📝 PROJECT VISION

📍WHAT IS CIDETEC?

CIDETEC is an applied research organisation that integrates three technology centres of international reference in Energy Storage, Surface Engineering and Nanomedicine.
In this case, we have worked with CIDETEC Energy Storage, which is the sector of the organisation that deals with research and development in advanced battery technologies. They have been designing, developing and testing the batteries of the future for 25 years. Its headquarters are currently located in the Science and Technology Park of Gipuzkoa, in Donostia-San Sebastian. Although they are constructing a new building in Zubieta, where we have been awarded the new ultra-secure rooms that are going to be built.
 

🔍 PURPOSE OF THE PROJECT, WHAT IS TO BE DONE, WHY IS IT "SPECIAL"? 

Five ultra-dry rooms (-50ºDP) with a total surface area of 450 m² will be built. These types of rooms are used in the manufacture of lithium batteries. It is important that the humidity level is kept to a minimum so as not to damage the products.
In this case the process requires a minimum level of humidity in the environment, although it is not necessary that the room is classified, i.e. that the level of particles is controlled. To ensure room conditions, a total flow rate of 124,200 m³ is foreseen.
 

💲IS THIS A GREAT OPPORTUNITY FOR VALTRIA?

This award is very important to continue Valtria's leadership in ultra dry room installations and to expand our reference portfolio.
This type of hall has enormous potential, as the manufacture of electric vehicles requires the construction of ultra-dry halls that enable the production of the necessary lithium batteries to be boosted. At the European level, the construction of several giga-factories for the production of these batteries is planned.

🗓️ CURRENT ARRANGEMENTS

🖌️ As an initial stage, a great deal of detailed engineering and BIM (Building Information Modelling) modelling work is required. To do this, we will need the help of the Barcelona Engineering Department.
The work will be managed by staff from the Bilbao Delegation. Although we will have the support of Enric Juera as Project Manager. Koldo Oyagüez will be the Production Manager, while Iñaki de Miguel will be the Site Manager.
 

🔬 INNOVATIVE TECHNOLOGIES

☢️ We have selected state-of-the-art air handling equipment that achieves the level of dehumidification to meet the specific needs of this application; energy efficient, smaller equipment with higher performance, high efficiency EC fans, thermal bridge breakage in the construction structure, high level of airtightness with reliable, efficient and resistant enclosure, with excellent performance thanks to the technology applied to the rotor.

🛠️ Highly airtight welded duct installation with welded flange joints, which minimises air leakage and humidity infiltration in the rooms to a minimum, with the consequent energy savings in the air drying equipment.

🚫Enclosure with maximum watertightness, based on tongue and groove joints, with 4 sealing points per joint. The sealing elements are non-water based, which means that they are not sensitive to the ULTRA-DRY conditions, which we will have inside the rooms. Highly watertight doors with a static seal at the entrance of each room are planned to be installed. [...]

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📝 PROJECT VISION

📍WHAT IS NEIKER?
NEIKER is the Basque Institute for Agricultural Research and Development, with different fields of action such as forestry, plant, environmental and animal research, the latter being the one we have focused on for this project. The project to be carried out is a new BioSafety Level 3 laboratory of just over 800 m², one of the largest in the country.

🔍 PURPOSE OF THE PROJECT, WHAT IS TO BE DONE, WHY IS IT "SPECIAL"? 
It is a project that has taken 30 months from the first commercial visit to the awarding of the contract and an endless number of revisions that a lot of colleagues have stoically carried out, changing plans and continuously quoting them, preparing all the tender documentation, etc., without whose effort it would not have gone ahead.

💲IS THIS A GREAT OPPORTUNITY FOR VALTRIA?
The project includes 4 major work areas, large animals, small animals, necropsies and laboratories.
It is a project of great interest to Valtria because it will demonstrate our capacity to undertake critical and complicated projects that will be a national and international benchmark.

​🗓️ CURRENT ARRANGEMENTS

✒️ From the signature of the contract we have 12 months for the following activities: Detailed engineering, demolition of the existing facilities, extension of the building and construction of the new BSL3 laboratory, a huge amount of work that will require a great effort from our colleagues in Bilbao and almost certainly we will need as from the beginning of this project a lot of help from the rest of Valtria's colleagues in order to meet a demanding deadline and our level of quality and customer service.

The bulk of the project will be carried out by Santiago Helguera, supported by Koldo, Adrián and many others without whom it will be very difficult to carry it out.

