Application Case Studies

ESD Conversion of Metal Water Bottles

Reducing overlooked ESD risk from personal metal items carried into controlled electronics environments.

ESD conversion of metal water bottles for controlled electronics production areas

Personal metal items—especially water bottles—are common inside electronics facilities. They are frequently placed on benches, moved between areas, and handled repeatedly. Even with good flooring and bench control, these items can introduce uncontrolled static behaviour near sensitive devices.

1) The problem

  • Metal bottles are high-contact items carried through multiple zones.
  • They are often placed on work surfaces or near test stations.
  • Risk is behavioural—hard to trace, hard to audit, easy to overlook.
  • Banning bottles creates workflow issues and poor compliance.

2) The substrate

Stainless steel and aluminium bottles often have smooth or powder-coated finishes. Their shapes are cylindrical with caps and grips, making them frequently handled and repeatedly placed on surfaces.

3) Why replacement is not viable

  • These are personal items—replacement programmes are difficult to enforce.
  • Fully “ESD-safe” consumer alternatives are limited and inconsistent.
  • Policy-only controls often fail in real operations.

4) The ProShieldESD conversion approach

  • Convert external surfaces to controlled ESD behaviour suitable for EPAs.
  • Maintain usability and cleaning practicality.
  • Support maintenance: touch-up can be performed without discarding the item.

The conversion approach is designed to reduce uncontrolled behaviour without changing the bottle’s function.

5) Performance outcome

  • Reduced risk from an everyday item present in almost every facility.
  • More predictable behaviour when bottles are placed near sensitive devices.
  • Improved practical compliance versus bans and policing.
  • Serviceable solution—repairable finish helps control lifecycle cost.

6) Standards alignment

This case study supports facility ESD control programmes by addressing overlooked personal items used within EPAs. Verification can align to site practices consistent with IEC 61340 and ANSI/ESD S20.20 requirements.

  • Metal bottles are common, high-touch, and frequently placed near sensitive work areas.
  • Policy controls alone are hard to enforce—conversion improves real compliance.
  • Predictable surface behaviour reduces hidden ESD risk.
  • Serviceability and touch-up reduce long-term cost.