The new workstation offered many new ideas in device assembly.

    • Double sided airflow with two fans and two HEPA filters. More assembly area per dollar invested.
    • Smaller HEPA filter area; only the first few inches above the work surface has HEPA filtered airflow. This reduces heat gain and total energy, but still offers contamination protection superior to conventional assembly stations.
    • Putting the airflow at the work surface means fewer HEPA units in the ceiling. In our prototype test, particle counts below 3000 were recorded in an office environment. Less than 100 particles were measured in a Class 10,000 room. Using the clean workstation approach, the room could be designed as a Class 100,000 or unclassified with HEPA filters in the air handling system, while the work area itself can be class 10,000 or better.
    • The assembly workstation has quick connects for compressed air and electrical circuits to pass from station to station eliminating drops from th
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      used because the device manufacturer can’t afford down time for changes to the wall systems. One large manufacturer of implantable devices modifies their wall systems about 20 times per year. Walls are added, moved, and removed all while the cleanroom maintains the cleanliness rating. Technicians are gowned up appropriately and all materials and tools cleaned outside the room before the wall modification begins. By using a modular wall system, the cost of the walls disappears when compared to shutting down a large manufacturing operation for a day or so due to dust created by gypsum walls and painting.

      The Clean Workstation

      The class 10,000 room has be the standard for medical device manufacturing for the past 30 years or so. But this too may be changing. About four years ago, Medtronic asked Gerbig Engineering to develop and manufacture a clean workstation specifically for medical device assembly. After a couple of prototypes were constructed the design was finalized. The new workstation offered many new ideas in device assembly.

      • Double sided airflow with two fans and two HEPA filters. More assembly area per dollar invested.
      • Smaller HEPA filter area; only the first few inches above the work surface has HEPA filtered airflow. This reduces heat gain and total energy, but still offers contamination protection superior to conventional assembly stations.
      • Putting the airflow at the work surface means fewer HEPA units in the ceiling. In our prototype test, particle counts below 3000 were recorded in an office environment. Less than 100 particles were measured in a Class 10,000 room. Using the clean workstation approach, the room could be designed as a Class 100,000 or unclassified with HEPA filters in the air handling system, while the work area itself can be class 10,000 or better.
      • The assembly workstation has quick connects for compressed air and electrical circuits to pass from station to station eliminating drops from th
        Low Overhead Business: Big Business Low Cost
        The hardest part about getting into business is the startup capital that you need. Most businesses require a high initial investment that keeps many starting entrepreneurs from being able to get into business in the first place. But, the truly ingenious business ideas are the ones that allow for low startup costs and high potential income.Looking at the many different franchise opportunities, you’ll be able to begin to see what I mean. Subway seems to top the list of best franchise opportunity no matter which list is comparing it. That’s because they have a great marketing package with a rather famous speaker who can boast of losing a massive amount of weight. New celebrities are joining the
        re constructed the design was finalized. The new workstation offered many new ideas in device assembly.
        • Double sided airflow with two fans and two HEPA filters. More assembly area per dollar invested.
        • Smaller HEPA filter area; only the first few inches above the work surface has HEPA filtered airflow. This reduces heat gain and total energy, but still offers contamination protection superior to conventional assembly stations.
        • Putting the airflow at the work surface means fewer HEPA units in the ceiling. In our prototype test, particle counts below 3000 were recorded in an office environment. Less than 100 particles were measured in a Class 10,000 room. Using the clean workstation approach, the room could be designed as a Class 100,000 or unclassified with HEPA filters in the air handling system, while the work area itself can be class 10,000 or better.
        • The assembly workstation has quick connects for compressed air and electrical circuits to pass from station to station eliminating drops from the ceiling.
        • Using a shorter HEPA filter allows for storage or monitors to be mounted at a more usable height.

        Today, with the advances in clean room construction and controls, a manufacturer needs to make sure that they are considering all options before investing in a clean room. A little time researching and using an expert system designer work out the specifications, one could realize thousands of dollars in startup as well as on going costs,.