🔬  INNOVATIVE TECHNOLOGIES

📈 In this project we helped the client with proposals to improve the energy efficiency of a biosafety laboratory, a disruptive concept with the historical design of this type of facility, but which the new biosafety regulations seek to follow the global movement towards energy efficiency. For this, following the UNE 171400 standard, we have designed a recirculated system in all areas, always maintaining a supply of outside air to achieve good air quality.

⚡The client will also remodel their heating and cooling production by relying on geothermal energy, which will also be a challenge to prepare our installation to work in conjunction with their new system.  We ensure that there are high levels of filtration installed in series in the design, which allows us to ensure the safety of the installation as well as cross-contamination between samples.
 

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📝 INTRODUCTION

👉  This article shows the assembly and connection of two fluidised beds located in the Kairos Phase II plant of the Grünenthal Laboratory located at 📍 Av. Quilín 5273, Peñalolén in Santiago de Chile.

💊 The Kairos Phase II plant consists of approximately 2000 m², within which is the Fractionation area containing Granulation Rooms 1 and 2 where the two ARIA 1500 and 600 Fluidized Bed Equipment are installed, respectively.

📸 Photograph of installed Aria 1500

​🗓️ OVERVIEW

✔️ Each of the Aria 1500 and 600 machines is part of Grünenthal’s medicine production process.

🔷 The additional equipment, for which the supply and installation of hydraulic and treated air networks to connect each fluidised bed was contemplated, is shown below:
 

Hydrowash:

• WIP water pipeline installations
• Steam and condensate pipeline installations
• Installation of pipeline for PW tank connection
• Electrical installations

Aria 1500 and 600 UTA (Unit of Thermal Activation)

• Stainless steel ductwork installations for air-conditioned conveyance
• Cold water pipeline installations
• Steam and condensate pipeline installations
• Electrical installations
   

APPLICABLE REGULATIONS

✨ All the regulations in force for industrial installations.

• ISO 14644, European GMPs, NEBB, Heating, Ventilation, and Air Conditioning (HVAC) Installation Regulations, RD 842/2002,  CE marking, Occupational health and safety (OHS) regulations, ASME IX Regulation.

📝  SCOPE

🛠️ The project consisted of the supply and mechanical, electrical and pneumatic installation of the different services described in the previous paragraph.

📸 Rotomix 600 located in Granulation Room 2
 

🏆 VALTRIA TEAMWORK

📈 This project was a real challenge for the production area in the assembly of fluidised beds for a young delegation like that of Santiago de Chile (which did not have experience in assembling a project of this magnitude). 

⌛This order was awarded while we were still assembling the pharma panelling and HVAC for phase 2. It presented itself as a professional challenge for the production area, with many hours of study, design, modelling, supervision, TIG welding under ASME IX standards, radiographs of welds, tightness tests, and borescope inspections, among others. One of the biggest challenges of this installation was the simultaneous assembly of both equipment.

👣 The Valtria team, full of enthusiasm and commitment, started walking until we reached where we are at this moment, about to make something that initially seemed impossible a reality.

💯 Currently, both fluid bed teams December 2023 (High Sear, Rotomix, and ARIA for 1500 and 600), are delivered and in operation by the client.

🏅 Obviously, none of this would have been possible without the commitment and involvement of the entire team that worked on this project and of course with the dedication of the site managers to achieve the challenge that we had as an objective, which was no small task,  since we did not have previous experience in assembling these equipments. Sincerely, I want to thank Dangelo Nuñez and Jose Miguel Orellana for this achievement that we have achieved with the best quality standards and with customer satisfaction, as our goal is to meet the needs of our customers.

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💙 VALTRIA in BLUE

Have you noticed anything different on our website? 
That's right! We've made some changes that we want to share with all of you.

🔵 We've undergone a makeover on our website. We've switched from YELLOW to BLUE!
 

✔️ This update is part of our integration into the Clauger group. The blue symbolises our next chapter together, maintaining our identity and continuing the Valtria image for all delegations worldwide.
 

👀 This change is not only a visual sign of our unity, but also a step forward into an exciting future full of opportunities and challenges.
 

🔜 Stay tuned for future updates as we continue to grow and improve together as a team!

🌸✨  CELEBRATING INTERNATIONAL WOMEN'S DAY!  💫💜

🌟💪 On this Women'sDay, we raise our voices to highlight the talent, strength, and immense contribution that women make in all areas of society.

👩‍🔬 It is a moment to recognize the progress made in the fight for gender equality and reaffirm our commitment to continue working towards a more equitable and just future for everyone. Every achievement, every advancement, and every victory bring us a little closer to that ideal of equality and justice.

