AAF Inaugurates New Cleanroom Facility

AAF International held a ribbon cutting ceremony on May 22, 2014 commemorating its new ISO 4, 6, and 7 cleanroom for HEPA filter manufacturing in their Columbia, Missouri facilty. Hiroo Yoshioko, Daikin Senior Executive Officer and board member, and Bob McDavid, Mayor of Columbia, were in attendance, along with other state and local government officials, to celebrate the inauguration. The official opening of the cleanroom and AAF’s new product launch highlights AAF’s mission to be a world class air filtration solution provider, innovative technology leader, and supplier of choice. 

Mayor Bob McDavid commented, “ I am so pleased that a high-tech company such as AAF has decided to expand in Columbia.  I believe the fact that AAF has decided to expand here can be attributed to the employees. Both a company and a city with momentum makes me proud. Let’s keep the momentum going!”

The new cleanroom will contain four core process steps: media pleating, filter assembly, testing, and packaging. All cleanroom areas are designed, constructed, and validated following the international standards as defined in ISO 14644, “Cleanrooms and associated controlled environments.” 

The quality of a HEPA filter directly affects process performance and output quality of critical cleanroom environments, such as those found in the pharmaceutical and microelectronic industries. Even the smallest contamination can make the difference between success or failure. This means that not only does the efficiency of the HEPA filter need to comply with performance specifications, but in addition, contamination of the HEPA filter itself has to be eliminated. AAF recognized the importance of this by building the new cleanroom for its U.S. HEPA manufacturing facility.

As a member of Daikin Industries Ltd., AAF has the ambition to be the number one preferred supplier of clean air solutions. The new cleanroom is dedicated to Mr. Yoshioka, a Daikin board member, who was instrumental in initiating this cleanroom. The new cleanroom facility exemplifies the positive development of AAF’s organization and strengthens AAF’s leading position in the high-end air filtration market. In addition to the Columbia, Missouri plant, AAF has also implemented various improvements to its other manufacturing locations.  These improvements enable AAF to deliver the highest quality levels in terms of process, product, and the environment.

Additionally, AAF launched Impress Technology during the event. Impress is the latest generation of embossing and pleating technology, delivering advantages not seen in other media. Impress Technology offers the most energy efficient, low pressure drop technology available. Embossed, reinforced V-pleat geometry offers smoother airflow, with higher dust holding capacity. Several products designed with Impress Technology will be introduced in the upcoming months.