Hot Spots Betray Bad Cells
Thermal Imaging Cameras for Solar Panel Inspection
To ensure that the solar panels they deliver perform well, Solartechnik Stiens uses a thermal imaging camera from Flir to look for flaws. The principle is straightforward: As solar cells turn sunlight into electricity they also produce heat. Ineffective cells produce much more heat than effective cells and will therefore show up clearly as a hot spot on a thermal image. more...
Electronic Pressure Switch
Flush Diaphragm for Critical Media
For industrial processes with “critical” media, Wika has expanded its range of electronic pressure switches by introducing the PSD-31 with flush diaphragm. The device is particularly suited for applications involving abrasive, aggressive, adhesive, crystalline, and viscous media. more...
Automatic Identification Assures Greater Reliability
Traceability for Control
Photovoltaic manufacturers place high demands on the traceability of their solar modules. Intelligent identification systems ensure reliable detection of the product ID or batch number. They reduce the risk of manufacturing defects while at the same time meeting the demand of maximum possible production reliability. more...
Optical Inspection Equipment
Defect Detection
Numerous hardware and software improvements have been introduced in GP Solar’s latest Inspect Chrome product line for inline measurement. A development in camera optics enables optimized defect detection by spectral analysis of wafers, cells, and modules. more...
Digital Capacitance Manometers
Exact Pressure Measurement in Thin-Film Applications
The CMC and XacTorr Series digital capacitance manometers from Brooks Instrument are used in vacuum applications in thin-film processes. The devices are featuring improved measurement reliability, minimized drift. more...
Identification Technology I
Protecting against Copying and Imitation
In photovoltaics especially, brand manufacturers have their products undergo very sophisticated, time-intensive and expensive tests with regard to materials and safety and have them finally certification. more...
Quality Assurance in Solar Cell Production
Optical Inspection: Quality is an Absolute Must
Maximimizing production line throughput while maintaining a consistently high quality level will help to assure a company‘s competitiveness in the solar cell manufacturing industry. Optical inspection systems play a decisive role in reaching this goal. more...
RFID chip Integration into the Laminate
Tracking and Tracing by RFID
RFID technology comes in the form of a small chip (RFID tag) which can be read by an RFID scanner. Future KPV modules will be fitted with an RFID chip, which is integrated into the laminate and therefore cannot be removed. more...
Simulator
Organic Solar Cell Simulation
Version 3.2 of Setfos Software comes with a number of improvements and new features: more...
Inspection System
Standard Systems and Customized Solutions
With their high-resolution camera technology, Vinspecsolar systems reliably recognize defects including microcracks, inclusions, holes, corner and edge breakage, as well as grid line interruptions, paste marks, and color deviation flaws. more...
Universal PC-Based Control Platform
Control System that Steers All Process Steps
Beckhoff offers a universal, consistent, and high-performance PC-based control platform, with optimisation potential for the entire process of photovoltaic production: from production of the wafer to that of the cell and the module. more...
Inspection System
Reliable Detection of Microcracks
Reliable µcrack-detection is most important in wafer, cell, and module production. The Antares system is a tool for automatic inline detection of cracks in wafers and cells. more...
Printing and Optical Inspection Solution for existing lines
Double Benefits – Less Silver, Higher Efficiency
Double Print is a new printing method which increases cell efficiency and reduces the amount of expensive silver paste used on the front side of solar cells. more...
Wide Range of Vision and Robotic Applications Software
Accurate, Real-Time, 3D Position Information
Cognex offers the addition of 3D vision in the new release of Visionpro. The software delivers accurate, real-time, three-dimensional position information to automate challenging assembly verification, logistics, and robot applications. more...
Simultaneous determination of mineral acids, fluoride, and silicate in etching baths
Dual Detection by Ion Chromatography
The ion chromatographic method presented here is used for the simultaneous determination of HF, HNO3, H2SO4, short-chain organic acids, and H2SiF6 in acidic texturing baths that are used in the wet chemical etching process of solar cell production. more...
Wafer Handling
With Contact-free Eccentricity Detection
The Taiko Ring Remover TRR200/300 permits fully automated removal of laser-cut rings from laminated 200 mm (8″) and 300 mm (12″) wafers. more...
Reference System
Checks on Performance
Efforts to improve the performance and characteristics of solar cells through the development of new types, such as tandem solar cells, necessitate evaluation of each product under standard test conditions. more...
Microscope
Effortless Microscopy of Large Samples
The microscope module Axio Imager Vario is applicable in particular for tasks in industry where large samples such as solar cells, wafers, flat panel screens or printed circuit boards have to be examined under the microscope using contrasting methods. The sample space of the microscope has been adapted to object sizes with up to 300 mm lateral and up to 250 mm vertical extension. more...
Laminator
Multi Daylight Dazzles
Willard & Kelsey Solar Group has begun high-volume production of Cadmium Telluride (CdTe) solar panels at its plant in Perrysburg, Ohio using the Ypsator Multi Daylight Laminator. more...
Ironless linear Motors
Dynamic Positioning of Small Masses
The new ironless linear motors in Rexroth’s MCL product line position small masses with precision and high synchronisation. These motors are dynamic and easy to integrate into machines. more...
Inverter
With Integrated System Monitoring
The single-phase Fronius IG TL 4.6 inverter is a transformerless device that feeds power into the grid with a maximum output of 4.6 kW, as required by the forthcoming German Low Voltage Directive. more...