Cleanroom Carts
T-slot aluminum carts engineered for ISO Class 5 through Class 8 cleanroom environments. Non-particle-shedding anodized framing, sealed T-slot channels, wipe-down compatible surfaces, and stainless steel fasteners — designed from the material up to meet your facility's contamination control requirements and pass qualification audits.
Why Choose Modular Solutions for Cleanroom Carts?
Contamination control begins with the cart. Every material, fastener, and surface is selected to support your cleanroom's ISO classification from day one.
Designed to Your ISO Classification
ISO Class 5, 6, 7, and 8 cleanrooms have different particle count limits and cleaning protocol requirements. We design to your specific classification, selecting materials, surface finishes, and sealing approaches that meet the requirements of your class rather than applying a one-size-fits-all cleanroom cart.
Anodized Aluminum: No Paint, No Corrosion
Anodized aluminum provides a hard, integral surface that will not chip, peel, or shed particles. It resists corrosion and is compatible with IPA, hydrogen peroxide vapor, and peracetic acid — the primary cleanroom disinfectants. Steel carts with painted or powder-coated finishes fail over time in these environments; anodized aluminum does not.
Sealed T-Slot Channels Eliminate Particle Traps
Standard T-slot extrusion has open channels designed for hardware insertion. In cleanrooms, those channels accumulate and retain particles. Our cleanroom cart designs fill unused channels with continuous T-slot cover inserts, flushing the profile surface and making every external face fully wipeable.
Material Declaration Provided
Cleanroom qualification requires documentation of all materials that will be introduced to the space. We provide a material declaration listing every component, its material of construction, and its surface finish. This document supports your IQ qualification package and streamlines the change control process when the cart is introduced to the cleanroom.
Reconfigurable Without Re-Qualification Risk
T-slot aluminum framing allows shelf positions, surface heights, and accessory locations to be adjusted using standard hex keys — no welding, grinding, or painting that would introduce new contamination risks. When a design adjustment is required, a documented change can be made and verified without returning the cart to a fabrication shop.
Compatible With ESD Requirements
Semiconductor and electronics cleanrooms require both contamination control and electrostatic discharge protection. Cleanroom carts can be configured with ESD-dissipative deck surfaces, grounding paths through the frame to the casters, and wrist strap connection points — combining cleanroom and ESD requirements in a single cart design.
Key Features & Benefits
Engineered details that determine whether a cart passes cleanroom qualification or becomes a contamination source.
Hard Anodize or Clear Anodize Finish
Hard anodize (Type III) provides a surface hardness of 60–70 Rockwell C — harder than mild steel — with zero particle generation. Clear anodize (Type II) provides corrosion resistance with a slightly less dense layer. Application environment determines which grade is specified; both are fully cleanroom-compatible and far superior to any applied coating.
T-Slot Cover Inserts on All Exposed Channels
Continuous T-slot cover strips are installed in all exposed, unused T-slot channels, creating a flush, uninterrupted profile face. This eliminates the particle retention grooves that make standard T-slot profiles unsuitable for cleanroom environments. Cover strips are compatible with standard IPA and H2O2 wiping protocols.
Stainless Steel or Anodized Fastener Options
All fasteners, T-nuts, and connecting hardware on cleanroom carts are specified in either 316 stainless steel or anodized aluminum, depending on the cleanroom class. Zinc-plated or black oxide hardware is excluded. Fastener recesses are minimized through the use of button-head profiles and flush-mount hardware wherever structurally appropriate.
Low Outgassing Surface Materials
Surface materials are selected for compatibility with sensitive semiconductor and optical manufacturing processes. Anodized aluminum and polished stainless steel have extremely low outgassing rates. ESD-dissipative laminates specified for cleanroom use are selected from formulations tested for low volatile organic compound (VOC) emission.
Smooth-Radius Frame Corners
45 Series T-slot profiles are available with rounded corner profiles that eliminate sharp corners and acute crevices found on square-cornered extrusion. Rounded profiles reduce particle accumulation sites and are easier to wipe clean without catching on wiper lint. Corner selection is made based on your classification and cleaning protocol.
Caster Selection for Cleanroom Floors
Casters for cleanroom use are specified as cleanroom-grade polyurethane or ESD-dissipative polyurethane, depending on whether ESD protection is required. These caster materials are non-marking on cleanroom flooring, generate minimal particles, and are resistant to cleanroom cleaning chemicals. Stainless steel caster frames and sealed bearings are used to prevent metallic particle generation.
Common Applications
Cleanroom carts from Modular Solutions are deployed across semiconductor, pharmaceutical, medical device, and precision optics manufacturing.
