Consulting and optimization of industrial cleaning processes for ultra-clean surfaces in optics, medical technology and metal processing.
Dr. Eberhard Quintus Khuen
78256 SteißlingenNew on Amplifa
About us
Dr. Eberhard Quintus Khuen is a freelance consultant for industrial cleaning processes based in Steißlingen. With 30 years of experience in the industry, he optimizes aqueous and solvent-based cleaning processes for ultra-clean surfaces – hands-on at the system on site, not from a desk. His range of services includes process audits, cleaner and process development, design of cleaning processes for new systems, test series and validation tests under production conditions, training of operating personnel, and the preparation of work instructions and documented recommendations for action. Cleanliness inspection is carried out, among other methods, by incident-light microscopy, with which particle freedom down to below 100 nm can be demonstrated. For SAFECHEM Europe GmbH he works on a fee basis as an external application engineer; individual projects are documented in their user reports. His customers are users, system manufacturers and chemical suppliers from industries such as precision optics, ophthalmic lenses, medical technology, carbide and electronics. Projects have been realized in Germany, Spain, Italy, the United Kingdom, Poland, the Czech Republic, Hungary, the USA and Saudi Arabia; documentation is available in German and English.
- Site
- Steißlingen
- Processes
- Aqueous cleaning for ultra-clean surfaces, Solvent cleaning for ultra-clean surfaces, Ultrasonic cleaning (40 kHz), Ultrasonic cleaning (20 kHz), Process audit (cleaning), Cleanliness inspection / proof of particle freedom down to below 100 nm by incident-light microscopy, Process design for new systems / cleaning concept development, Brush cleaning (aqueous, solvent-free)
- Materials
- Precision/float and colored glass, Float glass, Fused silica, Dense flint glass, Dense crown glass, Ophthalmic lenses, Glass ceramics, Stainless steel
- Certificates
- Cleanliness inspection by incident-light microscopy (< 100 nm), Validation tests under production conditions, Factory Acceptance Test (FAT), ISO 9001
- Employees
- 1 (freelance)
- Industries
- Precision optics, Ophthalmic lenses, Metal cleaning, High-purity applications, Medical technology, Carbide / indexable inserts
- 01
On-site process audit
- 02
Root cause analysis (system, process and bath parameters)
- 03
Cleaner or process development
- 04
Test series and validation tests under production conditions
- 05
Implementation with training and work instructions
- 06
Process support, monitoring and cleanliness inspection
- 07
Documentation with recommendations for action
Cleaning media and substrates
Precision, float and colored glass
Optical glasses for fine cleaning to coating readiness, including sensitive dense flint and dense crown glasses.
Fused silica and glass ceramics
Aqueous and material-compatible cleaning even for sensitive inorganic substrates.
Stainless steel
Cleaning of components for medical technology and high-purity applications.
Aluminium (also anodized)
Material-compatible cleaning of uncoated and anodized aluminium surfaces.
Carbide / indexable inserts
Cleaning of cutting tools and carbide components.
Plastics
Aqueous and solvent-based cleaning of plastic surfaces without wetting or residue problems.
Aqueous cleaning media
Individually tailored, partly low-concentration (below 1 %) aqueous cleaners, some SAFECHEM-based.
Solvent systems
Specific systems for paint and oil removal with a focus on material compatibility and minimal residues.
Aqueous brush cleaning
Solvent-free replacement in brush washing systems, e.g. in ophthalmic lens manufacturing.
Ultrasonic cleaning 40 kHz
Fine cleaning of sensitive surfaces at higher frequency.
Ultrasonic cleaning 20 kHz
Ultrasonic cleaning for heavier soiling in various systems.
Hard coating dip and spin coating
Process optimization of hard coating of ophthalmic lenses to reduce rework.
Location
Steißlingen
DEBusiness address and consulting base; project work directly at customers' systems
- Lot size
- Individual projects to series processes
- Materials
- Optical glasses, plastics, stainless steel, aluminium, non-ferrous metals, carbide
- Incident-light microscopy for cleanliness inspection
- Dosing units for cleaning media
- Ultrasonic systems 20 kHz and 40 kHz (at customers)
- Multi-tank and multi-chamber systems (at customers)
- Brush washing systems (at customers)
- Fully automatic ultrasonic system in a cleanroom (at customers)
Components and applications
Inside the production
Industries
Processes & technical limits
| Processes | Tolerance | Max. part | Weight | Lot size | Materials |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Aqueous cleaning for ultra-clean surfacesSurface | – | – | – | – | optical glass, plastics, metal, stainless steel, aluminium, non-ferrous metal, glass ceramics, carbide |
| Solvent cleaning for ultra-clean surfacesSurface | – | – | – | – | – |
| Ultrasonic cleaning (40 kHz)Surface | – | – | – | – | – |
| Ultrasonic cleaning (20 kHz)Surface | – | – | – | – | – |
| Process audit (cleaning)Testing | – | – | – | – | – |
| Cleanliness inspection / proof of particle freedom down to below 100 nm by incident-light microscopyTesting | – | – | – | – | – |
| Process design for new systems / cleaning concept developmentEngineering | – | – | – | – | – |
| Brush cleaning (aqueous, solvent-free)Surface | – | – | – | – | ophthalmic lenses |
| Hard coating of ophthalmic lenses (dip and spin coating) – process optimizationSurface | – | – | – | – | ophthalmic lenses |
| Cleaner development / process development (tailor-made cleaning media)Engineering | – | – | – | – | – |
| Training on cleaning, materials & ultrapure waterEngineering | – | – | – | – | – |
5 Anlagen & Maschinen
| Machine | Manufacturer / model | Quantity | Working area | Year built | Site |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ultrasonic immersion system | – | – | – | – | Coating operation (test phase) |
| Fully automatic ultrasonic system in a cleanroom | – | – | – | – | Coating specialist (PVD/PECVD) |
| Brush washing system | – | – | – | – | Ophthalmic lens manufacturer |
| Multi-chamber system (cleaning) | – | – | – | – | – |
| Main system (cleaning) | – | – | – | – | Contract coater |
Additional services
Reference customers
Quality and cleanliness inspection
Cleanliness inspection is carried out, among other methods, by incident-light microscopy with proof of particle freedom down to below 100 nm; acceptances were successfully completed via Factory Acceptance Test (FAT). Every engagement ends with structured documentation, prepared in English and German, with prioritized recommendations for action.
| Evidence | Steißlingen |
|---|---|
| Cleanliness inspection by incident-light microscopy (< 100 nm) | |
| Validation tests under production conditions | |
| Factory Acceptance Test (FAT) | |
| ISO 9001 |
History
- 2017
Start of freelance activity with projects in international production environments
30 years of experience in industrial cleaning