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Product Briefing Outline: Robert Bürkle GmbH has launched the ‘e.a.sy-Lam’ a starter model for the solar module production. The machine capacity starts with 5MWp and can be ramped to 20MWp. Companies often start production with a single-opening variant. After a successful production start and with increasing orders, they adapt their capacities with another single-opening laminator and then migrate to high-throughput systems such as the multi-opening Ypsator system.

Problem: Scaling module production requires laminator technology that retains the inherent reliability and quality attributes of low volume systems when shifting to high-volume production. However, it is also important for module manufacturers to be able to utilize the same basic tools for both crystalline and thin film module lamination.

Solution:  The ‘e.a.sy-Lam’ laminator has many of the technical attributes of the high-throughput multi-opening Ypsator system. The machines not only have visual, but also technological aspects in common: both lines can, for example, laminate crystalline, but also thin film modules. The individual solar modules are constantly tempered which reduces the glass breakage. This effect is accomplished due to the modules and the heating platens not touching each other during transport and evacuation. A homogenous temperature distribution is reached by the heating of the heating platens with thermal oil that ensures an optimal process guiding. Controlled cooling of modules under pressure prevents the module from warping while shortening process times. In order to avoid standstill times, the membrane can be rapidly exchanged through easy access.

Applications: The platform can be customized for both crystalline and thin film modules

Platform: Now two laboratory machines with a standard useful area of 1,0 x 1,7 m and 1,4 x 2,2 m and production machines with two variants having a useful area of 2,1 x 3,5 and 2,3 x 4,4 m are available.

Availability: Currently available.