DEK Solar’s proven PV1200 metallization solution continues to raise the bar for customers in this fast-growing sector. Revolutionising what solar cell manufacturers can expect from their equipment, the advanced metallization line delivers a fast-track route to efficient commercial photovoltaic production.

Time-to-Market is critical in today’s fast-paced photovoltaic industry. Lead times are therefore a major concern for the commercial solar cell sector which is accustomed to equipment turnaround measured in many months. However, DEK leverages world-class lean manufacturing expertise, Kanban/JIT methodologies and global infrastructure to dramatically reduce this statistic down to just a matter of weeks. Lead times are further enhanced by the PV1200 metallization solution’s innovative platform design which enables rapid build and response to market requirements. A truly modular system, productivity can be easily enhanced through the addition of further modules – extending responsiveness even further.

Factory floorspace is also a major productivity driver for today’s solar cell manufacturers who cannot afford to compromise their production capacity with oversized equipment. DEK has also addressed this area of production, streamlining the PV1200 even further with compact equipment dimensions. Featuring a substantially reduced footprint compared to conventional metallization solutions, the PV1200 dramatically extends utilisation per square foot of factory floor space for ongoing ROI.

Commenting on the commercial advantages delivered by the PV1200 Metallization solution, DEK’s Alternative Energy Development Manager, Darren Brown, explains: “Photovoltaic manufacturers everywhere are discovering that our metallization line has overcome many of the commercial challenges facing the industry and, in these terms, represents a fast track to business success. And when they learn of our background, it soon becomes clear why we are able to deliver such pioneering advances. As a global business with revenues circa of $250m DEK (part of the Dover Group NYSE: DOV – revenue in excess of $7billion) is already well-established as a market leader in the screen printing sector for electronics assembly. This means we have the resources, expertise and global capacity to respond to the solar industry’s precise requirements, keeping our customers out in front as we do in other sectors.”

The state-of-the-art design underpinning the PV1200 solar metallization line leverages DEK’s 40 years of experience developing screen printing platform products used in the thick film, chip-scale semiconductor and surface mount electronics markets. Well-established technical advantages include 1200 cells-per-hour throughput, six sigma process rating, 12.5 micron resolution and advanced handling capabilities. The system also benefits considerably from the screen printing leader’s global network of support resources, spares hubs, applications expertise, field service technicians and Class 10,000 clean room manufacturing facilities for the precision screens critical to the metallization process. For more information, visit http://www.deksolar.com/.