SOLARIS — Large Order for Oerlikon Systems
A leading European crystalline solar cell manufacturer places for the
first time a large order for multiple SOLARIS systems. The SOLARIS,
which offers various advantages with its revolutionary coating
technology was introduced to the market just a few weeks ago. The
customer will use the SOLARIS from Oerlikon Systems to significantly
increase their production capacity in North America. The system is set
for delivery during the coming year. “Our original strategy of offering
a compact, cost-effective platform with single wafer handling is proving
to be a very popular solution with Photovoltaic (PV) manufacturer,” says
Andreas Dill, Head of Oerlikon Systems.
So far the core competence of Oerlikon Systems was mainly on
Semiconductor and Coating Technologies. After the realignment, the focus
is now diversifying into the promising nanotechnology applications. With
this significant order for SOLARIS the Business Unit has made an
important inroad into the PV crystalline cell manufacturing industry.
Oerlikon has with this success established itself as pivotal in the PV
industry as a technology and equipment manufacturer: with Oerlikon Solar
for the Thin-Film technology and with Oerlikon Systems for the
crystalline technology. “Both processes complement one another with
their respective fields of application. For the Oerlikon Group the
advantage and benefit is to be represented in both growth markets with
its leading technology,” says Thomas Babacan, Chief Operating Officer at
Oerlikon.
Low ‘cost of ownership’
SOLARIS was designed for front and backside coating of crystalline
silicon solar cells using clean PVD sputtering technology. Its
multi-layer capability allows passivation and SiN coating on the front
side as well as coating of the backside with various materials. Its very
small footprint (3.3 x 2.2 m) and easy integration into existing
production lines give SOLARIS a remarkably low ‘cost of ownership’.
“For this client, the SOLARIS production solution provides a big step
toward cost-effective production of solar cells. Ultimately, it will
help PV technology — and the industry — achieve grid parity,” explains
Andreas Dill, Head of Oerlikon Systems.
Counting on innovation
The SOLARIS order was preceded by thorough evaluation tests, where the
system’s flexibility and reliably high output compared favorably with
industry standard SiN coating solutions. “In going from concept to fully
functional systems in only 24 months, our development and assembly teams
drew from the innovative talent across the Oerlikon Group to get the new
SOLARIS system to market quickly,” adds Oerlikon COO Thomas Babacan. The
current success in the PV market is only the start for SOLARIS. In fact,
the Oerlikon development teams are finalizing further mass-production
solutions for touch screen panels, thermoelectric devices, and
generators or thin film batteries (for the newest energy storage
solutions).
Oerlikon — Enabling High TechnologyOerlikon (SIX:OERL) is one of the world’s leading international
high-tech industrial groups specializing in machine and plant
engineering. The company is a leader in the field of industrial
solutions and innovative technologies for textile manufacture, thin-film
solar and thin-film coating, drive, precision and vacuum systems. With
roots in Switzerland and a long tradition stretching back 100 years,
Oerlikon is a global player with a workforce of more than 16000 at 158
locations in 37 different countries. The company’s sales amounted to CHF
4.8 billion in 2008 and it ranks either first or second in the
respective global market.