📅 Today, more than ever, let's promote an inclusive environment where we celebrate diversity. We listen to and value all voices!

🤝 On this International Women's Day, let's make a promise: to turn every day into an opportunity to recognize, support, and empower women.

THE KEYS IN THE DESIGN, CONSTRUCTION, AND HVAC OF CLEANROOMS IN THE COSMETICS INDUSTRY UNDER CURRENT REGULATIONS

Author: 

• MIGUEL RUIZ, GMP Consultor.

Any cosmetic product we use on a daily basis, such as soaps, makeup, perfumes, creams, or toothpaste, goes through a long and careful manufacturing process to ensure a result of quality, safety, and hygiene when it reaches the hands of users. The cosmetic industry is one of the sectors with the highest annual growth in our country. Everything surrounding this industrial area, from the facilities where these products are manufactured to their handling, packaging, storage, and transportation, must undergo strict control that is subject to different regulations applied in our country. 

This includes the ISO 22716 cosmetic regulation that governs the phases involved in the manufacturing of these products, such as quality control tests, packaging, storage, distribution, and the GMP (Good Manufacturing Practices) regulations or Good Practices for the Use of Cosmetic Products. Both are regulated by European Regulation No. 1223/2009, which was implemented in Spanish legislation through Royal Decree 85/2018. [...]

WHAT DOES THE GMP REGULATION SAY ABOUT CLEAN ROOMS IN THE COSMETIC INDUSTRY? 

Cosmetic legislation is managed by the Spanish Agency of Medicines and Medical Devices (AEMPS). Its objective is to maintain and facilitate optimal safety and quality conditions for the product because it understands that its final use can directly affect people's health. This includes a list of requirements that clean rooms, the places where the manufacturing of cosmetic industry products takes place, must comply with. These requirements range from design projects, architecture, filtration, and air conditioning to impeccable cleanliness of both personnel and all materials. 

MAIN KEYS IN THE DESIGN AND INSTALLATION OF THESE AREAS FOLLOWING THE GMP STANDARD:
 

• Design: separate areas must be built to avoid cross-contamination in production, storage, quality control, and other complementary activities.
• Architecture: the floors, ceilings, windows, and walls must be made of resistant and easily cleanable materials.
• HVAC System: The air conditioning and ventilation of clean rooms are crucial for the proper manufacturing process. [...]
   

MAIN PRODUCTION AREAS

• Warehouses
• Sampling and Weighing
• Manufacturing
• Primary and Secondary Packaging  [...]
   

> READ FULL ARTICLE

💬 WHO ARE YOU?

🙌  Hello from Kista, we are the team of ¡VALTRIA SWEDEN! 
📸 Our team consists of 5 colleagues (from left to right): Johan Bergdahl, Catinka Ullmann, Pasi Grönberg, Ann Wallin. Please find Karoly Gér on the next page.

✔️ The first to establish the team was Johan, who, after a year of working as a freelancer, joined Valtria Sweden in October 2023. On the same day, Karoly Gér joined him. Catinka Ullmann, Ann Wallin, and Pasi Grönberg joined in January 2024, and all of them used to work together at Ventilator Renrum.

🔵 We all have extensive experience in the cleanroom business in Sweden.
🤝We successfully closed a deal with one of our competitors to take over their cleanroom contractual business area by August 2023:

And to complete the team, here is Karoly Ger. He didn't make it to the group photo!   💫 ALL OF US ARE: VALTRIA SWEDEN TEAM!

🌍 ¿WHEN AND WHERE WAS YOUR DELEGATION CREATED?

🏢 We have our office in Kista, 20 minutes north Stockholm city. This facility hosts +30 different companies and has a gym, restaurant and many conference rooms. 

📱 It was in the past Ericsson head office and the global Swedish company Ericsson has still many employees in different places around Kista.
 

👤 WHERE AND WITH WHICH CLIENTS DO YOU WORK?

💊 Our main focus is Life Science, the pharmaceutical sector, but the personal reference list shows we did in the past also projects by microelectronics and other high-tech companies.

🌐 The main market is concentrated around the larger cities of Stockholm, Göteborg and Malmö but also Umeå up in the north. 

🚗 The distance from the north to the south Sweden is quite long, 1600 km but not so wide, approx. 450 km. So, travel from a customer in the north to another in the south is not done shortly!

📰  CAN YOU TELL US ABOUT ANY INTERESTING NEWS FROM YOUR DELEGATION OR A LOCAL EVENT IN RECENT MONTHS?

