PVA TePla, Arnold Group, Schmid to expand PV wafer processing partnership, establish tech center

German solar production equipment companies PVA TePla, the Arnold Group, and Schmid say they will intensify their partnership in the field of wafer manufacturing, in order to achieve technological and cost leadership positions in crystalline silicon PV wafer processing.

The companies believe that the increasing cost pressure on wafer producers and substantial changes in the process technology require comprehensive and cooperative work. As a result, consequent utilisation of all synergies and an integrative, process-overlapping outlook with regard to conceptual innovations is a prerequisite for achieving the cost reduction in wafer production which future markets demand, according to the partners.

The companies plan to establish a joint technology center in Germany, with a start date scheduled for the beginning of 2010. The center will not only offer the manufacturers the opportunity of demonstrating their latest processes to customers and carrying out training courses but will also enable them to evaluate developments under real production conditions.

The location of the tech center will be determined In the next few weeks, and an announcement will be forthcoming about other possible partners joining the new consortium, the companies said. 

Newsletter

Preview Latest Subscribe
We won't share your details - promise!

Publications

  • Photovoltaics International 16th Edition

    Photovoltaics International 16th Edition

    This sixteenth edition of Photovoltaics International marks four years of production of the quarterly journal. As always, our focus is on efficiency and quality improvement and cost reduction in manufacturing. As 2012 rolls along, companies are falling by the wayside due to supply and demand issues, ASP declines and drastic governmental subsidy cuts. A clear picture of 2012 is offered through papers from the likes of TÜV Rheinland, Fraunhofer ISE, SEMI PV Group and EPIA, amongst others.

  • Photovoltaics International Lite, Volume 05 - 2011

    Photovoltaics International Lite, Volume 05 - 2011

    This digital interactive Lite sees Tom Cheyney follow Agua Caliente’s progress on becoming one of first truly utility-scale PV power farms, where 40–50MW (AC) will be commissioned by the end of the year. We also feature one of the world’s largest silicon thin-film PV power plants, Avenal; a report on warnings of the collapse of module prices from Solarbuzz and PI-Berlin presents tips on PV module testing. A print version of this edition will be distributed at Solar Power International 2011 in Dallas, Texas.

  • Manufacturing The Solar Future: The 2012 Production Annual

    Manufacturing The Solar Future: The 2012 Production Annual

    Manufacturing the Solar Future 2012, the second in the Photovoltaics International PV Production Annual series, delivers the next installment of in-depth technical manufacturing information on PV production processes.

Partners

Acknowledgements

Solar Media