A horizontal pre-clean (HPC) module for a chemical mechanical polishing (CMP) processing system is disclosed. The HPC module includes a chamber having a basin and a lid which collectively define a processing area. The module includes a rotatable vacuum table disposed in the processing area, the rotatable vacuum table including an array of channels defined in a supporting surface thereof. The module includes a pad conditioning station disposed proximate to the rotatable vacuum table. The module includes a pad carrier positioning arm coupled to a pad carrier assembly. The module includes an actuator coupled to the pad carrier positioning arm and configured to position the pad carrier assembly between a first position over the rotatable vacuum table and a second position over the pad conditioning station.