Precise Cleaning for the highest cleanliness requirements in High Purity production
In high-purity production—such as in the semiconductor supply industry—exceptionally high standards apply to the particulate, filmic, and molecular cleanliness of components. The more complex the geometries and the smaller the structures, the more demanding the cleaning and surface inspection processes become.
The example of vacuum components illustrates just how stringent the residual contamination limits are. In the highest cleanliness class, no more than two million particles up to 0.5 µm, 20,000 particles up to 5 µm, and a maximum of 1,000 particles up to 10 µm per square meter of component surface are permissible. Such purity levels can only be achieved when every process step—from material selection and manufacturing to handling—is focused on cleanliness. Only when the entire production process takes place under clean conditions can contamination or recontamination be reliably avoided. Often, multiple cleaning steps are required along the manufacturing chain.
The ISO 14644-1 standard defines various cleanroom classes with specific limits for airborne particle density. Comparing these values with the requirements of high-purity production reveals that—especially regarding particle sizes of 1.0 µm and 5.0 µm—subsequent processing should ideally take place in a cleanroom of ISO Class 6 or, better yet, ISO Class 5 to reliably prevent recontamination. However, even outside of traditional cleanrooms, cleanliness requirements are steadily increasing—wherever the smallest particles can affect product quality.
Cleaning as a key process for stable cleanliness
While the theoretical requirements for particulate and molecular cleanliness are clearly defined, practical implementation raises central questions:
How can such an extreme level of cleanliness in components be achieved?
Which cleaning methods are suitable for this purpose?
And how can cleaned components then be processed safely without recontamination?
The answer lies in precisely coordinated, stable, and validatable cleaning processes that are perfectly tailored to the specific application. This requires deep expertise and years of experience in industrial parts cleaning, along with a comprehensive understanding of the entire process chain.
As an experienced partner, BvL develops forward-looking cleaning solutions designed to meet the rising purity requirements of high-purity production while integrating seamlessly into individual production environments. With a broad range of aqueous cleaning technologies, the company offers solutions that can be individually configured and combined.
Flexibly configurable precision cleaning systems
The BvL immersion cleaning system AtlanticTR and the new chamber cleaning system NiagaraUP exemplify this approach. Thanks to their modular design and flexible, combinable process technologies, they can be used for pre-cleaning, fine cleaning, or final cleaning, and can be seamlessly integrated into existing production lines or cleanroom processes.
The new NiagaraUP was specially developed for applications with the highest cleanliness requirements. At its core is the Vacuum Impulse Technology (VIT), which intensifies the exchange of media through targeted pressure variations. This ensures reliable removal of residues even in hard-to-reach areas such as capillaries, bores, and cavities. Additional spray, flood, and ultrasonic cleaning processes can be individually configured for each application. Optional extra tanks and chambers can be integrated to precisely tailor the cleaning process to the specific application
Distinctive design features of the NiagaraUP minimize the risk of back or cross-contamination. These include electropolished surfaces, rounded chamber geometries, rapid and complete drainage, and the option of automatic chamber cleaning with ultrapure water (UPW). All media-carrying components are cleanroom-compatible and designed without HIO elements. As a result, the NiagaraUP meets the highest cleanliness requirements from Grade 4 to Grade 1, ensuring a safe, reproducible process and making it ideally suited for use in cleanroom environments.
The AtlanticTR immersion cleaning system operates with multiple consecutively arranged tanks, in which components are precisely moved by an automated gantry transfer system.
Depending on the application, the process may include several treatment stages—such as immersion cleaning, phosphating, spraying, injection cleaning, ultrasonic cleaning, rinsing, passivation, and optional drying. The modular concept allows for exact adaptation to the required cleanliness class and production environment.
Both system types can be equipped with drying methods tailored to the production process—for example, vacuum drying, circulating/hot air drying with HEPA filtration, air blow-off, or infrared drying.
Technology center for customized cleaning processes
At BvL’s in-house technology center, customer-specific washing trials are conducted using original components. The optimal cleaning and drying process is determined based on the precise application requirements. The result: proven process solutions that reliably achieve the required high cleanliness levels.
Further information: https://www.bvl-cleaning.com/en/industries/high-purity
BvL Oberflächentechnik GmbH is one of the largest suppliers of water-based industrial cleaning systems in Germany. As a system partner, BvL offers customized customer solutions – from small compact washing systems to filtration and automation solutions to complex customer-specific large-scale projects with process monitoring; always complemented by reliable service. As part of a long-established family business with roots dating back to 1860, the fifth-generation owner families stand for technical excellence, innovative strength, and absolute reliability. The company currently employs around 170 people. BvL has a strong market position in exports and a comprehensive sales and service network in 20 countries.
Contact
BvL Oberflächentechnik GmbH
Grenzstr. 16
48488 Emsbüren (Germany)
Phone.: +49 5903 951-60
info@bvl-group.de
www.bvl-cleaning.com
Presse release
Christine Brühöfner
Marketing
