engineering the solar age - Suppliers for Photovoltaics

Company profile

Komax Solar is a global supplier of state-of-the-art photovoltaic module assembly equipment for both crystalline and thin-film technologies. We have developed a full line of equipment for crystalline module manufacturing, from string assembly through to lamination and testing. Additionally we offer custom automation solutions for thin-film and other module assembly technologies.

About us

With sales and service personnel in 50 countries and manufacturing sites in North America, Europe and Asia, we offer a truly global footprint.

Industry needs – technical challenges

As an equipment and solutions provider, the rapid growth of the solar industry and the pace of changes in technology have presented many challenges to Komax Solar. Two to three years ago, a main technological focus was on reducing the amount and cost of silicon in a module by reducing cell thickness. Although these efforts are still ongoing, the race for efficiency improvements at cell and module level is driving manufacturers and suppliers to develop new materials and processes. The variety of cells, solder pastes, ribbon, flux and other materials, as well as the increasing number of suppliers of these materials, requires the improvement and adaptation of process equipment.

Komax Solar maintains a focus on all areas from solar cell interconnection to lamination technology for module assembly, including in-process test technology. Additional challenges being addressed in new equipment offerings include material tracking and traceability, MES system data communication capability, machine runtime enhancement and process yield/breakage rate improvement.

Capacity, yield and cost of ownership

Capacity, yield and cost of ownership are now the key industry benchmarks for comparing process equipment. The industry’s success, as measured by cost per Watt, and therefore our customers’ success, is directly linked to these key performance parameters. To provide superior value to our customers, Komax Solar has developed several families of new process equipment, including:

• Xcell family of tabber/stringers with 0.3% or less breakage rate
• Xcell 3400+, up to 600 cells/hour capacity
• Xcell X2, up to 1200 cells/hour capacity
• Xcell 3000 back contact, up to 1000 cells/hour capacity
• glass layup systems with in-process string inspection
• laminators
• XLam multi-level, induction heating
• XLam single level, heated oil
• electroluminescence testers with automatic defect detection software and optional IV curve measurement
• string testing integrated at layup
• matrix/module testing (pre and post lamination)
• integrated turnkey lines

Critical processes in these machines have been enhanced to increase reliability, uptime and yields while lowering breakage rates and accommodating thinner cells.

Technical features and benefits

Komax Solar remains committed to constantly improving current products as well as developing new equipment for an evolving industry. The goal is simple: provide the best value. Our key to success is in maintaining core expertise in the critical processes and continuously developing innovative solutions. The user benefits are:

• cell interconnect process equipment with closed loop control induction soldering technology
• high throughput
• gentle cell/string handling for high yield/low breakage
• full line of critical process equipment
• stand-alone or system-integrated machines
• equipment flexibility to handle multiple product sizes and types
• low energy consumption
• compact system design to minimize floor space requirements
• innovative solutions for new cell and module technologies
• SCADA and MES capable
• custom automation solutions available for crystalline and thin-film applications
• global sales and support network

We continue to focus on developing best-in-class process equipment so that Komax Solar is your choice for individual process tools and full turnkey line equipment.