What does sterilization actually mean?

Sterilization is the highest standard in hygiene. It involves the complete removal of all viable microorganisms – meaning:

• Bacteria
• Viruses
• Fungi
• Spores

👉 In contrast to disinfection, which only reduces a portion of germs.

Especially for instruments that are used multiple times or come into contact with skin and blood, sterilization is crucial for safety.

Why is steam sterilization so effective?

Autoclaves work with moist heat (steam) under pressure.

👉 Typical values:

• 121 °C at approx. 2 bar
• or 134 °C at approx. 3 bar

The advantage: Steam penetrates deep into materials and destroys microorganisms through denaturation of proteins

➡️ This reliably kills even resistant spores.

Autoclave Procedure

The sterilization process step by step

The process in a modern autoclave is standardized:

1. Preparation

• Clean instruments (e.g., ultrasonic bath)
• Dry
• Package in sterile bags (with indicator)

2. Vacuum phase

• Air is removed from the device
• Prevents air bubbles → important for complete sterilization

👉 especially crucial for B-class autoclaves with pre-vacuum

3. Sterilization phase

• Saturated steam flows in
• Temperature rises above 120 °C
• Holding time begins (e.g., 15–20 minutes)

4. Cooling & Drying

• Pressure is reduced
• Instruments are dried
• Remain sterile and storable when packaged

👉 Result:
➡️ Germ-free, safe instruments for the next use

Legal Information & Official Bodies

Where can you get binding information?

👉 Always check here:

Health authorities (most important body)

• Decide regionally on requirements
• Inspect studios

👉 Simply search: "Gesundheitsamt + city"

Examples:

• Stuttgart Health Authority
• Munich Health Authority
• Berlin Health Authority

Official Sources

• RKI (Robert Koch Institute)
• BfArM (Federal Institute for Drugs and Medical Devices)
• State Hygiene Ordinances

Important practical note

• Regulations are not uniform nationwide
• Are becoming stricter
• The trend is clearly towards:
  👉 Sterilization instead of just disinfection

Example of development

👉 In North Rhine-Westphalia:

• Mandatory B-class autoclaves for invasive procedures from 2025

👉 applies to:

• Foot care
• Podiatry
• Cosmetics
• Tattooing

SciCan Autoclave Comparison

Classification

Statim Series

👉 Advantage:

• Extremely fast
• Ideal for small batches
• Perfect for studios

👉 Disadvantage:

• Lower volume

Bravo Series

👉 Advantage:

• Classic autoclaves
• Larger quantities
• Versatile

👉 ideal for:

• Foot care
• Podiatry
• Larger studios

Brief Buying Guide

Which autoclave is right for you?

Small nail salon

➡️ Statim 2000 / 2000 G4

Growing studio

➡️ Statim 5000 / Bravo 17L

Foot care / Podiatry

➡️ Bravo 22L or 28L

High throughput

➡️ Bravo 28L

Conclusion

An autoclave today is:

👉 Hygiene standard
👉 Safety factor
👉 Competitive advantage

And increasingly:
👉 Mandatory or future standard

 

Manufacturer: SciCan – Quality & Innovation in Sterilization

Who is SciCan?

SciCan is an internationally established manufacturer in the field of infection control and sterilization technology. The company was founded in the 1950s in Canada and has since developed into one of the leading providers of autoclaves and hygiene solutions.

Today, SciCan products are used worldwide in medical, dental, and cosmetic facilities.

Global Experience & Specialization

SciCan specializes in solutions for:

• Instrument reprocessing
• Sterilization and disinfection
• Complete hygiene concepts for practices and studios

The devices are used in over 100 countries worldwide and are particularly established in areas such as dentistry, podiatry, and cosmetics.

Technological Innovations

SciCan is one of the companies that have significantly shaped modern sterilization.

👉 Important developments:

• STATIM cassette system
  → particularly fast sterilization cycles
• Bravo Autoclaves
  → larger capacity with pre and post vacuum
• G4 Technology
  → digital documentation & networking

The well-known STATIM system is still considered one of the fastest autoclave systems worldwide and is used in many practices for quick instrument changes.

Different Systems for Different Requirements

SciCan offers two basic autoclave concepts:

STATIM Series (Cassette Autoclave)

• Very fast cycles
• Compact
• Ideal for smaller quantities
• Perfect for studios

BRAVO Series (Chamber Autoclave)

• Larger capacity
• Pre and post vacuum
• Better penetration of packaged instruments
• Suitable for higher requirements

👉 These systems use modern vacuum technology to optimally distribute steam and ensure reliable drying.

Focus on Safety & Compliance

A central claim of SciCan is to develop devices that:

• Comply with current European standards
• Provide reproducible sterilization processes
• Enable secure documentation

👉 Especially in view of stricter hygiene regulations, this is a decisive factor for studios and practices.

Why SciCan?

👉 SciCan stands for:

• Decades of experience
• High reliability
• Innovative technology
• Globally proven systems

➡️ For you, this means:
Maximum safety, professional standards and trust from your customers