DEK announces metallization line for solar-cell production “in a box”
Source: EMSNow.com /March 7, 2008
http://www.emsnow.com/npps/story.cfm?pg=story&id=32150
DEK has announced a complete metallization line for solar-cell production rated at 1200 wafers per hour, saving manufacturers the time and expense of commissioning and integrating equipment from multiple suppliers. The first showing of this new line will be at BTU’s Solar Lab Grand Opening, in Shanghai, 18-19 March 2008.
DEK has developed in-house solutions to loading, buffering, inspection and wafer-flipping, integrated with dryers from its drying technology partner BTU. The PVL1200 loader, PVB1200 buffer, PVI1200 inspection station and PVF1200 buffer/flipper combine directly with three PVP1200 high-precision screen printers, also announced recently by DEK. Together, these functional units create a three-stage metallization solution capable of producing high-quality and energy-efficient solar cells. Line integration is easy and glitch-free using standard machine interfaces.
The PV1200 line provides the ideal host for DEK’s complete process solution for metallization, comprising technical support, productivity tools, fast-turnaround consumables and tooling, and precision emulsion screens produced in-house under class 10,000 cleanroom conditions.
The entire PV1200 line occupies a small footprint on the factory floor, in relation to its capacity of 1200 wafers-per hour. Capacity can also be scaled in the future, by upgrading equipment in the line or by implementing a complete extra line at competitive price.
The PVL1200 wafer loader has capacity for six magazines of 42 wafers capacity, and is calibrated to load wafers into the PVP1200 screen printer to meet the line’s rated speed of 1200 wafers per hour.
DEK is able to deliver the PV1200 line as a turnkey solution for customers wishing to expand capacity or install new manufacturing capacity to service the rapidly growing world market for solar, or photovoltaic (PV), cells.