Why you should adopt a scalable mobile cleanroom before your competitor does

In today’s hyper-competitive markets, agility isn’t just a nice-to-have; it is indispensable to stay relevant and competitive in whichever industry you’re a part of.

Geopolitical shifts are influencing global supply chains, new technologies are being introduced at breakneck speed, regulatory systems are evolving to keep up with new technologies and operational practices, and market demand is shifting with changes in climate, sociopolitical events, economic pressures, and other trends.

The businesses of tomorrow, those that will stand the test of time, are the ones that can adapt quickly. The ones who can respond effectively and on short notice to market fluctuations, emergencies, natural disasters, regulatory changes, technological advancements, and any other uncertainties that come their way.  

The need for scalable mobile cleanroom solutions 

In industries like pharmaceuticals, semiconductors and electronics, biotechnology, aerospace, military, and scientific research, the need for adaptability also extends to cleanroom infrastructure.

Be it for relocation, expansion, reconfiguration, or upgradation, what you need is a scalable mobile cleanroom.

Traditionally constructed cleanrooms – though they’ve been the mainstay of the industry for a long time – just don’t have the flexibility you need to rapidly respond to changing circumstances. Pre-fabricated cleanrooms or portable clean room solutions, on the other hand, have flexibility and agility built into their very DNA.

No prohibitively expensive reconstruction. No extended periods of downtime. Pre-fabricated cleanrooms are truly scalable, mobile cleanrooms that can help you, no matter which of the aforementioned industries you’re in, future-proof your infrastructure and stay ahead of your competitors.

Pre-fabricated cleanrooms are the future 

The modular cleanroom market will blow up, becoming increasingly common as external circumstances compel manufacturers in diverse industries to prioritise scalability, flexibility, and agility.

As per reports by market research firm MarketsandMarkets, the cleanroom technology market will reach an expected USD 9.6 billion value by 2026, growing at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 6.2%. Many factors are predicted to fuel this growth, including increasing demand for sterilised medical formulations and medical devices. The market could see greater growth, but it is being held back by technical challenges. That’s where modular portable clean room solutions come in.

According to Market Watch, in 2022, the global modular cleanroom market was worth USD 581.6 million. Up until 2028, it is predicted to grow at a CAGR of 6.4% (slightly higher than that of the entire cleanroom market) to attain a value of USD 843.8 million. A stable growth trajectory so far and an increasing preference for modularity could even result in the market surpassing its estimated value. So what’s really behind this market growth?

Examining the “why” of scalable mobile cleanrooms 

As businesses grow and evolve, their infrastructure requirements must also evolve to keep up. In industries that require sterile facilities, the integrity of their products and their compliance with regulations are also dependent on their cleanrooms changing, growing, and adapting to changing circumstances, both external and internal.

Cleanrooms are a significant capital investment, so they’re not a decision to be taken lightly. Moreover, your investment in a cleanroom must be future-proof; this means that changes in operational expectations, regulations, and production technologies – all of which are likely in the future – shouldn’t make your cleanroom infrastructure obsolete.

In other words, your cleanroom is going to be a part of your business for the long haul. Make sure that it is designed for scalability and mobility, so that future business and operational needs don’t require that you start all over.

Before you invest in a cleanroom – be it a pre-fabricated cleanroom or otherwise – there are a few things you should consider to ensure you make a well-considered decision:

Your current and future needs. What are your production requirements? Do you expect that you will have to scale production up or back in the future? Will you have to relocate your operations? Will you be releasing new product lines with different production requirements? Answering these questions will reveal how adaptable, scalable, or mobile your cleanroom infrastructure really needs to be.

Regulatory compliance. All cleanrooms, whether they are stick-built or pre-fabricated cleanrooms, must comply with ISO standards and classifications. In the future, these requirements may become more stringent to keep pace with industry expectations. Or you may decide to upgrade your classification level so that you can produce new products. Your cleanroom infrastructure must be able to adapt to maintain compliance even in these changing circumstances.

Operational efficiency. You may choose to scale or reconfigure your cleanrooms. But these changes should not impact your operational efficiency. The advantage of working with portable clean room manufacturers is that they can support you to ensure you retain operational efficiencies and smooth workflows even as you modify your setup. Pre-fabricated panels, mobile units, and reconfigurable layouts are all elements of a truly scalable mobile cleanroom.

Technological advancements. As your business grows and the industry evolves, you may decide to incorporate novel technologies into your cleanroom to minimise operational costs, improve environmental sustainability, or optimise performance. Pre-fabricated, scalable, and mobile cleanrooms are particularly suited to integrating IoT-driven controls, automated monitoring systems, and other such advancements.

Scalable mobile cleanrooms are integral to industries that require sterile processes. Now that we’ve covered the “why” behind portable clean room solutions, in part 2 of this article, we’ll explore what exactly scaling a cleanroom involves and why you should adopt a scalable mobile cleanroom before your competitors do.

 

Scaling your cleanroom infrastructure: What to expect 

You can’t just dive into scaling your cleanrooms. Given the strict environmental control requirements, regulatory standards, and high investment involved, you need careful planning and a clear strategy to ensure that new infrastructural additions align with your operational goals, business vision, and industry standards, including ISO classifications.

While individual contexts, constraints, and requirements will vary, one thing is certain – scaling a cleanroom isn’t just about expanding the space your cleanroom occupies. It also involves modifications in building systems, utility distribution, and compliance documentation. Add to that automation enhancements so that you can effectively operate the expanded cleanroom and personnel training so that staff are equipped to work with the modifications. You will also have to reevaluate your existing workflows to ensure that they are well-suited to your new and expanded layout.

