Development and construction of CO2 snow-jet cleaning systems and automated assembly and process systems
acp systems AG
Zimmern ob Rottweil · Ditzingen · Tavistock (UK) · Hillsboro (USA) · Shanghai (China)New on Amplifa
About acp systems
acp systems AG is a manufacturer of systems and equipment for dry, residue-free surface cleaning and for the automation of production processes. The core product is the quattroClean CO2 snow-jet technology, which removes particulate and filmic contaminants even on highly sensitive surfaces without water or chemical residues. The company produces standard modules (JetModule), manual and automated cleaning stations (JetStation, JetCell) as well as customer-specific turnkey systems including robotics, handling, micro-dispensing, inspection and assembly. As a spin-off of the Fraunhofer IPA (1997), acp systems develops solutions for the automotive and supply industry, electronics, microelectronics, semiconductors, photovoltaics, medical technology, pharmaceuticals as well as battery and electromobility production. At its headquarters in Zimmern ob Rottweil, joining and assembly processes are integrated into automated solutions; technology development takes place in Ditzingen. Further sales offices are located in the UK, the USA and China.
- Site
- Zimmern ob Rottweil
- Processes
- CO2 snow-jet cleaning (quattroClean), powerSnow CO2 jet cleaning with integrated cleaning granulate production, CO2 jet deburring (powerSnow), Micro-dispensing / dispensing (e.g. application of silver conductive adhesive to glass substrates), Automation / system integration (stand-alone systems to networked production cells), Smart Handling / handling systems, Assembly / joining (joining and assembly processes, automated), Cryogenic cooling during machining of difficult-to-machine materials (CO2 snow jet)
- Materials
- quattroClean CO2 snow-jet cleaning, powerSnow jet technology, High purity/cleanroom cleaning (ISO 5), Micro-dispensing / dispensing, Cryogenic cooling/machining, Automation & system integration
- Certificates
- GreenScreen Certified (Cleaners & Degreasers, GSC2022_009), Cleanroom ISO 5 (JetCell High Purity)
- Founded
- 1997
- Industries
- Automotive/Automotive supply industry, Electronics, Microelectronics, Semiconductors, Photovoltaics, Medical technology/Life Sciences
- 01
Consulting and project planning
- 02
Technology and process development
- 03
Engineering and plant construction
- 04
CO2 snow-jet cleaning (quattroClean)
- 05
Automation, robotics and system integration
- 06
Assembly and handling systems
- 07
Commissioning and service (JetService)
Processes and Technologies
quattroClean CO2 snow-jet cleaning
Dry, residue-free cleaning of particulate and filmic contaminants even on highly sensitive, hygroscopic or porous surfaces.
powerSnow jet technology
Inline-capable CO2 jet process with system-integrated cleaning granulate production for cleaning and deburring without external pellet logistics.
High purity/cleanroom cleaning (ISO 5)
Cleaning of highly sensitive high-tech products up to cleanroom class ISO 5, e.g. image sensors and medical stents.
Micro-dispensing / dispensing
Precise application of e.g. silver conductive adhesive to glass substrates.
Cryogenic cooling/machining
CO2 snow jet for cooling during the machining of highly wear-resistant materials.
Automation & system integration
Turnkey systems from stand-alone systems to networked production cells including robotics and assembly.
Sites
Zimmern ob Rottweil
DE- Assembly and handling systems
- Automated systems
Ditzingen
DETechnology development and production of standardized modules and stand-alone solutions
- JetWorker series
- JetStation
- JetModule (1–24 nozzles)
- JetCell cleaning cell
Tavistock (Devon)
UKSales Office UK
Hillsboro (Oregon)
USSales Office North America
Shanghai (Jing'an)
CNacp systems Technology Co., Ltd.
