VENDORVIEW
Product “Stacking system”
Automation in the photovoltaic module production process is meeting new challenges as the industry increases production whilst companies ensure they remain
competitive. According to Jürgen Weiss, Commercial Director at GEROLD,
focussing on target-oriented automation can provide many of the solutions the industry is seeking.
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automation specialist. The company manufactures robotics and automation solutions for production lines. A key area for the company is self-contained, modular production cells for photovoltaic module production.
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Figure 1: Integrated stacker for the infeed of cSi module
The prices for solar products are spiralling downward all over the world. Experts report about overcapacities and high competitive pressure, which will probably even exacerbate the downward pressure on future prices. Since increasing prices will not be the way out of this situation, a rational approach is imperative now rather than waiting for the problems that will arise. For the photovoltaic industry, this means analyzing the total value chain
EROLD is based in Nettetal, Germany and is a globally active
and questioning and re-assessing every single production step.
In the past many production environments were not automated due to limited budgets. These environments have grown in structural terms along with the corresponding needs. The past partial automation solutions that have been effective will no longer keep up with growing production needs. Challenges facing the industry include shorter cycle times, higher availability of the system and consistent quality assurance that can only be met with specifically designed automation concepts.
Using the stacking / destacking of solar modules or single panels within the production process as an example, GEROLD provides an interesting solution leading the way to the required cost reduction.
Infeed and outfeed tasks
At many points in the solar process chain, not only units for the infeed of glass panels into and the outfeed of finished modules out of the production process, but also outfeed options for partly finished photovoltaic modules must be integrated. They may be NIO (not in order) modules which need to be re- worked or test and ramp-up modules for development or production. In addition, outfeed by specific parameters, like layer material and sorting of devices may be important subtasks.
www.solar-pv-management.com Issue III 2010
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