- Semiconductor Wafer and Reticle Transport — ISO Class 5 and 6 compatible carts for transporting wafer carriers, reticle boxes, and process hardware within fab environments without contributing particle counts.
- Pharmaceutical Cleanroom Material Movement — Carts for active ingredient staging, in-process material transfer, and tooling transport in ISO Class 7 and 8 pharmaceutical manufacturing suites compliant with FDA 21 CFR and GMP requirements.
- Medical Device Assembly Area Transport — Non-contaminating carts for ISO Class 7 and 8 certified medical device assembly areas where foreign material exclusion and cleaning validation are required for FDA clearance.
- Biotechnology and Life Sciences — Carts for media preparation areas, filling suites, and cold storage room material handling in biotech and life sciences facilities with controlled environment requirements.
- Precision Optics and Laser Manufacturing — Low-particle carts for optical component handling, lens staging, and coated part transport in optics manufacturing cleanrooms where surface contamination causes immediate yield loss.
- Aerospace Composite and Avionics Assembly — Cleanroom-compatible carts for composite part staging and avionics component handling in aerospace assembly environments with FOD control and contamination exclusion requirements.
- MEMS and Microelectronics Fabrication — Carts for transporting substrates, carriers, and process chemicals in microelectronics manufacturing environments at ISO Class 5 and cleaner classifications.
Specifications & Configurations
Standard design ranges for cleanroom aluminum carts. All specifications are available custom to your ISO classification and facility requirements.
| Specification | Detail |
|---|---|
| Frame Profile | 45 Series T-slot aluminum; hard anodize (Type III) or clear anodize (Type II) |
| ISO Classification Range | Designed for ISO Class 5 through Class 8 (Federal Std 209E Class 100–100,000) |
| T-Slot Channel Treatment | Continuous cover inserts on all exposed, unused channels |
| Fasteners | 316 stainless steel or anodized aluminum; zinc-plated hardware excluded |
| Shelf Surface Options | Anodized aluminum sheet, polished 304 or 316 stainless steel, ESD-dissipative cleanroom laminate |
| Casters | Cleanroom-grade polyurethane or ESD-dissipative polyurethane; stainless steel frames; sealed bearings |
| Corner Profile Options | Square or rounded (30mm radius) T-slot extrusion profile available |
| Compliance Reference | ISO 14644-1, ISO 14644-2, FDA 21 CFR Part 211, EU GMP Annex 1 |
| Documentation Provided | Material declaration listing all materials, finishes, and surface treatment for IQ/OQ qualification |
| Lead Time | 4 to 6 weeks from approved drawings |
Frequently Asked Questions
Common questions about cleanroom carts from Modular Solutions.
What ISO cleanroom classifications do your carts support?
Our aluminum cleanroom carts are designed for ISO Class 5 through ISO Class 8 environments, corresponding to the legacy Federal Standard 209E classes 100 through 100,000. The specific material selection, surface finish, and fastener type are matched to the target ISO classification. We design to your stated classification requirements rather than offering a single generic product.
Why is anodized aluminum preferred over painted steel in cleanrooms?
Painted steel presents two contamination risks: paint particles that shed as the coating ages or chips, and iron oxide particulate from underlying steel corrosion. Anodized aluminum eliminates both. The anodize layer is an integral part of the aluminum surface, not a coating. It cannot chip or peel, does not harbor biological growth, and is fully compatible with IPA, hydrogen peroxide, and other cleanroom cleaning agents.
How are T-slot channels addressed in cleanroom cart designs?
Open T-slot channels are a particle trap in standard extrusion designs. For cleanroom applications, unused T-slot channels are filled with continuous T-slot cover inserts that flush the channel to the profile face. This eliminates particle retention sites and makes the profile exterior fully wipeable. Only channels needed for attachment points remain open, and those use sealed fastener configurations.
Can cleanroom carts be used in pharmaceutical GMP environments?
Yes. Cleanroom carts designed with FDA 21 CFR-compatible materials, smooth wipe-down surfaces, and stainless steel fasteners are appropriate for pharmaceutical GMP manufacturing environments. We provide material declarations to support your IQ/OQ/PQ qualification documentation if required.
What surface options are available for cleanroom cart shelves?
Shelf surface options include anodized aluminum sheet, polished 304 stainless steel sheet, and ESD-dissipative cleanroom-grade laminate for semiconductor and electronics applications. All surfaces are selected for low particle generation, chemical resistance to cleanroom cleaning agents, and compatibility with wiping protocols.
Need a Cart Qualified for Your Cleanroom?
Share your ISO classification, cleaning protocol, and any qualification documentation requirements. Our engineering team will design a cart that meets your contamination control requirements and supports your facility qualification process.
Modular Solutions — 4280 Giddings Rd, Auburn Hills, MI 48326