COLANDIS GmbH develops flexible cleanroom solutions that are specifically geared to the needs of state-of-the-art production processes. Its latest project is a dry mini-environment that is superior to conventional cleanroom solutions. This dry mini-environment, which is based on tried-and-tested components from item, maximises efficiency as well as the reliability of production operations.
Our involvement with COLANDIS started over two decades ago – and this cleanroom technology partner has been using our aluminium profiles, fasteners, panels and other components for a whole host of constructions and innovative projects ever since.
System solutions for cleanrooms
Use the modular design principle to create dependable cleanroom solutions! Whether you need a cleanroom tent, a work bench with laminar flow box or a walk-in cleanroom cabin, item will help you implement solutions in exactly the dimensions required.
A pioneering cleanroom technology partner
Founded in 1996, COLANDIS was originally called “Cleanroom Technology Jena”, before it was renamed COLANDIS GmbH in 2002. Located in Kahla, to the south of the German city of Jena, the company is deeply rooted in a region that is well known for innovative and high-tech solutions. Right from the outset, COLANDIS established itself as an expert in custom cleanroom technology and contamination control solutions.
What’s more, the company’s portfolio extends far beyond the development and manufacture of products. COLANDIS also undertakes process analysis and product qualification work, and tests the suitability of cleanrooms and equipment for use in cleanroom conditions. The company – an SME with an ever-growing workforce – is committed to combining state-of-the-art technology with practical research. As an item pluspartner, COLANDIS is part of an extensive network. It contributes its expertise, working with other partners to investigate a variety of issues and implement a range of projects.
When COLANDIS came up with the idea of working in collaboration with ULT Dry Tec GmbH to develop a dry mini-environment for sensitive production processes, our modular Building Kit System provided the perfect foundations for the project.
Development challenges
COLANDIS needed a design that could not only be adapted to suit the relevant requirements perfectly, but would also allow for future expansion. Our profiles, which offer a range of more than 300 different cross-sections to choose from, are ideal for designing a wide variety of mini-environments in different sizes and configurations. During the development phase, ULT Dry Tec GmbH focused on meeting the particularly stringent requirements relating to temperature and humidity. This was important, because a key element of the project involved minimising the penetration of moisture into the production area from the surroundings in order to cut the amount of energy required to produce dry process air.
How the mini-environment works
The dry mini-environment can be used to enclose complete processes or specific steps within a larger process in order to protect particularly sensitive products or workflows. The key to this innovative solution is the precision with which it works and the intelligent airflow that ensures a clean and dependable environment. But how exactly does this mini-environment work?
The dry mini-environment can be used to enclose complete processes or specific steps within a larger process in order to protect particularly sensitive products or workflows.
The first step in the process is the drawing in of air. A special desiccant dryer is used to carefully remove the moisture from this air. Next, the air is cleaned via finely coordinated filters. This clean air is then routed into the cleanroom, where it circulates continuously to maintain the air quality. This circulating air technique is particularly efficient, because it uses the pre-conditioned air and needs only a minimal proportion of fresh air.
One particularly noteworthy feature of the mini-environment is that it is operated with an overpressure of 10 Pa, which is an effective way of preventing moisture and particles penetrating into the mini-environment from the outside. The ConnectedAir system from COLANDIS controls and monitors pressure, the stability of the humidity and the functionality of the fan-filter modules. As a result, users can achieve air cleanliness class ISO 6 with a dew point of -60 °C using the new mini-environment solution.
Mini-environment – advantages over conventional cleanrooms
The mini-environment is built using aluminium profiles, suitable fasteners and panels from item. The cabin style of the design provides an effective solution for keeping the process separate from human sources of contamination. Although the machine cabin is of a walk-in design so that test stands can be put inside it, operators basically stay outside the manufacturing area. This is a major advantage compared to conventional cleanrooms, where operators often pose a risk of human contamination, meaning that special protective clothing and strict procedures for changing clothing are vital. The mini-environment provides a neat solution to this problem – it physically separates the process from the operators, who remain outside the manufacturing area. This reduces the need for expensive training and complex procedures for changing clothing.
Using the mini-environment reduces the need for expensive training and complex procedures for changing clothing.
The decision to supply the cleaned air directly to the process resulted in a significant boost in efficiency. Routing the air in this specific way means there is no need to supply large, unused volumes of clean air into the room. As a result, energy requirements are lower, and significant savings can be made in terms of operating costs.
What’s more, the mini-environment boasts an impressive level of flexibility thanks to its compact, mobile design. Besides being scalable, it can be moved to new production sites with ease and modified as needed to suit changes in production processes. All this means shorter periods of downtime and faster modifications – a clear advantage.
The bottom line – flexible cleanroom solutions are called for
The collaboration between COLANDIS and ULT has given rise to an efficient, customisable alternative to conventional cleanrooms. From the customer’s perspective, benefits include low capital expenditure, short delivery times and greater flexibility. The project was implemented within six months. “Our mini-environments are not off-the-shelf products,” emphasises Ina Henze-Ludwig, Managing Director of COLANDIS. “By working with item as a partner, we can create customised solutions that meet the very highest requirements,” she continues. What’s more, the development of the dry mini-environment is a prime example of how combining technical expertise and innovative components can set new standards in cleanroom technology.
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