Your daily dose of photovoltaic technology developments and solar news

Product Briefing: With the acquisition of Tecnofimes, Roth & Rau has collaborated with the subsidiary to develop a new firing furnace, dubbed CAMiNI. The system is characterized by high efficiency at low operating costs. The initially offered model with 2 lanes (6” wafers) provides the basis for an extension, which facilitates the firing of solar cell contacts onto up to three lanes at the same time. The throughput of the CAMiNI is indicated with ≥ 6,000 wafers/h. Roth & Rau has already received its first purchase orders for the system.

Product Briefing Outline: Sensors Unlimited, part of Goodrich Corp., says that its high-resolution, shortwave infrared (SWIR) area and linescan cameras are being used to improve the manufacturing yield of photovoltaic cells. SWIR technology is well-suited to monitor the quality of solar thin films, concentrated PV, and crystalline cells, to maximize efficiency of the solar cell manufacturing process through final assembly of the completed modules.

Product Briefing Outline:  International of North America, a subsidiary of Iwasaki Electric Co. Ltd., has announced the introduction of a new bench-top solar simulation system designed for educational and small laboratory applications. The spectral compliance of the continuous output solar lamps guarantees accurate and repeatable results. Eye Lighting NA Applied Optics Group is focused on Solar Simulation and climatic testing applications.

Product Briefing Outline: DuPont Microcircuit Materials has launched ‘Solamet’ PV173 photovoltaic (PV) metallization paste, a new lead-free front side material for crystalline silicon solar cells.  With its high performance and superior environmental properties, Solamet PV173 is targeted to PV cell and module manufacturers who are seeking technologies with a significantly reduced environmental footprint.

Product Briefing Outline: Sixtron Advanced Materials has introduced a patent-pending antireflective passivation coating technology that it says will greatly reduce the light-induced degradation (LID) problem for crystalline-silicon solar cells. The company claims to have demonstrated an 88% reduction in LID on cells treated with its silane-free ‘Silexium’ coating. The Silexium films can be used with high-performance mono-crystalline boron doped p-type Cz (Czochralski) silicon solar cells without the use of silane gas.

Product Briefing Outline: Xiris Automation has released the PVCI-1500 Machine Vision Platform targeted at crystalline silicon cell and wafer inspection. Optimized for inspection of solar cells as an incoming single-pass quality check, the PVCI-1500 combines specially designed optical components with fast analysis software, ensuring precise detection and classification of physical defects arising from shipping and handling.

Product Briefing Outline: The RFS and RFS-D Fast Firing Systems and the RDS 2100 and 3000 drying ovens feature Rehm Thermal Systems Visu2 software, which drives a range of advanced process features and thermal control to enable PV manufacturers to move their processes to greater levels of efficiency and yield. Visu2 incorporates process and product traceability tools, remote diagnostics and an extensive product library within an intuitively designed interface that is claimed to dramatically accelerate set up time and reduces operator training.

Product Briefing Outline: DEK Solar and Heller Industries have unveiled the results of a recent collaboration that enhances DEK’s PV3000 metallization line. The alliance between the screen printing and thermal technology specialists has enabled a significant breakthrough in solar cell production, incorporating precise thermal control, improved VOC management and reduced power consumption, within a compact footprint.

Product Briefing Outline: Despatch Industries has introduced the ‘UltraFlex’ dryer and firing furnace with ‘Microzone’ Technology. This new tool is designed to provide next generation capabilities in performance, profile flexibility and reduced cost of ownership.

Product Briefing Outline: The Schmalz Wafer-Gripper SWG is applied in fully or partially automated production of highly sensitive wafers and solar cells with maximum process stability. A new handling concept provides minimum cycle times, precise positioning, reliable handling even of deformed and broken parts, breakage detection “on the fly” and controlled air discharge.