Greater Manchester-based Assembly Techniques Ltd (ATL), which supplies components, fixings and fasteners to the general construction and other sectors, has invested in a two-storey facility featuring a Class ISO 8 clean-room for component washing and drying on the ground floor, adjacent to a Class ISO 7 area for processing sub-assemblies for future customers in the medical sector.

On the upper level is a white room for assembling kits that are supplied to manufacturers in the analytical, food, water and other sectors.

At the heart of the new operation is a Pro 550 six-stage ultrasonic aqueous cleaning line from Turbex (www.turbex.co.uk), which was installed in October.

It has taken over from an older aqueous washing system and will help ATL to attain ISO 13485 medical accreditation, enabling the company to supply components to the medical sector.

When auditing is complete and accreditation has been granted, the company will be able to carry out the sub-contract cleaning of pros-theses, surgical instruments and other medical items, which will be a new area of activity.

It will also be able to use the system for processing components used in the food industry.

ATL director Nigel Downing (www.assemblytechniques.com" target="_blank">(www.assemblytechniques.com) said: “All of our metallic and high-end plastic components are supplied by external contract machinists, and a large percentage of those will require degreasing and the removal of cutting-fluid residue before assembly.

"The Turbex line is so efficient that nearly all components — including non-critical parts — can be processed in the equipment, using a range of semi-automatic washing cycles.”