Clean Source, a BFK Solutions LLC Newsletter
Volume IX, Issue 1
January/February 2012
The 9th year of Clean Source! There’s a lot more to learn about critical cleaning, contamination control, and surface quality, so let’s get started. We’re bringing you even more resources to help you manufacture more effectively.
In this issue:
• Feature article, “Pyramids and Cleanrooms,” gets to the basics of contamination control and of cleaning.
• Announcing our new, information-rich website; you’ll find more resources for critical product cleaning and competitive manufacturing.
• Publications, Presentations, Conferences
Handbook for Critical Cleaning, Second Edition—discount available
Informative, entertaining videos on cleanroom issues—coming soon
First call—PCx 2013
…and more
Barbara Kanegsberg (the Cleaning Lady) and Ed Kanegsberg (the Rocket Scientist) of BFK Solutions LLC are the leaders in critical cleaning consulting. Since 1994, we have helped manufacturers achieve better critical cleaning processes, superior manufacturing, and higher productivity. Clean Source is a practical resource for our clients, colleagues and the manufacturing community.
FEATURE ARTICLE
Pyramids and Cleanrooms
Barbara Kanegsberg, BFK Solutions LLC
It was a colorful, romantic Phoenix sunset; we had just finished a wonderful day of videotaping programs about contamination control at GSFCC. A gleaming white pyramid shone at the top of a hill. What was it? We climbed up and discovered the burial site of the first governor of Arizona. It’s an important landmark, one we had not been aware of. To me, of course, the pristine, white pyramid covered in gleaming white tiles evoked a monument to a cleanroom.
KNOWLEDGE IS POWER
Announcing: New BFK Solutions Website
What did we do during the holiday break? Click on http://bfksolutions.com/ and visit or revisit our brand new BFK Solutions website. We think you’ll find it convenient to navigate. Even more important for you as part of the critical cleaning community, you will have access to many of our educational resources, including our featured articles. We tell you more about who we are, what we do, and how we became “The Cleaning Lady” and “The Rocket Scientist.” If you have ideas, comments, suggestions, please send us an email, or give us a call.
Publications
Handbook for Critical Cleaning, Second Edition
If you haven’t yet purchased the expanded two volume second edition of our acclaimed book, readers of Clean Source can obtain a 20% discount at crcpress.com. Contact us by using the form on our website and we will send you the discount code.
We’d also like your feedback about the books. Send us your comments about the books, from a few words to a few paragraphs.
Controlled Environments Magazine
“Cosmetics and Cleanrooms” a collaboration with our colleague Dr. Kevina O’Donoghue, in the January issue of Controlled Environments Magazine, tackles thorny issues of cosmetics, behavior, and cleanroom discipline. It’s written as a dialogue between Barbara and Kevina; we debate the issues productively. The column in the February issue will provide an update of ASTM development of standards and guidance for cleaning medical devices. March and April will contain a two-part article on chemicals and processes that have become “obsolete” due to regulatory restrictions—or have they?
News: Changes at Vicon
Vicon Publishing, Inc., publisher of Controlled Environments Magazine, has been acquired by Advantage Business Media LLC and will operate as a subsidiary, Vicon Business Media. Controlled Environments Magazine will continue to be published by Vicon Business Media. We are proud of our affiliation with Vicon for more than a decade. We continue to write our regular column, “Contamination Control In and Out of the Cleanroom,” for the new organization.
Geometry and Surface Monitoring
A classic cartoon (probably from the New Yorker) proclaimed an eternal truth: “cosine” rarely occurs in adult conversation. While you may use a water drop test as a qualitative estimate of surface finish and/or cleanliness of your product, contact angle measurement provides a quantitative water drop test; that involves “cosine”. You should read a wonderful article about contact angle measurement in this month’s Product Finishing Magazine. Authors Darren Williams and Anselm Kuhn explain the basics of contact angle measurement (yes, they use “cos” and even “arctan”). They also describe practical techniques that promise to move contact angle measurement from the test lab to the production line. Review geometry; and achieve consistent, cost-effective manufacturing.
Presentations, Conferences
Cleanroom/contamination control
Coming soon to your computer, a series of informative, entertaining video clips on the topic of cleanrooms and contamination control. The latest videos in an ongoing series sponsored by the GSFCC (Global Society for Contamination Control) will be available on-line. Check the gsfcc.org cleanroom wiki.
Caption: On location with Depp, Lauer, Streep, and Clooney? Ok, left to right it’s Jeff Becker (Pegasus Cleanroom Services), Greg Heiland (Valutek, GSFCC), Barbara Kanegsberg (BFK Solutions LLC) and Ed Kanegsberg (BFK Solutions LLC). Bryan Cooke (Valutek) is the videographer.
Electronics Assembly - San Diego
The Kanegsbergs will participate in Apex Expo in San Diego, CA, February 28 to March 1, 2012. Hear “The Cleaning Lady” and “The Rocket Scientist” give you the latest and greatest about regional VOC rules in Session S14 Wed February 29.
http://www.goipcshows.org/html/main/default.htm
Cleaning Horizon – Parts Cleaning Expo 2013; Call for Abstracts
submitted by Allison Miller, Gardner Publications
The Parts Cleaning Expo (PCx) will once again take place April 16-18, 2013 alongside the Precision Machining Technology Show (PMTS) in Columbus, OH. The PCx will include a dedicated cleaning pavilion and conference, focused on “Where Cleaning Meets Machining.” We are currently accepting abstracts for the Parts Cleaning Conference.
Suggested topics include:
Cleaning Fundamentals
Environmental Issues
Assessing Cleaning Quality
Cleaning Specifications
The Practical Value of Cleaning to Traditional Machining Shops
New Processes and Technologies for Parts Cleaning
Your 200 to 300 word abstract must be submitted September 1, 2012. With your abstract, please include a cover page with the title of your paper, author and/or speaker’s name, job title, company name, address, telephone and fax numbers, and e-mail address of the primary contact person. All speakers must submit a presentation for inclusion in the Conference Proceedings by March 1, 2013.
Send, fax or email your abstract to Allison Miller, Director of Events, Gardner Publications, 6915 Valley Ave., Cincinnati, OH 45244-3029; or fax to 513-527-8801; or e-mail to This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. .
HOW BFK Solutions Helps You
We’re independent. We don’t sell chemicals or cleaning equipment; and we don’t take commissions. Instead, we work for you. This saves you cold hard cash. We use our 30 years of experience to help you make good decisions about your cleaning processes, your manufacturing processes, your business. Check our website; send us an email; give us a call. We always like to hear from you.
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