LPW Test and Service Center - Interview with Christian Koblenzer, LPW Cleaning Systems

Christian Koblenzer: "At both locations, we offer our customers professionally conducted preliminary and feasibility tests. Accompanied by in-depth consultation as the basis for a tailor-made solution concept. We are at the technical center when the focus is on cleaning technology and normal ambient air does not pose a relevant contamination risk. In the TDZ, we go much further and take care of the entire process. Among other things, we have a clean room with integrated air particle measurement and suitable media supply systems. Here, under conditioned and traceable conditions, such as process monitoring, we can handle even the most difficult tasks in medical technology, high-vacuum technology or the optical industry. But much more important than the technical setting is the approach to the various projects. Together with the customer, we always start by asking ourselves what we want to achieve. Not only in terms of technical cleanliness, but also with regard to handling, batch protocol or packaging requirements. On this basis, we then decide to what extent we will use the technical center and TDZ."

Christian Koblenzer: "In principle, our test and service center offers a wide range of options, like a kind of Swiss army knife. It starts with checking the delivery quality. This often plays a major role in achieving the best possible purity results. For example, we can monitor customer-specific test criteria, use microscopy or check for transport damage. Depending on the incoming contamination, the appropriate pre-cleaning is then carried out. This includes using our vacuum-based CNp process to ensure the appropriate input quality for final cleaning in the ISO 7 cleanroom. The final cleaning is defined by the cleanliness requirement and the component - we adapt the cleanroom-based three-stage ultra-fine/ ultra-fine cleaning system accordingly. The aim is always to reduce residual contamination to below the required limit value using the highest quality rinsing and drying processes. The setting also includes the specially developed ultra-pure ultrapure water supply unit. The cleanroom can be completely darkened for UV light inspection. It is also equipped with a mobile laminar flow unit, which ensures ISO 5-comparable environmental conditions for the inspection, handling and packaging of the cleaned components."

Christian Koblenzer: "Actually, it's always about components with high geometric complexity, critical materials or very high cleanliness requirements. Or all of these at once. In other words, our core competence. Customers are often unable to say exactly what they are looking for at the start of the collaboration. And this is precisely where we see our role as providing intensive support and advice. We compare the requirements of the component with the available cleaning, rinsing and drying methods and often create a deep understanding of clean production processes and integrated cleaning technology."

Christian Koblenzer: "As requirements and components are becoming increasingly complex, we have become experts in special applications over the years. LPW is now internationally renowned for this, which is why we are in demand at home and abroad in areas such as the semiconductor supply industry, medical technology, the optical industry and post-processing in additive manufacturing. In contract cleaning, we work with regional clients and increasingly from other European countries. Of course, we also have customers with less demanding cleaning requirements. We are happy to provide support here, for example in securing the quantity of a planned series ramp-up."

Christian Koblenzer: "Our day-to-day work gives us fascinating insights into sectors that are otherwise almost impossible to grasp. Everyone in my team has their own personal highlight here. Recently, this has included the internal cleaning of capillaries for eye surgery. The opening that needs to be cleaned can only be seen under a microscope. We also had additively printed drive components for the aerospace industry and high-precision components for the innermost core of an EUV system."

Christian Koblenzer: "My personal favorite cannot be tied to a specific task. I think it's great when we do the process design for our customers so well that they decide to install their own LPW systems after months or years of partnership. This is happening more and more frequently. Then we've probably done everything right. We are also delighted that our clients are busy advertising for us. It's also a nice endorsement of our approach to customized solutions."