Leading PV manufacturing equipment supplier Meyer Burger Technology has reported strengthening sales, orders and backlog in the first half of 2016, driven by planned capacity expansions from major PV manufacturers across wafer, cell and modules, primarily in Asia.
Integrated PV manufacturer SolarWorld has started using two module assembly subcontractors to boost capacity to meet demand in the US and Europe, according to the company’s first half 2016 financial report.
PV and electronics equipment manufacturing and automation specialist Manz AG has reported continued demand for automation system in China for solar manufacturing applications that have generated €17.5 million in first half year revenue, up 66.7% from the prior year period.
During the period 2006 to 2011, equipment spending for solar manufacturing was a really big deal for capital equipment suppliers. Companies such as GT Advanced Technologies (then GT Solar) and Applied Materials (serving thin-film and c-Si expansions alike) were clocking up billion-dollar plus backlogs.
PV and polysilicon manufacturing equipment specialist centrotherm photovoltaics has reported first half 2016 consolidated revenue of €61.9 million and an order intake for the period of €89.5 million.
High-efficiency PV module producer and project developer SunPower said it was reducing its focus in PV power plant development outside the US and focusing more resources to the distributed generation market in the US.
Taiwan-based solar cell and wafer producers are being impacted by slowing demand from China and unfolding overcapacity that has resulted in ASP declines hitting monthly revenue figures since June.
Specialist PV manufacturing equipment supplier Amtech Systems backed-up previous quarters order bookings with solar equipment sales in its third fiscal quarter of 2016, reaching US$19 million.
The largest dedicated and integrated monocrystalline product producer Longi Silicon Materials has signed a cooperation contract with China-based PV module manufacturer and EPC firm ET Solar to champion monocrystalline technology and products globally.
Leading ‘Silicon Module Super league’ (SMSL) member Trina Solar has announced that its chairman and chief executive officer, Jifan Gao has secured an investor consortium to take the company private and exit the NYSE in a US$1.1 billion transaction. The merger is currently expected to close during the first quarter of 2017.