✔️ The annual “Tema Renrum” was held in Stockholm in November 2023 and this is the largest cleanroom event in the Nordic countries. It was a successful event and both Catinka and Javier from Litek had speeches with more than 150 attendees.

💫 YOUR AMBITION FOR THE NEW YEAR 2024!

1️⃣ As this is our first year with a real and high skilled organization, our ambitions are to deliver high quality projects that satisfy our customers and owners. 
🏆 We should also be known as one of the top 3 on the market, with the strategy to become #1, in the business we love to serve!

WHY DID YOU DECIDE TO JOIN VALTRIA?
I found the offer for my position very attractive, working with other countries and being involved in different projects and financial activities.

WHAT DO YOU LIKE ABOUT VALTRIA?
I like that it is a dynamic company with many opportunities to grow in the market, an excellent working environment and the services it offers.

AND OUTSIDE VALTRIA, WHAT ACTIVITIES DO YOU ENJOY IN YOUR FREE TIME?
Playing guitar, composing music, sports (boxing, football, gym), outdoor activities (beach and mountain), writing and drawing.

A WORD THAT DEFINES YOU:
Resolute

WHY DID YOU DECIDE TO JOIN VALTRIA?
I decided to join because of the company's extensive experience in the field and its good BIM development in projects, and with this, I could grow professionally.

WHAT DO YOU LIKE ABOUT VALTRIA?
I like the working atmosphere, that you work as a group, that you can help other areas, to be able to have a well-developed work, towards the same goal.

AND OUTSIDE VALTRIA, WHAT ACTIVITIES DO YOU ENJOY IN YOUR FREE TIME?
I like training, whether it's going to the gym or playing a game of football with friends. I can also go for a walk and visit places to see their architecture.

A WORD THAT DEFINES YOU:
Proactive

WHY DID YOU DECIDE TO JOIN VALTRIA?
I decided to join Valtria because I´ve always wanted to work in an international company.

WHAT DO YOU LIKE ABOUT VALTRIA?
At Valtria, the fantastic aspect is internationality and the support among country departments when needed.

AND OUTSIDE VALTRIA, WHAT ACTIVITIES DO YOU ENJOY IN YOUR FREE TIME?
I am very family-oriented, and I spend most of my free time with my spouse, children, dogs and close friends.

A WORD THAT DEFINES YOU:
Determined

WHY DID YOU DECIDE TO JOIN VALTRIA?
I have found it to be a company with a promising future and an exciting challenge to pursue my professional career.

WHAT DO YOU LIKE ABOUT VALTRIA?
There is a very pleasant and professional working atmosphere.

AND OUTSIDE VALTRIA, WHAT ACTIVITIES DO YOU ENJOY IN YOUR FREE TIME?
II enjoy playing racket sports (tennis, paddle, frontenis...) and visiting mountain sites in winter and beach sites in summer.

A WORD THAT DEFINES YOU:
Extroverted

WHY DID YOU DECIDE TO JOIN VALTRIA?
Working more than 20 years in the cleanroom business, started as export manager for Luwa FT in Switzerland, and afterwards as self-employed until Esa Högel asked me to join Valtria and set up a Swedish entity 2022.

WHAT DO YOU LIKE ABOUT VALTRIA?
Entrepreneurial and successful company where the founders work actively in the daily operations, global company with core business clean room, top notch competence.

AND OUTSIDE VALTRIA, WHAT ACTIVITIES DO YOU ENJOY IN YOUR FREE TIME?
Spend time with friends and family, support my wife with a farm hotel during summer season, skiing in the alp’s wintertime.

A WORD THAT DEFINES YOU:
Curious, patient, eager, business minded, diplomat character

WHY DID YOU DECIDE TO JOIN VALTRIA?
Because I consider it to be a serious company that consistently leads in the market and I feel that my skills, knowledge and values fit very well in this organisation.

WHAT DO YOU LIKE ABOUT VALTRIA?
I like the organisational culture that they foster, I have also been attracted by how they develop the processes in different areas of the company, I have seen the company's projects and it is the type of projects that motivate me and in which I can have the greatest impact.

AND OUTSIDE VALTRIA, WHAT ACTIVITIES DO YOU ENJOY IN YOUR FREE TIME?
I like spending time with my family and playing football.

A WORD THAT DEFINES YOU:
Responsible.

WHY DID YOU DECIDE TO JOIN VALTRIA?
For the fantastique colleagues for and for the opportunity to be part of the Valtria Sweden journey!

WHAT DO YOU LIKE ABOUT VALTRIA?
Nice people and a company dedicated to clean room business.

