US cleanroom garment laundering service models have not changed in decades to the detriment of innovators in pharmaceuticals, biotechnology and electronics. The cleanroom service model used in the US has been employed for almost 50 years with little change in technology or key service providers. As a result, cleanroom manufacturers remain tied to inflexible contracts and are increasingly exposed to increasing regulatory and environmental costs.
The industry would benefit from innovative approaches to processing cleanroom garments that offer cost, performance and environmental advantages. US cleanroom laundry facilities and operations maintain a similar design with a large footprint and inefficient operations. AMD’s Patent Number 61228931 outlines the basic cleaning methodology using a ‘pass-through’ commercial washer to control garment exposure to contaminants. The washers use stainless steel baskets with ultra-pure water, which requires an energy-intensive process to produce. The dryers must open to the cleanroom and be constructed to eliminate potential contamination from the surrounding environment.
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