Heraeus opens solar PV materials tech service facilities in Germany, China

Heraeus' newly created photovoltaic materials business unit recently opened technical service labs and production facilities in Hanau, Germany, and Shanghai, China, joining the company's original facility in West Conshohocken, PA. The company says the new facilities will provide expanded global service and production support for PV manufacturers using the company's silver pastes for crystalline-silicon solar cell metallization applications.

The tech service and production facilities provide PV cell fabricators with regional testing and process optimization capabilities to maximize the performance of their cells, according to Heraeus. The materials company's PV product portfolio includes specially designed frontside pastes that feature higher efficiencies and greater aspect ratios as well as lead-free backside busbar silver pastes that offer industry-leading adhesion and coverage.

Andy London, PV business unit manager, believes the three strategically located tech service labs offer quicker response time to technical questions and enable cell manufacturers to collaborate on custom formulations that take advantage of the customers' unique wafer design and process.

"With more than 40 years of experience in precious metal pastes, Heraeus can work with customers to try new ideas and materials in our regional tech service labs," he said. "We have the testing and production equipment and engineering support to duplicate a customer's process, allowing Heraeus to be an extension of the manufacturer's technical team. As a result, we can develop a customized solution to meet the exact requirements of each PV cell fabricator."

London says the company plans to add a fourth tech services facility, located in Taiwan.