Fraunhofer-Business Area Cleaning
In our interview series, we introduce you to a member of the Fraunhofer Cleaning division in each newsletter. This time, Andreas Hofmann from the Fraunhofer Institute for Physical Measurement Techniques IPM answered our questions. Read more about his career and his personal views on the goals, potential and wishes for the Fraunhofer Cleaning division.
1. How did you join Fraunhofer-Business Area Cleaning?
I am a business unit developer for the Production Control department at Fraunhofer IPM, where we develop optical inline measurement systems to inspect component surfaces for defects and contamination. The Fraunhofer-Business Area Cleaning deals with the topic of "surface cleanliness" and supports us in making our measurement technology known in the industry..
2. What goal have you set yourself for your work at Fraunhofer-Business Area Cleaning?
I would like to contribute IPM's expertise and capabilities in the area of "cleanliness of component surfaces" to FRei and coordinate them with FRei's activities in such a way that interesting overall solutions can be offered to the industry.
3. What would you like to pass on to the customers Fraunhofer-Business Area Cleaning?
The surface quality of components is often a key functional feature. Being fully aware of its condition – especially its cleanliness – and being able to monitor and control it during production is often crucial for the quality of the finished product. Component cleanliness has an enormous influence on many subsequent production processes, such as bonding or coating. Precise knowledge of this not only influences the quality of the product, but also the amount of energy and resources used in production.
4. What does the Fraunhofer IPM offer in cleaning technology?
Fraunhofer IPM offers optical measuring systems that inspect the surface quality of components in the laboratory or inline in the production line, thus enabling the qualification of all components. For cleaning technology, Fraunhofer IPM develops application-adapted systems for inspecting the surface for residual contamination or coatings. The imaging systems can detect spatially resolved and quantitative filmic and particulate contamination on the components very quickly – in the production cycle.
5. What makes you a competent partner in cleaning technology?
We have been developing optical (inline) measuring systems for many years in close cooperation with industry partners and have thus been able to get to know a wide range of different requirements from users. We bring this knowledge to the discussions and can thus arrive at an ideal solution for the specific problem.
6. What do you wish for the industry?
I would like to see even more intensive communication between the individual players in the industry. It has been shown time and again that an open exchange of information about the type of pre-treatment of components or the subsequent processing steps – especially when considering the required surface cleanliness – can increase the efficiency of the work steps and the quality of the components.
7. What is urgently needed so that the next big step can be taken in the field of cleaning technology?
In recent years, new technologies have been developed for cleaning and purity inspection. One obstacle to the establishment of these technologies is that there is often no consensus between the individual players in the production chain on the extent to which these technologies can be used for quality control, for example. Greater openness to the potential of new technologies and consultation between the players could help to tackle the next steps in a timely manner.