Mechanical engineers in charge of designing, constructing, installing, maintaining, operating and troubleshooting equipment in cleanrooms are always looking for innovations that will help them do their job more effectively. Recent technological advancements in cleanroom equipment are helping organizations enhance the performance of their facilities, with greater efficiency and improved contamination control.
For context, industry analysts anticipate that the market size for cleanroom technology will approach $5.6 billion worldwide by 2030, according to data from Grand View Research, Inc. The market research firm envisions the market achieving a compound annual growth rate of 5.58% between 2023 and 2030.
One driver of this growth in technology usage comes from an increasing number of companies adopting innovations to better adhere to strict regulations that cover the adoption of new products. The industry is also innovating technology for cleanrooms to meet demand for products free of contamination.
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Additionally, more pharmaceutical and biopharmaceutical companies are turning to cleanrooms to create next-generation products. Accordingly, much of the demand for new cleanroom technology comes from North America’s healthcare infrastructure.
The global coronavirus pandemic underscored the need for creating pristine environments for companies involved in biotechnology, medical devices and pharmaceutical products, where contamination control is of paramount importance. Manufacturers need improved cleanroom facilities to create personal protective equipment for workers as well as masks and ventilators for patients.
Energy Efficiency
When planning construction for a new cleanroom or preparing to upgrade facilities, engineers are turning to solutions that save energy through improved efficiency. Cleanrooms that switch to LED lights immediately reduce their energy requirements and cut down on maintenance, as the lights last longer and do not need to be replaced as often as conventional lighting.
Manufacturing facilities can also reduce their environmental impact when they install new, state-of-the-art heating, ventilation and air conditioning systems (HVAC). Incorporating Internet of Things sensors with automated controls for your HVAC equipment means less waste and lower energy bills.
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Regarding HVAC advances, cleanroom operators are taking advantage of new advances in desiccant equipment and dehumidifiers. Without proper control over the cleanroom environment for humidity, manufacturers risk the growth of microbes on products and on surfaces in the production environment. High humidity also harms delicate equipment, leading to corrosion and systems falling out of specification.
Sustainable Materials to Go Green
Cleanroom facility owners and operators who have a mandate to “go green” and adopt a more ecologically friendly approach are turning to new sustainable materials to reduce their carbon footprint. They’re doing their part to protect the environment and conserve resources, but also leveraging their efforts in their branding and to attract eco-minded job candidates.
For example, they substitute petroleum-based plastics when designing new cleanrooms or during upgrades, using recycled plastics and plant-based plastics—and keeping such materials out of the nation’s landfills.
Furthermore, adopting low-VOC-emitting construction materials makes a cleanroom even greener. Sealants, adhesives and even paints with lower VOC emissions cut down on pollution while creating a healthier environment for cleanroom workers.
Internet of Things Devices (IoT)
People need help to monitor every aspect of cleanrooms in a comprehensive fashion. The more information you can obtain about your cleanroom, the easier it is to discover problems from systems deviating from specifications, leading to suboptimal conditions.
For example, sensors and other IoT devices allow manufacturers to collect more data automatically to monitor particle levels, humidity and temperature. They’ll be notified immediately about potential contamination, which helps maintain consistency in product safety and quality. The sooner they discover a deviation from the standards you’ve set, the sooner they can make corrections, minimizing cleanroom downtime.
When companies use Internet of Things devices to gather huge amounts of data in real-time about the processes in their cleanrooms, they are in a better position to meet their obligations for cleanroom testing and certification.
Robotics and Automation
Installing automation equipment and robots in your cleanroom will dramatically streamline production processes and require less intervention by human workers.
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The idea is to combine IoT devices with intelligent control mechanisms. Because humans cannot work as precisely as robots, cleanroom operators are increasingly adopting robotic arms to pick up and manipulate parts and components. This increases accuracy while keeping humans out of the loop with their potential for contaminating the environment. Robotic arms’ precision speeds up processes and boosts product quality since they don’t make mistakes the way humans do.
Robotic arms make light work, speeding up production so manufacturers can get more products out the door faster. Unlike humans who need to take breaks, automated systems can run 24/7.
Analytics from Real-Time Data
Cleanroom operators are increasingly deploying machine learning and artificial intelligence to help them monitor their facilities in real time for more precise control. With AI-facilitated data analysis, one can launch a program of continuous improvement in a cleanroom. The analytics will enable manufacturers to act proactively with predictive maintenance instead of waiting until equipment malfunctions to spark a maintenance cycle.
New Cleanroom Technology Advancements for More Efficient Facilities
Cleanroom facility owners and operators are interested in using technology to help them efficiently combat the growth of healthcare-acquired infections or HAIs.
Thanks to new technological advancements, cleanroom operators can use more sustainable materials (such as those based on plants, a renewable resource). Companies can more easily deploy Internet of Things devices, which help them collect more data than was ever possible before. They analyze the torrent of data with artificial intelligence and machine learning in real time for exquisite monitoring and control over complex processes.
Companies are lowering costs and improving their efficiency as they add more automation to the mix with robotics. Thanks to solutions in their cleanrooms for LED lights and smarter HVAC systems, their bottom line improves even more from using less energy.
The more you research and deploy new developments in cleanroom technology, the easier it will be to improve a facility’s operations and bottom line.