High Purity Under Pressure: Haskel’s Cleanroom Capability for Defence
In defence, the most important systems are often the ones most people never see.
They sit inside armoured vehicles, support aircraft on the ground and in the air, operate within naval systems, and play a role in space programmes where every component must perform with absolute confidence. In these environments, pressure is more than a technical requirement. It is a measure of safety, reliability and trust.
That is why Haskel’s high-pressure solutions continue to support defence organisations around the world. From nitrogen charging equipment for vehicle suspension systems and artillery recoil systems, to aircraft oxygen systems and high-pressure gas supply for ground support equipment, our technology is designed for applications where failure is not an option.
But in some defence applications, pressure is only part of the challenge. When gases must remain exceptionally pure, cleanliness matters just as much as performance.
Why cleanliness matters in high-pressure defence systems
In high-pressure gas systems, contamination control is essential. This is especially true for oxygen applications, where components must be cleaned, assembled and handled with exceptional care.
But oxygen is not the only gas where cleanliness is critical.
Across military applications, high-purity gases can only be boosted safely and reliably by equipment that has been thoroughly cleaned and controlled. This is a process where components are cleaned to an oxygen-clean standard, even when the gas being boosted is not oxygen.
One example is argon used in missile systems. In these applications, argon can be used to cool seeker heads while in flight and help support sensor performance. Any contamination in the gas path could affect the performance of sensitive equipment during operation, which is why cleanroom-cleaned gas boosters are so important.
At Haskel, high purity, high pressure manufacturing is a capability we have built, refined and led for decades.
Our dedicated cleanroom facilities support strict cleaning and assembly processes for components used in challenging defence environments. These processes help ensure that every part is safe, reliable and ready for high-pressure use before it reaches the field, flightline, vessel or test environment.
This is crucial as defence applications place extraordinary demands on equipment. A gas booster used to support aircraft oxygen systems, for example, must deliver every time when pilots and ground crews rely on it. Equipment used to charge nitrogen in vehicle suspension or artillery recoil systems must support readiness in harsh operational conditions. Naval systems, including diver systems and buoyancy control applications, must work in environments where access is limited and reliability is critical.
In every case, the goal is the same: clean, controlled, high-pressure performance that can be trusted.
Cleanroom capability built for precision
Haskel delivers advanced cleanroom capabilities to support high-purity, precision-critical applications across defence, mining, medical and industrial environments.
Our controlled environments include Class 100, Class 1,000 and Class 10,000 cleanrooms. These classifications refer to the level of airborne particulate control within the cleanroom, with lower class numbers indicating more tightly controlled environments.
In Burbank, Haskel operates two cleanrooms: a Class 100 cleanroom, equivalent to ISO 5, for oxygen precision cleaning, and a dedicated Class 1,000 cleanroom, equivalent to ISO 6, for the assembly of cleaned components. These capabilities are delivered within ISO 9001 and AS9100 certified quality systems, supporting rigorous process control for demanding customer requirements.
In Sunderland, Haskel can clean to Class 10,000, equivalent to ISO 7, providing additional controlled processing capability for high-purity applications.
Together, these cleanroom capabilities help ensure that gas boosters and related components are prepared for use in systems where contamination control, process integrity and repeatable performance are non-negotiable.
Standards that support confidence
Haskel’s cleanroom and contamination control processes are grounded in long-established defence and industry standards.
Our teams operate to some of the most stringent global requirements, including oxygen cleaning and contamination control practices based on:
- US MIL STD 1330D – a United States military standard supporting oxygen-cleaning requirements
- UK DEF STAN 68 278 – a United Kingdom Defence Standard used for cleanliness and oxygen-service processes
- IEST particulate cleanliness requirements – standards associated with particulate cleanliness control
- NAVSEA approval – approval from the Naval Sea Systems Command for oxygen-compatible component cleaning and processes
These protocols have shaped the way Haskel manufactures, cleans and certifies components for industries where safety and precision are non-negotiable. That includes semiconductor, medical, pharmaceutical, biotech and aerospace applications, as well as defence.
For Haskel, this means – and has always meant – embedding cleanliness, control and accountability into the manufacturing process itself.
Supporting defence across land, air, sea and space
Haskel systems show up in places most people never see, but their role is vital.
On land, our equipment can be used to charge nitrogen in armoured vehicle suspension systems and artillery recoil systems. These applications depend on controlled high-pressure gas to absorb force, support stability and help keep mission-critical equipment ready for use.
In the air, Haskel supports aircraft oxygen systems and high-pressure gas supply for ground support equipment. When oxygen is involved, cleanliness and contamination control become central to system safety, which is why dedicated cleanroom capability is such an important part of the wider solution.
High-purity gases beyond oxygen also play an important role in defence. From argon used in missile systems to other precision gas applications, military platforms often depend on gases that must remain clean from storage through to boosting and delivery. In these cases, oxygen-cleaned gas boosters help protect sensitive systems from contamination that could compromise performance.
At sea, our technology can support applications such as diver systems and buoyancy control, where high-pressure gas must be managed safely and reliably in demanding naval environments.
And in space sector testing and launch systems, similar high-pressure solutions are used in applications where precision, purity and repeatable performance are essential.
Across each environment, the common thread is pressure. The difference is the ability to combine high-pressure engineering with high-purity manufacturing discipline.
That is why defence organisations around the world rely on Haskel for high-pressure solutions in high-pressure situations.
Find out more about Haskel’s expertise in the Aerospace & Defense sector here, or tell us about your requirements here, or get in touch at sales@haskel.com
