GPM becomes first Taiwan maker of crystalline solar cell process equipment
by Nuying Huang, Taipei; Adam Hwang
Source; DIGITIMES, 17 September 2008
http://www.digitimes.com/bits_chips/a20080916PD214.html
Gallant Precision Machining (GPM), a producer of semiconductor, TFT-LCD and electronic component manufacturing equipment, at a September 16 press conference, debuted a set of automatic manufacturing equipment for producing crystalline silicon solar cells, becoming the first Taiwan-based maker of such equipment, according to company CEO Nick Yeh.
GPM started production of single-purpose machines used in the manufacturing processes of crystalline solar cells at the end of 2007 and has sold seven machines, Yeh noted. Now GPM has integrated these single-purpose machines into an automatic system spanning the entire manufacturing process, Yeh pointed out.
As Taiwan-based component makers currently account for only 5% of the typical production value of crystalline solar cells adopted by Taiwan-based makers, GPM’s offering is a remarkable achievement favorable to Taiwan’s solar cell makers, Yeh emphasized. This is because GPM’s automatic equipment is about 20% less expensive than comparable systems offered by international suppliers, Yeh pointed out. In addition, the time taken by GPM from receiving an order to shipment is three to six months, whereas international suppliers usually need 10-12 months mainly because many solar cell makers around the world, including those in China, are expanding capacities, Yeh indicated.
GPM estimates revenues of NT$400 million (US$12.5 million) on sales of solar cell manufacturing equipment in 2008 and expects revenues to exceed NT$2.5 billion in 2009, Yeh said. GPM plans to market its solar cell manufacturing equipment globally in competition with international suppliers, Yeh indicated. In addition to crystalline solar cells, GPM plans to produce manufacturing equipment of amorphous Si (a-Si) and CIGS (copper-indium-gallium-selenide) thin-film solar cells, Yeh pointed out.