Kromek - Cleanroom Upgrades

Project Background

Today, countries face more diverse, intelligent and evolving security threats. Access to devices that can detect these threats is crucial to protecting people and infrastructure. Based in County Durham, Kromek develops cutting-edge products and solutions for the Radiological and Biological Threat Detection Industry.

The components contained within Kromek’s devices are manufactured in an environment free from potential contaminants. Following increased customer demand, the company wanted to expand its Travelling Heater Method (THM) capacity by adding 130 furnaces to its cleanroom facility.

The project had several key requirements:

• Optimising the layout, utility connections, and infrastructure to ensure efficient use of the existing space
• Designing a system to handle the increased power and heat loadings in the cleanroom
• Facilitating easy access for future maintenance and servicing of equipment to minimise production disruptions

Solution

Over eight months, we worked closely with the client to design and modify its cleanroom facility to improve production capacity and deliver greater operational efficiency. Our team of design engineers created a series of detailed mechanical and electrical drawings to provide a cost-effective and fully optimised solution. 

Alterations to the physical cleanroom facility included: 

• Installation of new walls and floors
• Removal of redundant services
• Installation of new services
• Modifications to the HVAC and BMS
• Specialised design of bespoke raised floor to interface with metal supports for the furnaces
• Fabrication and installation of 520 metal supports for the furnaces 

We also set up a production line in our manufacturing facility to build 130 new furnaces. These were then transported onsite and installed in the cleanroom.    

Outcomes

With a clear understanding of the client’s objectives from the outset, we were able to adapt the existing facilities to optimise workflows and boost production capacity. We also effectively minimised downtime during the expansion process by using our offsite manufacturing facilities.