In Part One of Valutek's blog on product classifications we covered NanoTek, MicroTek, and MacroTek – Valutek's three-tier system for aligning cleanroom consumables with cleanliness requirements and process sensitivity.
This classification system provides a foundation for selecting compatible gloves, wipers, apparel, and accessories based on recommended cleanroom class and process. But we didn't want the system to stop there.
To make product identification and selection even easier, Valutek is introducing a new, standardized product naming convention that works hand-in-hand with the NanoTek, MicroTek, and MacroTek framework and enhances naming beyond just part numbers.
Cleanroom consumables are often identified by long part numbers or legacy product names that require experience – or a technical spec sheet – to fully interpret. While technical data will always remain critical, many users want a faster way to confirm whether a product is appropriate for their environment before diving into detailed research and specifications.
Valutek's new naming convention is designed to:
Reduce confusion during product selection
Improve consistency across product categories
Make it easier to identify recommended cleanroom use at a glance
Support faster communication between cleanroom users and those supporting them
Importantly, no Valutek part numbers, materials, specifications, test methods, or product performance are changing. This update is purely about clarity and ease of use.
Each Valutek product name now follows a consistent, logical structure built directly on the NanoTek, MicroTek, and MacroTek classifications.
The naming format includes four key elements:
1. Product Classification: NanoTek, MicroTek, or MacroTek
This identifies the material's overall cleanliness level and intended application. The classification serves as a recommendation, recognizing that each cleanroom environment has unique processes, risks, and specifications.
2. Product Type Identifier
G = Gloves
W = Wipers
PW = Pre-Saturated Wipers
A = Apparel
Additional identifiers are used for accessories and specialty products
3. Recommended ISO Cleanroom Level
A single number indicating the cleanroom environment where the product is most commonly used:
3 = ISO Class 3 (Class 1–10)
5 = ISO Class 5 (Class 100)
7 = ISO Class 7 (Class 10,000)
4. Descriptive Product Name
A plain-language description of the product's material and key characteristics.
A product name might read: NanoTek G3 Free Nitrile 12
At a glance, this tells you:
NanoTek – Designed for the most critical cleanroom environments
G – Glove
3 – Recommended for ISO Class 3 applications
Free Nitrile 12 – Pigment-free nitrile and a 12-inch cuff
Without even looking at a data sheet, a user can quickly confirm whether the product generally aligns with their cleanroom class and general application.
| Element | Example | What It Tells You |
|---|---|---|
| Product Classification | NanoTek | Overall cleanliness and application sensitivity |
| Product Type | G | G = Glove, W = Wiper, A = Apparel |
| ISO Level | 3 | The recommended ISO classification |
| Description | Free Nitrile 12 | Material type (e.g., pigment-free nitrile) and key characteristic (e.g., 12-inch cuff) |
One of the biggest advantages of Valutek’s new naming structure is consistency across consumable categories.
For example, an ISO Class 5 cleanroom can more easily build a cohesive consumable program by selecting:
MicroTek G5 gloves
MicroTek W5 wipers
MicroTek A5 apparel
This helps reduce the risk of mixing consumables with mismatched cleanliness levels and supports more consistent contamination control throughout a cleanroom facility.
Valutek’s new naming convention doesn’t replace technical data – it complements it.
Part numbers, specifications, test results, and validation data remain available and unchanged. What’s new is an added layer of clarity that helps users, buyers, and product qualifiers quickly narrow down the right product before evaluating finer details such as technical properties, packaging configuration, or cost.
Over time, the naming convention becomes a shared language that simplifies product comparisons and qualifications between the material manufacturer, stocking distributor, and product user.
By combining existing NanoTek, MicroTek, and MacroTek classifications with a clear, standardized naming structure at the product level, Valutek is making cleanroom consumable selection more intuitive, more consistent, and more accessible – without sacrificing performance or compliance.
With Valutek’s new naming convention, users can focus less on decoding product names and more on selecting consumables that support process, yield, and contamination control goals.
From Matched Sets to Maximum Cleanliness: Gloves and Wipers in Focus
Product Selection Recommended Practices | Technical Paper Series