Blaubeuren, September 24, 2013 – centrotherm will present a new modular design of its c.FIRE fast firing furnace at EU PVSEC, one of the most important international photovoltaic trade fairs for researchers and specialists. Solar cell manufacturers can optimally configure c.FIRE for their specific process and production requirements through selecting various option packages. With throughput of more than 4,300 wafers, excellent temperature homogeneity and process stability, c.FIRE achieves record figures compared with competitors’ products. With this centrotherm fast firing furnace, customers have access to a product that allows them to achieve maximum efficiencies while at the same time being able to use standard market as well as newly-developed metallization pastes.
With its low pressure tube furnace for diffusion, centrotherm is presenting a further product highlight that significantly expands process parameter scope. The low-pressure diffusion process that centrotherm has developed achieves outstanding homogeneity at emitter resistances of up to 150 Ω/square, thereby enabling the efficiency potentials of conventional, and especially new, metallization pastes to be exploited (emitter resistance > 100 Ω/square). European and Asian customers are already deploying this centrotherm technology in several production lines with a total capacity of more than 1.2 gigawatts.
“With our unique process know-how derived from more than 50 successfully installed turnkey production lines and more than 2,000 individual systems to produce highly efficient solar cells, centrotherm is equipped for future developments. Our international team of technologists and integration experts will continue to ensure that existing technologies and solar cell line concepts continue to be optimized in the future.
Our centaurus technology (optimized PERC) already achieves average cell efficiencies of 19.8% and peak results of 20.3% not only in the laboratory, but also in mass production with an installed and tested production capacity of more than 500 MW,” notes Dr. Josef Haase, Head of Sales and Technology.
centrotherm booth information:
EU PVSEC, October 1-3, 2013
Parc des Expositions Paris Nord Villepinte
Hall 2, D6
About centrotherm photovoltaics AG
centrotherm has been developing and realizing innovative thermal solutions for over 50 years. As a leading and globally operating technology group, we offer production solutions for the photovoltaic, semiconductor and microelectronic industries.
The continuous further development of our successful solutions in thermal processing and coating, such as for manufacturing crystalline solar cells and power semiconductors, form the basis for our successful partnerships with industry, research and development.
Our customers worldwide appreciate our production systems’ process stability, scalability and availability in mass production. Above and beyond this, our work is distinguished by the fact that we create high-end process technology solutions which are specific for our customers and tailored to their requirements, and the fact that we are outstanding in system building.
We jointly confront the daily challenges of setting new trends, maximizing the efficiency of producing, for example, solar cells and semiconductors, and, coupled with our long machine durations, of securing investments.
In this way, we generate valuable competitive advantages for our customers through targeted innovations to processes and production solutions.
Our around 900 staff worldwide are committed to the further development of high-tech solutions for key markets.
centrotherm photovoltaics AG
Johannes-Schmid-Strasse 8
89143 Blaubeuren
Internet: www.centrotherm.de
