In the past, very few industries used cleanrooms for their production. Today, however, cleanroom production has extended beyond electronics and photovoltaic manufacturing, medical technology and the semiconductor industry. Numerous other industry sectors also need components that are suitable for use in cleanrooms. Click here to find the most important information.
You can use all cylinders, valves, grippers and drives, all handling, vacuum and compressed air systems, sensors, filters, regulators and fittings from many product ranges from Festo in ISO class 7 cleanroom environments. Most are suitable for use in classes 6 and 5, and many can even be used in class 4 environments. We can also provide customised special solutions.
All our cleanroom products are classified into cleanroom classes according to ISO 14664. Cleanroom suitability depends primarily on the installation position and the operating parameters of the product, which means that expert advice about the use of our products is very important. If you have any questions about using our products in your application, please contact us.
Not at all. There are always applications where standard solutions no longer fit the bill. For example, when the cleanliness requirements are so strict that only a special solution can be used. We can help here, too. A simple modification is often all it takes. It’s best if you contact our experts directly in cases like this.
Adapted special solutions
We have more than 30 years of cleanroom experience and our engineers continuously adapt series components in order to make them suitable for use in class 4 or stricter environments in accordance with ISO 14664.
We use a tried-and-tested two-stage consultation concept in which we listen to you and address the problem together. Highly sensitive zones can often be isolated, so that even a component that nominally only achieves ISO 5 or 6 in our tests is sufficient. Our engineers put everything together and submit a solution to you, along with a quote.
Products are classified based on their particle emissions in accordance with the ISO 14644 standard. The relevant classification is defined in ISO 14664-1. All Festo products suitable for cleanroom applications conform to the ISO standard and the particle emission is assessed. Festo uses direct measurement with HPC. This method is more accurate and more meaningful.
How is the test carried out?
The measurement procedure is focused on those locations where the particle concentration is highest (HPC: highest particle concentration). The advantage of this procedure compared to others is that it provides clear conclusions about the particle emission characteristics of our automation components. This particular procedure, during which a measuring probe is used in the laminar and isokinetic air flow, gives a near-perfect representation of the situation in an actual cleanroom environment. With this method, it is also possible to identify locations that are important for particle emission and to draw the relevant conclusions.
And last but not least: when it comes to cleanroom compatibility at Festo, we always assume that closed, monitored compressed air systems are being used, without leakages and without particles being discharged into the environment by the exhaust air.
You can rest assured that cleanroom products from Festo are tested and classified according to ISO 14644-1. We believe it is important to have traceable and repeatable measurements. It is the only way in which we can consult you on your specific requirements.
Please note: cleanroom suitability depends primarily on the installation position and the operating parameters of the product, which means that expert advice about the use of our products is very important. If you have any questions about using our products in your application, please contact us.
To ensure that you quickly arrive at a functioning cleanroom application, we’ve compiled all tested components from many of the Festo product ranges in our cleanroom catalogue (PDF). These include all types of pneumatic drives, valves and valve terminals, compressed air preparation and accessories, as well as electric drive technology. This is generally sufficient.
Cleanroom catalogue plus X
If you’re interested in a product that we haven’t tested yet for its cleanroom compatibility, we’d be happy to test it for you on request. Our specialists are always happy to answer any other questions you might have, and can also quite easily adapt particular products to be suitable for ISO class 4 and higher.
The most important criterion is that the products comply with the specified cleanroom class during operation. That’s what really counts. All cleanroom products from Festo are certified in accordance with ISO 14644-14. However, the cleanroom class depends on where in the application the product is used. This sounds complicated, but is actually good news.
Cleanroom class according to location of use
The fact that the cleanroom compatibility of operating equipment always depends on where it’s used means that you don’t have to ensure stricter cleanliness everywhere. Cleanrooms are not homogenous zones. Perhaps you need a product above the workpiece that achieves ISO class 4 according to ISO 14644-1. However, a product can also be used under the workpiece that nominally only achieves ISO class 7. You can read more about this in our cleanroom catalogue (PDF).
The same positive answer also applies to cleanroom compatibility for packaging. Technically correct cleanroom packaging is possible with Festo, but it’s seldom really necessary and represents a cost factor that you can often do away with. Our experience shows that most components can be assembled and prepared for shipping in a normal environment. Final cleaning takes place directly on-site.
Don’t hesitate to get in touch with us if you have any doubts. For example, if the component needs to fulfil a safety function or if your ambient conditions differ from the values listed in the data sheet.