Applications and Components
Inside the production
Industries
Processes & technical limits
| Processes | Tolerance | Max. part | Weight | Lot size | Materials |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| CO2 snow-jet cleaning (quattroClean)Surface | – | – | – | – | – |
| powerSnow CO2 jet cleaning with integrated cleaning granulate productionSurface | – | – | – | – | – |
| CO2 jet deburring (powerSnow)Surface | – | – | – | – | – |
| Micro-dispensing / dispensing (e.g. application of silver conductive adhesive to glass substrates)Assembly | – | – | – | – | silver conductive adhesive |
| Automation / system integration (stand-alone systems to networked production cells)Automation | – | – | – | – | – |
| Smart Handling / handling systemsAutomation | – | – | – | – | – |
| Assembly / joining (joining and assembly processes, automated)Assembly | – | – | – | – | – |
| Cryogenic cooling during machining of difficult-to-machine materials (CO2 snow jet)Machining | – | – | – | – | highly wear-resistant materials |
| High purity cleaning / cleanroom cleaning (ISO 5)Surface | – | – | – | – | – |
6 Anlagen & Maschinen
| Machine | Manufacturer / model | Quantity | Working area | Year built | Site |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Mobile CO2 snow-jet cleaning system | acp systems AG JetWorker / JetWorker P8e / JetWorker P16 / JetWorker High Purity | – | – | – | Ditzingen (production) |
| Manual/semi-automated CO2 cleaning station | acp systems AG JetStation / JetStation High Purity (manual/automated/XL) | – | Dimensions (H x W x D) 2.15 m / 1.40 m / 0.80 m; XL: 2 m / 1.40 m / 1 m | – | Ditzingen (production) |
| CO2 snow-jet process module (1 to 24 nozzles) | acp systems AG JetModule / JetModule High Purity | – | – | – | Ditzingen (production) |
| – | acp systems AG JetCell / JetCell High Purity | – | Dimensions (H x W x D) 2.20 m / 1.80 m / 1.30 m; cleanroom ISO 5 | – | Ditzingen (production) |
| Winding system for cylindrical battery cells | acp systems AG | – | – | – | Fraunhofer IPA ZDB (customer system) |
| System for stack formation of battery cells (electrode sheets/separators) | acp systems AG Exinos2 | – | – | – | Zimmern ob Rottweil (project coordination) |
Additional services
Quality and Certification
The quattroClean technology is designed for cleanroom operation up to ISO 5 (JetCell High Purity). As the first manufacturer of a non-wet-chemical cleaning technology, acp systems received the GreenScreen certificate from Clean Production Action for quattroClean with CO2 from Linde.
| Evidence | Zimmern ob Rottweil | Ditzingen |
|---|---|---|
| GreenScreen Certified (Cleaners & Degreasers, GSC2022_009) | ||
| Cleanroom ISO 5 (JetCell High Purity) |
History
- 1960
ecotec GmbH emerges from the tooling department of Uhrentechnik Schwarzwald (U.T.S.) as a manufacturer of assembly lines for watchmaking and precision engineering.
- 1980
ecotec becomes a specialist in automatic soldering of pistons for the automotive and electrical industries.
- 1997
Foundation of acp – advanced clean production GmbH as a spin-off of the Fraunhofer IPA Stuttgart.
- 2001
ecotec establishes itself as a manufacturer of automated systems for electromechanical products.
- 2002
First automated CO2 snow-jet applications for selective cleaning of highly sensitive high-tech products.
- 2004
Acquisition of ecotec GmbH by ACI, renaming to ACI ecoTec GmbH & Co. KG.
- 2008
Components and systems for photovoltaics; first large-area cleaning solutions for bumpers before painting.
- 2012
Cleaning modules for plastic attachments in Germany's first electric car production.
- 2014
Foundation of ACI AG, focus on assembly and process systems for mechatronics, medical technology, precision engineering.
- 2018
Merger of ACI AG and acp GmbH to form acp systems AG.
- 2023
GreenScreen certificate for quattroClean with CO2 from Linde; research projects Desire4Electronics and DeMoBat.
- 2025
BMBF joint project EXINOS2 (project coordinator acp) for stack formation in battery cell production.
- 2026
Part of the BMFTR consortium SIB:DE ENTWICKLUNG for sodium-ion battery cells.