Ecoclean provides precision and high-purity cleaning solutions for various industries with strict cleanliness requirements. They continuously develop cleaning systems and technologies to ensure consistent product quality, surpassing conventional cleaning systems.
Demands on the performance and reliability of components and parts have increased enormously and continue to rise, particularly in sectors such as the semiconductor supply industry, optical and optoelectronic industry, thin-film technology, vacuum, laser and analysis technologies, as well as the medical device industry. This has an impact on parts cleaning.
When it comes to components for semiconductor production equipment, due to new developments in wafer steppers and scanners for EUV lithography, for instance, mechanical components are not only becoming more and more complex in shape but also heavier and larger. Today, the diameters of these workpieces can be anything from one millimetre to over one metre in size, and this range is constantly increasing. At the same time, the diversity of materials used is also rising. Added to this, specifications regarding particulate, film-type -chemical, organic and inorganic cleanliness are becoming increasingly stringent.
The situation is similar for vacuum components used in UHV, XHV and UCV applications, such as those for high-power laser systems or high-tech measuring and analysis equipment. In the case of precision optics like mirrors, lenses, prisms and micro-optical parts, more complex geometries and modified materials are also giving rise to new and challenging cleaning tasks. In coating technology, ever-more efficient processes call for exceptionally clean surfaces, regardless of whether parts such as machine tooling, automotive components and optical products are cleaned before or after coating.
from one millimetre to over one metre in size, and this range is constantly increasing. At the same time, the diversity of materials used is also rising. Added to this, specifications regarding particulate, film-type -chemical, organic and inorganic cleanliness are becoming increasingly stringent. The situation is similar for vacuum components used in UHV, XHV and UCV applications, such as those for high-power laser systems or high-tech measuring and analysis equipment. In the case of precision optics like mirrors, lenses, prisms and micro-optical parts, more complex geometries and modified materials are also giving rise to new and challenging cleaning tasks. In coating technology, ever-more efficient processes call for exceptionally clean surfaces, regardless of whether parts such as machine tooling, automotive components and optical products are cleaned before or after coating.
Key criteria for selecting the most suitable cleaning process and plant technology are the required level of cleanliness, the type of contamination to be removed, and the material and geometry of the respective component. Based on this, it is possible to determine which and how many process steps are necessary with which cleaning medium and which mechanics. Aspects such as the quality of the rinsing medium and the drying technology are included just as much in this consideration, as are cleanliness-compliant parts handling and the prevailing environmental conditions, for instance connection or integration into a cleanroom.
Key criteria for selecting the most suitable cleaning process and plant technology are the required level of cleanliness, the type of contamination to be removed, and the material and geometry of the respective component. Based on this, it is possible to determine which and how many process steps are necessary with which cleaning medium and which mechanics. Aspects such as the quality of the rinsing medium and the drying technology are included just as much in this consideration, as are cleanliness-compliant parts handling and the prevailing environmental conditions, for instance connection or integration into a cleanroom.
Especially when it comes to large parts, chamber cleaning systems offer advantages due to the process mechanics concentrated in the working chamber, for example PPC, ultrasonics or megasonics and injection flood washing. In order to use these also to meet Grade 2 or corresponding cleanliness specifications, Ecoclean manufactures EcoCvela double-chamber systems that use aqueous media for cleaning. In addition to the special high-purity features, completely separate circuits for cleaning and rinsing media ensure that the required cleaning result is achieved reliably and consistently. If, for example, due to a wide variety of materials, high throughput requirements or cleanliness specifications corresponding to Grade 1, the cleaning tasks cannot be solved with a chamber system, a multi-bath ultrasonic cleaning system is called for.
With its UCMSmartLine or UCMPerformanceLine series consisting of standardized modules, the SBS Ecoclean Group also offers efficient solutions in this area. Thanks to the electrical and control technology integrated into the modules for the process steps of cleaning, rinsing, drying, loading and unloading, as well as a flexible transport system, these can be easily adapted to the respective task and can also be extended if necessary. Individually-designed multi-bath ultrasonic cleaning systems such as the UCM HighLine are typically used in high-end applications, for example in the semiconductor supply, laser and optical industries.
Which system concept is the right one in terms of cleanliness and cost-effectiveness is determined via cleaning trials with original components or test specimens. Ecoclean has appropriate High Purity Test Centers for this purpose. As a result, product-specific cleaning processes and process parameters can be developed and then stored as programs in the system controller. This ensures that each part is cleaned with the validated process parameters to achieve the required level of cleanliness in a consistent and reproducible manner. Furthermore, all relevant process parameters can be monitored, documented and transferred to higher-level systems.
