Show Report: Solar 2008
measurement system. The stylus maps the Komax showcased an impressive cell accommodate cells up to 8’ wide and 100’
topography, surface roughness, depth and interconnection tabber and stringer system. long at a belt rate of 3’ per minute.
height. Veeco also have a non-contact ver- The system fluxes the cells on the top and Overall, the number of thin-film solu-
sion called the Wyko, which uses white light bottom and applies a preheat before using tions continued to rise, giving many the
interferometry. inductive soldering to connect the alumi- impression that thin film could eventually
Dr Schenk was another measurement num ribbon to the cells. A unique feature is represent as much as 50% of the market
company offering a standalone thickness the ribbon handling system that can control within the next three to five years. Certainly
tester and an electrical insulation tester. the leading and trailing edges of the ribbon, the number of new and competing technolo-
3M are well established in the solar
enabling more accurate placement of the gies continue to evolve at a blistering rate.
manufacturing field, and they presented a
ribbon. The system has a production rate of There will be winners and losers, but Global
wide range of high precision optics, films,
500-600 cells per hour. Solar Technology will report on the majority
tapes, adhesives, encapsulation and back BTU introduced their new range of
of these manufacturing solutions as the
sheets. Meridian diffusion furnaces. The in-line
industry wrestles to identify the mainstream
Dubuit introduced their Dubuit 238
system has top- and bottom-side coating and manufacturing technologies that will deter-
printer to the US market for the first time.
offers precise temperature and atmospheric mine its future.
The printer has a 2-second cycle time and an
control for manufacturing polycrystalline
accuracy of ± 25 µm. The system is touch-
and thin-film cells. The Meridian range can Trevor Galbraith.
screen controlled and can accommodate
any inspection camera at the pre-print and
post-print stages.
EKRA Asys also demonstrated the new
turntable style printer that was launched in
Valencia. The EKRA Asys printer has the
smallest footprint in the industry and also
boasts a 2-second cycle time. It comes com-
plete with pre- and post-print inspection.
www.globalsolartechnology.com Global Solar Technology – November/December 2008 – 29
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