+ 25.08.2010 + Cost- and quality-optimized solar module production.

At this year’s European Photovoltaic Solar Energy Conference and Exhibition in Valencia, Reis Robotics presents the latest highlights for quality assurance and cost saving in fully automated production lines for solar modules. The company again demonstrates to the international market how the quality of the solar modules in existing production systems can be increased at the same time as increasing productivity. By means of electro-luminescence a system will recognize faulty cells automatically, before they are laminated. The second highlight is the fully automatic direct assembly of the j-box at the PV-module after lamination.

Since 2006 renowned manufacturers of solar modules have been trusting the reliable and innovative assembly systems from Reis Robotics worldwide. More than 85 installed systems are already producing up to 4 GW of solar power annually. For this year’s conference and exhibition in Valencia, Reis Robotics again proves their quality and cost-reduction capability.

Automatic electro-luminescence measurement of string and matrix

This internationally unique innovation measures the quality of strings before laying them into the matrix. The extended system allows the complete matrix to be assessed before the lamination process. Faulty or damaged solar cells are detected automatically with a camera and thus can be fed out straight away. Defective cells can be replaced or repaired offline and the strings inserted again immediately in the production process. The so-called electro-luminescence measurement analyzes solar cells with high resolution within a few seconds.

This new quality control introduced in a very early production stage saves further manual checking and at the same time prevents defective cells from getting into the lamination process and then rendering the module unserviceable. The new solution is attractive also because it can be retrofitted into existing lines without major effort or expense.

Automatic direct assembly of the j-box after lamination

The second highlight in Valencia is the fully automatic direct assembly of the j-box onto a photovoltaic module. With this new procedure, developed by Reis Robotics, connection and assembly is done after lamination of the strings in the module. The process gives greater safety and cost savings because some steps are omitted before lamination. These are for example: Foil punching and pulling out the cross connection ribbons. Also, no Ethylene-vinyl-acetate (EVA) escapes during lamination and contamination/soiling of the laminator membrane is prevented. Additionally, damage to the membrane due to exposed connection ribbons is avoided during lamination. Further to the fully automated and safe assembly process cost savings are to be expected: On the one hand, various manual and automatic work steps are omitted. On the other hand, the quantity of cross connection ribbon required can be reduced by approx. 10 %. Since manual pulling out of the connection ribbons is eliminated completely, a reduction in the cell breakage rate is to be expected.

Like with the new step for quality control by means of electro-luminescence measurement the automated setting and connecting of the j-box can be retrofitted in a production line any time.

Both new systems from the system supplier Reis Robotics achieve two positive benefits: Improvement of the product quality and reduction of investment costs.

Reis Robotics offer a wide range of expertise, from technology development and the development of new production methods via planning and putting into practice individual production cells up to delivery and commissioning of complete production lines. Options include manual, semi-automatic or fully automatic production lines for silicon module production, thin film, and solar heating. Eight subsidiaries in Asia, Europe and America ensure international capability to install production lines. Worldwide service capability, with competent expert knowledge guarantee optimum after sales service.

Reis Robotics on the European Photovoltaic Solar Energy Conference and Exhibition in Valencia: Hall 2, Stand L2, H 2, D11n

Reis Robotics 2010