Tokyo Electron Limited (TEL) and ONYONE Inc. announced today their joint development of a groundbreaking cleanroom suit that combines comfort with outstanding dust-proof functionality.

TEL teamed up with ONYONE, a company with extensive experience in creating sportswear for professional athletes, for the joint development of cleanroom suits, an essential item for semiconductor manufacturing. The two companies collaborated to create the first type of cleanroom suit that offers both comfort and excellent dust-proof functionality, thanks to the combination of ONYONE’s cutting-edge sportswear technologies, and TEL’s know-how related to cleanroom operations.

The new cleanroom suit was created for use in ISO Class 6 cleanrooms. The focus was on improving cleanroom suits for the manufacturing of semiconductor production equipment, where a major burden is placed on workers because of their need for physical movement. The companies reevaluated the fabrics used for cleanroom suits and adopted designs and sewing technologies to enhance comfort. The result is a cleanroom suit that places less stress on workers by limiting temperature increases and humidity within the suit, eliminating the pressurized feeling for the user, and making it easier to put on or remove. This improvement in comfort enhances work efficiency while also reducing environmental impact (e.g., carbon dioxide emissions) by allowing cleanroom temperature settings to be raised by 2°C in the summer.

In the future, the two companies plan to develop permeable inner wear that minimizes both static electricity and the generation of dust from friction, as well as cleanroom safety shoes that will reduce worker fatigue.

During the three-day SEMICON Japan 2009 trade show, held at the Makuhari Messe, International convention complex December 2- December 4, TEL will display the new cleanroom suit, along with other products that enhance cleanroom workers’ comfort while reducing overall environmental impact.

* ISO Class designates a clean room’s level of cleanliness.

About ONYONE
ONYONE is a sportswear manufacturer that develops, manufactures, and sells a wide range of athletic apparel––from heavy clothing for skiing, snowboarding, and other outdoor activities to light clothing such as baseball undergarments and cycling or surfing wear. The company also offers apparel for a variety of everyday situations, featuring the same comfort and ease of movement provided by its sportswear. ONYONE products, in addition to being a favorite choice among Olympic and professional athletes, are also utilized in general work-related fields.
For more information on ONYONE visit its website: www.onyone.co.jp/english/index.html