Here are the specifics on what to expect when you plan to scale your cleanroom:

Modular cleanrooms as the foundation for scalability and mobility. It may not be obvious to everyone, so let’s be clear: pre-fabricated cleanrooms are the only truly scalable mobile cleanrooms. Since pre-fabricated cleanrooms are usually manufactured off-site in factories, usually as either panels or entire modules, they offer a level of flexibility, mobility, and reconfigurability that is unmatched.

Portable clean room manufacturers often vertically integrate their services to include adaptable air filtration systems, modular HVAC components, and relevant equipment in addition to prefabricated wall systems to streamline installation and future upgrades.

The flexibility of pre-fabricated cleanrooms and the integrations they offer are the basis of scalable infrastructure. They are ideal for businesses that are planning for future growth as well as those that anticipate frequent modifications for whatever reason, be it emergency response or fluctuating production demands. They ensure minimal disruption to ongoing operations during upgradation or expansion; they reduce downtime during installation; and they allow efficient scaling without compromising on safety, quality, or efficiency of your processes.

Your cleanroom HVAC systems will also need modifications. Heating, ventilation, and air conditioning, or HVAC systems, are essential components of every cleanroom, be it modular or stick-built. When you scale up your cleanroom infrastructure, you need to ensure that your HVAC system is also modified to suit the new layout of your space. Pre-engineered cleanrooms make this process much easier and more streamlined because of their modular nature.

As we mentioned earlier, many portable clean room manufacturers also vertically integrate processes like these – this means that when your portable or modular clean room manufacturer comes onboard to help you expand your cleanroom, they also can modify your HVAC systems to maintain the right levels of cleanliness and environmental parameters. Moreover, they may be able to integrate more energy-efficient HVAC systems as they emerge in the market and also use variable-speed controls to adjust environmental conditions based on cleanroom usage, enhancing the energy efficiency of your space.

Upgrading your cleanroom classification. As you scale up production and expand your cleanroom, you may also need to meet higher cleanroom classification standards, depending on the processes involved. If you do need to upgrade your ISO classification, it will likely involve improved airflow design, air filtration upgrades, and more granular environmental monitoring. These factors are critical to maintaining compliance and product integrity. Optionally, you could also upgrade to UV-based sterilisation systems and energy-efficient filters to improve the long-term sustainability of your operations.

Optimising space utilisation. When you expand or scale up your cleanroom, it isn’t just about adding another room, module, or panel. You will likely also need to change the layout of the space, ensure adequate workstations, and reroute material flow.

This requires strategic pre-engineered cleanroom design. To maximise available space, you can leverage vertical space by incorporating overhead utilities. To improve efficiency, you can include ergonomic workstations and workflow mapping. Interventions like these will help you guarantee that your expanded space maximises productivity, minimises contamination risks, and facilitates safe and smooth personnel movement.

Doubling down on air filtration. A larger cleanroom doesn’t just mean more space; it also means a greater possibility for contamination, particularly by airborne contaminants. Scaling up your cleanroom means you also need additional air filtration systems for particulate control. Based on the ISO classification you are going for, you will have to evaluate your use of high-efficiency particulate air (HEPA) or ultra-low penetration air (ULPA) filters. You can also consider more advanced filtration technologies if appropriate and available to you. Most importantly, you should double down on preventative filter maintenance and real-time air monitoring systems to detect potential contamination issues and prevent escalation.

Reconfiguring wastewater management. As you modify your scalable mobile cleanroom system, your wastewater management systems will likely face greater throughput demands. You must not only ensure that your drainage and filtration systems continue to work as intended, but you must also guarantee continued compliance with environmental regulations. Chemical neutralisation systems and water recycling technologies may be useful ways to ensure continued compliance.

Beating your competitors to the chase 

As the predicted growth in the scalable mobile cleanroom market value reveals, modular cleanrooms are going to be adopted by more and more businesses in the coming years. Regardless of the industry you’re in, there are many reasons why you must beat your competitors to the chase.

• The scalable mobile clean room price is often significantly less than the price of a stick-built clean room. With shorter installation timelines, your on-site labour costs also reduce. That’s why investing in a pre-fabricated cleanroom system will put you on the path to profitability and long-term sustainability much faster than a stick-built cleanroom. And becoming profitable sooner gives your business the stability it needs to outlast the competition.
• The self-contained nature of pre-engineered cleanrooms and their speed of installation means that you can use them to enter under-penetrated markets – even if they’re in resource-scarce regions – before your competitors do.
• No matter which industry you’re in, we’ll place our bets that it is evolving at a speed that isn’t always easy to keep up with. As artificial intelligence, machine learning, blockchain and other technologies become a greater part of industrial and research processes, if you want to stay ahead of the curve, you have to become adaptable to these advancements. Investing in a scalable mobile cleanroom system can give you the adaptability you need to scale up, enter new markets, add process customisations, and adopt new technologies before your competitors.
• Last but far from the least, going the prefab route is far more sustainable than traditional construction. You can avoid the noise and air pollution that accompanies traditional construction. Since pre-engineered cleanrooms are manufactured in controlled factory settings, you have flexibility in choosing sustainable construction materials. You can also incorporate energy-saving elements like LED lighting. This sets you ahead of your competitors on the ESG front. 

If you want to stay ahead of the curve in your industry, it is imperative that you adopt scalable mobile cleanrooms before your competitors do. The agility that comes with these systems will give you an edge – technologically, financially, and in terms of sustainability and speed to market. These aren’t benefits you should let go of, especially since gaining them is pretty straightforward – all you need to do is invest in truly scalable mobile cleanrooms, i.e. modular cleanrooms.