3,600 cells per hour with an assured good part yield of 97.3% and a guaranteed operational availability of 95% make the TS 3600 from Schiller Automation currently the highest-performance and most reliable cell tester and sorter of its type. Manufacturers of solar cells using this innovative tester and sorter will demonstrably increase their productivity and reduce the total cost of ownership (TCO). The TS 3600 will enable an annual output of 100 MW to be achieved on just one line for the first time.
The prototype of the innovative tester and sorter proved very popular back at the European Photovoltaic Solar Energy Conference (EU PVSEC) and Exhibition in September 2009 in Hamburg. Following further field testing and optimisation of details, this development by the handling and automation specialist from SW Germany has reached the series production stage, and the first orders have already been received. The high cell throughput, reliability, quality of results and lower costs per tested cell will increase the efficiency of production lines and permit more dependable planning. The machine will have paid for itself in less than five years.
The line consists essentially of feed, tester and sorter modules. The innovative soft-handling concept and the high precision of the measurement systems used ensure the consistently high performance features, even in long-term daily use. The central conveyor system in the tester unit is based on a continuous conveyor chain. Once the cells are in position, they pass through all the test stations in a fixed, flat configuration. This means the transfer processes, which are otherwise a normal feature of such machines and are critical for the cells, have been largely dispensed with. The performance measurements are carried out by means of a system of guided contacts applying minimum force, guaranteeing optimum measurement results. The outcome is an above-average good part yield and low breakage rates. The compact unit’s flexibility makes it compatible with any solar cell production line, and it can operate in both batch and inline modes.
About Schiller Automation GmbH & Co. KG:
Schiller Automation was established in 1978 and has since developed into a leading supplier of automation and system solutions, with operations worldwide. Its focal areas are integrated production and handling systems for the complete automation of production systems for the manufacture of thin-film solar cells, the production of crystalline solar cells and of complex microelectronics products and assemblies.
With the expertise that it has acquired over the years and a reliable eye for the feasible, Schiller Automation attaches great importance to an integrated approach to each task: The company accompanies clients from the idea, project planning, selection of efficient technologies and process equipment to the constructional design, production and industry-compatible solution. Its headquarters are in Sonnenbühl on the Swabian Alb; service subsidiaries are located in Bitterfeld-Wolfen (Saxony-Anhalt) and Suzhou (China).