ExpertTalk - Proving Purity with Innovative Technologies

Each edition of our interview series "Expert Talk” features a colleague from the Fraunhofer Business Area Cleaning who presents an innovative cleaning technology—exploring the competencies, possibilities, and limitations of the technology, as well as its applications. Of course, some amusing anecdotes from our everyday experiences in developing such technologies are also included. This time, Ann-Katrin Großmann from Fraunhofer IPA took the spotlight. At Fraunhofer IPA, purity is not only produced but also measured and proven. Discover what makes her methods so unique and what exciting technologies are being used – in our new "Expert Talk."

1.      What specific cleaning technology does your institute offer?

At Fraunhofer IPA, we use a wide range of innovative cleaning technologies, from multi-bath ultrasonic processes to modern solvent systems and CO₂ snow jet cleaning. My focus, however, is on the metrological evaluation of cleaning effectiveness and the overall cleanliness status of components. Measurement technology is key for us to objectively assess cleaning results and to optimize processes effectively.

2.      What competencies does your institute offer in relation to this technology?

We have over 35 years of experience in cleanliness technology and more than 25 years in technical cleanliness, including being the leading authority on the central guideline for testing technical cleanliness: the VDA-19 series. Our strength lies in our CleanLab, which has laboratories of ISO classes 3, 6, and 8, directly connected to our ISO-1 cleanroom for cleaning processes. With state-of-the-art particle analytics, from automated light microscopes to fluorescence and SEM/EDX and micro-CT, we can objectively evaluate cleaning results and provide industry-wide support.

3.      Why should companies choose you instead of relying on a market solution? What advantage does it offer the customer?

Because we can not only produce but also measure and prove cleanliness—a benefit that traditional cleaning service providers often cannot offer. As an independent research institute, we are not tied to any technology and can evaluate solutions neutrally. We combine a unique infrastructure with the scientific expertise of an interdisciplinary team that has co-developed standards like VDA 19.1, VDA 19.2, and ISO 16232. For companies, this means data instead of assumptions and a cleanliness solution that truly fits their application.

4.      In which industries and cleaning tasks is this technology typically used? 

Nowadays, the topic of cleanliness plays a central role in almost all industries. Our technology is used wherever particles or contaminants can affect the function, quality, or safety of products, such as in the automotive industry, semiconductor industry, optics, medical technology, or aerospace.

5.      Were there any funny or interesting incidents during the development or application of the technology?

One particularly impressive project was the evaluation of various factory-installed cleaning stations for headlights at multiple sites in Europe. We tested the cleaning effectiveness in our CleanLab, and the results were surprising: effectiveness ranged from practically zero to a maximum of 50%. This project clearly demonstrated that standard solutions without metrological testing often do not work and how much money and effort can be saved by conducting objective assessments early on.

6.      What does the future of this technology look like, where is it headed, and what will come next?

Cleanliness will remain a central topic in all high-tech industries. The questions are becoming increasingly diverse: some industries are looking for individual particles in the nanometer range, while others are searching for critical particles in the millimeter range on very complex components, where particle extraction is particularly challenging rather than analytics.

7.      What specific services do you offer in the field of cleaning technology? (Seminars, service, development of customer-specific process technology, etc.)

We support companies through our cleanliness laboratory, where particle and chemical analyses enable an objective evaluation of components and cleaning processes. This is complemented by cleaning services that we provide on-site or in our ISO-1 cleanroom, as well as training sessions on practical aspects of production in cleanrooms and training inspectors and planners for technical cleanliness.

8.      What was the most interesting project you have worked on in this field? 

I find the variety of topics and questions that vary greatly by industry to be the most exciting. I particularly enjoy training sessions because they allow for direct exchange with industry and provide firsthand insight into the challenges and questions currently facing companies.