Due to the critical environmental conditions that are demanded in precision microelectronics manufacturing and nanotechnology applications, cleanrooms in these industries have typically required systems that integrated well with the equipment needed to run these operations. Framing systems tended to be the ideal solution for these types of cleanrooms. These systems feature both vertical and horizontal members that easily connect to each other to simplify bulk heading and create air tight seals around equipment and tooling. Plus, the non-progressive design allows for easy removal of the walls without the need to remove adjacent panels, framing studs, or ceiling grids.
One challenge is that cleanrooms in the microelectronics industry typically require anti-static wall panels that are also non-outgassing and non-shedding in order to completely eliminate the potential for contamination when working with electronic devices. The proven solution is honeycomb aluminum panels — they perform well, but they are very expensive. A lot of innovation in the industry has been focused on developing more cost effective solutions. By analyzing the design of the cleanroom, one can often find opportunities to integrate thinner wall panels and lighter weight frames that can significantly reduce the cost of the cleanroom without sacrificing performance or functionality.
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