Interview
Q2: Can you tell us how it is going for • over the years we have built a strong
atmospheric plasma surface modification
BTU in the solar business? global support network with key engi-
for continuous processing of solar cells
neering and manufacturing capabilities
—continued from page 10
During the past year we have increased the in Asia and the USA. These strengths
pace of our transformation into a process will serve as a base from which we
Overview of Plasma Sources Suitable
equipment company that serves the emerg- will address the worldwide demand
for Dry Etching of Solar Cells”, 28th
ing high growth alternative energy industry for process equipment used in Energy
IEEE Photovoltaic Specialists Confer-
while continuing to serve our traditional generation applications.
ence, Anchorage, September 19-22,
business in electronics. Recently we created
2000.
And as mentioned previously, we are
a new Alternative Energy Business Group
1. A. Vijh, X. Yang, W. Du, X. Deng,
welcoming the opportunity to balance and
and more than doubled revenues and in-
“Film Adhesion in Triple Junction a-Si
diversify our business, thereby strengthening
creased bookings by 2.5 times in the solar
Solar Cells on Polyimide Substrates”,
our infrastructure in good times and in
segment compared to 2006. We added two
Dept. of Electrical Engineering and
bad.
new executives with strong backgrounds in
Computer Science, University of
both solar technology and business devel-
Toledo.
Q4: What is the outlook for BTU?
opment. In addition, we recently opened
a new Photovoltaics Process Center within
Looking forward, we see 2008 as an
our facilities in Shanghai, China, and are
Rory A. Wolf, with 26 years experience
exciting and challenging year. We expect
establishing a second such laboratory in
within national and international posi-
to continue to develop new products
Billerica, Massachusetts. These facilities
tions in the plastics and paper industies,
and technologies for both the electron-
will be used to develop new solar process
holds a masters in business administra-
ics and alternative energy markets. As I
capabilities and provide an environment
tion from Marquette University of
mentioned, we are aggressively expanding
where customers can process photovoltaic
Milwaukee, Wisconsin, USA. He is
our workforce and investing heavily in the
devices—both silicon and thin film-based—
currently the vice president of business
kinds of new products that will support
on BTU systems. The Shanghai Photovol-
development at Enercon Industries Cor-
our growth in the years ahead.
taics Process Center is operated with our
poration, Menomonee Falls, Wisconsin,
We believe that the course we are
partner in metallization, DEK.
USA. Rory can be contacted at rwolf@
on is the best way for us to support our
enerconmail.com.
customers’ needs—whether in electronics
Q3: Why did you choose to focus on
or alternative energy—and the best way to
alternative energy?
enhance our investors’ value. We see it as a
win-win situation.
A: Our decision to focus on alternative
solar growth provides opportunities for
energy business as a prime driver for our
electronics makers —continued from
growth was based on several key factors:
page 18
• The need for new energy—especially
renewable, clean energy—has resulted
Toyota plans to install Kyocera solar panels
in a large market demand;
on its next-generation Prius hybrid cars.
• BTU has many core technologies
Wall Street Journal published solar panel
and significant know-how that are
cost breakdown for installed $8.25-per-watt
applicable to processing devices used to
panel:
generate alternative energy; and
• $1.50 polysilicon
• 75 cents wafer
• 75 cents solar cells
• 75 cents panel assembly
• 50 cents inverter
• 75 cents racks & installation
equipment
• $1.25 for labor
• $2 installers’ overhead
Xantrex was acquired by Schneider
Electric for $15.00 per share.
Jon Custer-Topai is vice president of
Custer Consulting Group and responsible
for the corporation’s market research and
news analysis activities. Jon is a member
of the IPC and active in the Technology
Marketing Research Council. He can be
contacted at jon@custerconsulting.com.
BTU International’s integrated In-Line Diffusion System for phosphorous diffusion of solar cell wafers.
www.globalsolartechnology.com Global Solar Technology – September/October 2008 – 25
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