Guardtech has recently built a composites manufacturing cleanroom in the UK. iCOMAT is a spin-out company from the University of Bristol, focused on the business of composites.
iCOMAT provides state-of-the-art lightweighting solutions based on the Rapid Tow Shearing (RTS) process – the world’s first automated composites manufacturing process that can place carbon fibre tapes along curved paths without generating defects.
The company’s innovative engineering solutions help to enable the next generation of vehicles, which are lighter and more sustainable than ever.
The client was keen for us to develop the most aesthetically pleasing facility possible
The client had previously engaged the Guardtech Group to deliver a smaller-scale modular cleanroom for them. Having acquired a new warehouse premises in Gloucester, iCOMAT instructed Guardtech Group's turnkey arm, Cleanroom Solutions to deliver a new ISO Class 7 facility to support them with upscaling their industry-leading fibre-steering process capabilities.
The almost 13,000 sqft build had to be built to maintain a temperature of 20 degrees (+/-3 degrees), as well as a relative humidity of 55% (+/-10%).
Within this large build the cleanroom itself was 4,500 sqft and met ISO Class 7 cleanroom specifications, as well as having 8 EMAs.
The tech specs
A controlled environment was designed, installed, cleaned, and commissioned to the following specification:
Structural: The facility contained GT Shell Plus 60mm Quadcore insulated wall panels, GT Lid Lite 50mm extruded aluminium ceiling grid with powder-coated composite tiles, GT Deck Lite ESD vinyl floor with copper grounding tape, coved and capped, GT Access Plus Fire Escape single doors, GT Rise Plus PVC rapid roll doors on two-way interlock with push button activation, doubled glazed window units, steel truss goalposts & braces, edge protection.