Product Briefing Outline: Festo has introduced a Bernoulli Gripper for transporting delicate work pieces such as solar cells and wafers. The most particular benefit of the gripper is the minimized air consumption which reduces the energy costs. Other essential aspects are little swinging power, high grip force, low-pressure applications and a constant area load.
Product Briefing Outline: Camstar Systems has released ‘Camstar Enterprise Platform’ Version 4.5 for general availability. Enhancements in version 4.5 - driven in collaboration with leading manufacturers using the Platform - include expanded enterprise-caliber capabilities for global enterprises with multiple manufacturing locations and outsourced operations. Version 4.5 augments the Platform’s configurability and usability to allow users to quickly adopt the solution with minimal training – even where complex manufacturing and quality processes span discrete, batch and hybrid operations.
Product Briefing Outline: The Schmid Group has launched a new Tabber Stringer created in cooperation with the Wolf company. The system is designed to offer high precision performance combined with minimum handling and a soldering method that is claimed to reduce the risk of cell damage during processing and handling.
Product Briefing Outline: SunPower has introduced the next generation of its T20 Tracker, which it claims is the most powerful solar tracker on the market today, incorporating SunPower's high-efficiency 128-cell, 400-watt solar panels for maximum energy output.
Product Briefing Outline: Kaneka has introduced a newly developed ‘Hybrid’ PV module to the US market. The Hybrid PV module uses tandem junction cells, employing a microcrystalline thin-film silicon layer and the thin-film amorphous silicon layer. The new module is said to achieve a maximum 42% higher energy conversion efficiency than Kaneka's conventional thin-film amorphous silicon PV module. The nominal power of the Hybrid PV module is 110Wp.
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.
The German government met at the Environment Ministry in Berlin on January 13 to discuss cuts to the state-mandated solar incentives, including the feed-in tariff rate. These cuts have been anticipated for this year due to a steeper overall slide in costs. The FiT has been falling by about 8% per year before dropping 10% in 2010.
Product Briefing Outline: Xandex Solar, the solar products and services division of Xandex is launching the ‘SunMizer’ DC power optimizer for photovoltaic panels. SunMizer is a new DC power optimizer that increases solar energy harvest by recovering power that is lost when shade falls on a solar panel.
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.
Product Briefing Outline: ACC Silicones, the European manufacturer of specialist silicone elastomers, launches its new PV range of products. These adhesives and encapsulants are compatible with most materials commonly used in the assembly of PV modules and concentrator (CPV) cells.
