Heilbronn, July 2025. Engineers with expertise in technical cleanliness are in high demand in the business world. This is because parts must be cleaned in virtually every manufacturing process—from cars and cutlery to medical implants and microchips. In a manufacturing chain, contaminants resulting from the manufacturing processes must be professionally removed so that the component is sufficiently clean for the subsequent manufacturing steps—for example, before coating, painting, hardening, or welding. Component cleanliness is therefore an important quality characteristic, and the cleaning process is a quality-critical step within the production chain. Even microscopically small contaminants can hinder the process and result in immense costs.
Feedback from the business community: Until now, the topic has not been sufficiently integrated into the curricula of engineering programs. At Heilbronn University (HHN), however, the professionals in demand have been receiving targeted training for over a year now in the elective course “Technical Cleanliness” within the Environmental and Process Engineering program. Professor Katja Mannschreck heads the course and the laboratory. The course consists of a lecture component and a laboratory component. In the laboratory component, students independently apply what they have learned in the lectures to a specified component. They design a cleaning process, conduct cleaning tests, and analyze the baths and components using appropriate analytical methods.
The Association for Industrial Parts Cleaning (FiT) is also pleased that this topic has been incorporated into the HHN curriculum, both in theory and in practice. The FiT wishes to support the HHN’s commitment and is now a sponsor of the Laboratory for Technical Cleanliness at the HHN, which will be renamed the “FiT Laboratory for Technical Cleanliness” starting in the 2025–26 winter semester. Professor Oliver Lenzen, President of the HHN, as well as Rainer Straub, Vice Chair, and Nicolas Herdin, Executive Director of the FiT, were present at the ceremonial signing of the agreement.
FiT serves as the interface between research, development, and application in the field of parts cleaning. Through continuing education, partnerships, and public relations efforts, as well as collaboration with government agencies and companies, the association aims to raise awareness of the topic and contribute to improving quality in production processes. “We, as the Association for Industrial Parts Cleaning, are very pleased about this collaboration with Heilbronn University. To date, there has been no specific degree program dedicated to parts cleaning, which encompasses various aspects of chemistry and the environment, processes and plant engineering, as well as measurement and testing methods. However, qualification, knowledge transfer, and employee training are essential for consistently ensuring quality in production processes. In this regard, the university plays a key role with its ‘FiT Laboratory for Technical Cleanliness,’ says Rainer Straub.”
Katja Mannschreck, who holds a Ph.D. in chemistry and is a professor of physical chemistry and instrumental analysis at HHN, has been collaborating with FiT for a long time. Once a year, she leads FiT’s highly regarded introductory seminar for corporate representatives from all over Germany. The seminar has been held at HHN since 2023. In the future, it will take place in the new “FiT Laboratory for Technical Cleanliness.”
Mannschreck also serves on the FiT’s expert committee on “Process Solutions for Industrial Parts Cleaning,” contributing her expertise to current discussions. “The support from the FiT is a great honor for us and is a huge source of motivation for me and my lab team. With the FiT by our side, we can further expand our practice-oriented teaching,” says Katja Mannschreck.
