SOLAR Industry Awards 2009
The photovoltaic market is one where growth and opportunity remains high, the last few years has seen enough investment and research impetus to ensure there is ample opportunity for companies that can demonstrate technological development towards grid parity while reducing overall cost.
The growth of the PV market has been driven by necessity as the world comes to grips with a dwindling supply of fossil based fuels to meet the growing global appetite for energy. In this highly competitive environment, which products, process and people will provide that creative ingenuity?
These awards have been created to recognise the whole value chain and those people, products and services that will develop innovative manufacturing and product approaches that have the potential to change the way we live.
DEK Solar
PVP1200 screen printing platform
The PVP1200 is a breakthrough modular screen printing platform designed to deliver the high yields and throughput rates required by the solar processing sector for high-accuracy metallization of crystalline silicon (c-Si) solar cells.
All the key features of the PVP1200 that provide its clear competitive edge come from its innovative design which allows DEK to deploy its acclaimed lean manufacturing strategy during production. This permits lead times of weeks, rather than months, allowing manufacturers to ramp up productivity fast.
The product is exceptionally compact - an increasingly critical consideration in factory floor real estate utilization for maximum ROI. This means the printing process operates at approximately waist height, offering clear visibility and fast print area access for easy maintenance. With its tiny footprint, manufacturers can have two or more PVP1200 printers occupying no more space than a single competitive system.
Fast and modular, the PVP1200 delivers throughput of 1200 solar cells per hour and maintains a six-sigma process capability at an accuracy of ±12.5 microns for maximum repeatability. Dedicated handling for thin wafers minimizes breakages during metallization to maximize yield and cost-of-ownership, while high-speed machine vision ensures perfect alignment.
The driving force of DEK’s PV1200 line; the PVP1200 is part of a complete metallization solution along with purpose-designed loader/unloader, buffering, in-line inspection and wafer flipping systems. The PV1200 is a turnkey solar cell metallization solution perfectly balanced to operate at optimal throughput and incorporating advanced process technologies to ensure maximum yield and minimum waste. Enhancing the offering even further, DEK’s proven manufacturing model positions it perfectly to work in partnership with equipment suppliers and system integrators to support further additions to the line such as drying and firing technologies.
Why this product stands out from the crowd:
- 1200 solar cells per hour throughput
- Six-sigma process capability at a resolution of ±12.5 microns
- Compact footprint increases factory floor real estate utilization and ROI
- Fast and easy scalability for changing market demands
- Innovative design offers rapid print area access for easy maintenance
- High-speed machine vision for perfect alignment accuracy
- Advanced handling technologies minimize breakages and optimize yield
- Short lead-times enable manufacturers to ramp up productivity quickly
- Modularity future-proofs production flexibility