AND OUTSIDE VALTRIA, WHAT ACTIVITIES DO YOU ENJOY IN YOUR FREE TIME?
We have an old boat that unfortunately needs constant fixing but when everything is ready it is lovely to spend warm summer days on the boat. Now I am just waiting for the warm weather and the ice to melt.

A WORD THAT DEFINES YOU:
Reliable

WHY DID YOU DECIDE TO JOIN VALTRIA?
It seemed like a good opportunity to continue to grow and stay connected to the cleanroom world.

WHAT DO YOU LIKE ABOUT VALTRIA?
The great connection between colleagues, both within a branch and with other branches.
In addition, there is a strong focus on lifelong learning, which I think is a very positive thing.

AND OUTSIDE VALTRIA, WHAT ACTIVITIES DO YOU ENJOY IN YOUR FREE TIME?
Spending time with family/friends, suffering with Athletic Club and Boxing.

A WORD THAT DEFINES YOU:
Bizilagun (a Basque word meaning someone who dwells in the same household or environment)

WHY DID YOU DECIDE TO JOIN VALTRIA?
I joined Litek because I am currently studying dual training at the Barakaldo Vocational Training Institute and both the institute and the company itself gave me the opportunity to join. 

WHAT DO YOU LIKE ABOUT VALTRIA?
What I like the most about this company is the working atmosphere as I personally feel that everyone has a very good relationship with each other.

AND OUTSIDE VALTRIA, WHAT ACTIVITIES DO YOU ENJOY IN YOUR FREE TIME?
I constantly like to do things both at work and especially outside of work, for example I do a lot of sport (athletics) and I also like to enjoy my free time always doing something and not standing still.

A WORD THAT DEFINES YOU:
Active person 

WHY DID YOU DECIDE TO JOIN VALTRIA?
I wanted to continue working in cleanroom,which I have been doing for the past 10years and which I enjoy.

WHAT DO YOU LIKE ABOUT VALTRIA?
What I think is best with Valtria is that is a Large company but is like a small one with fast decision making processes and a family atmosphere.

AND OUTSIDE VALTRIA, WHAT ACTIVITIES DO YOU ENJOY IN YOUR FREE TIME?
The best thing there is to spend time with family and to travel abroad.

A WORD THAT DEFINES YOU:
Loyal,solution-oriented,committed,and very happy.

WHY DID YOU DECIDE TO JOIN VALTRIA?
I decided to join, first of all, because it was a challenge for me as I was changing both my sector and my professional field. Secondly, getting involved in more international projects related to CERN was an extra motivation for me. Also, I appreciated the connection I had with the Valtria staff I contacted. So, it was a combination of factors.

WHAT DO YOU LIKE ABOUT VALTRIA?
I like the closeness to all employees and the company philosophy. Also, the facilities and different opportunities that exist within Valtria.

AND OUTSIDE VALTRIA, WHAT ACTIVITIES DO YOU ENJOY IN YOUR FREE TIME?
I love the sea, reading, travelling and sports, but especially Basketball.  

A WORD THAT DEFINES YOU: 
Resilient

where I am, and being in the industry as I was, Valtria was talked about as one of the most important companies in the cleanroom industry. Once inside, I have confirmed that there is a good working atmosphere, great professionals, and a strong sense of camaraderie, not to mention the wonderful kitchen/dining area we have, where there is always something to snack on.
 

AND OUTSIDE VALTRIA, WHAT ACTIVITIES DO YOU ENJOY IN YOUR FREE TIME?

I would say that what I like most is to enjoy trips out of the city, both with family and friends, whether it's to the mountains, to visit small towns, to the beach, etc. I try to get away a lot and prepare my holidays that way.  

I love sport in general, but especially football and basketball. I have played football and basketball for many years, although nowadays, due to the many injuries I have had, I haven't played for some years. Now I go jogging from time to time, go swimming or just walk in the forest.

I enjoy playing with my daughters and doing activities with them, helping them with homework or studying.

I also like music a lot, from classical music to rock and punk-rock.

A WORD THAT DEFINES YOU:
Haha, complicated, ...I'd say "sociable"

WHY DID YOU DECIDE TO JOIN VALTRIA?
I was looking to specialise in the air-conditioning sector and clean rooms have always attracted my attention.

WHAT DO YOU LIKE ABOUT VALTRIA?
Its values and the humanity with which it treats its employees.

AND OUTSIDE VALTRIA, WHAT ACTIVITIES DO YOU ENJOY IN YOUR FREE TIME?
I like running, tennis and cinema.

A WORD THAT DEFINES YOU:
Honesty