Date: 31 August 2009
The company will also demonstrate its complete range of solutions for the PV market. Included in its portfolio are Bekaert’s sputter hardware innovations: Compact End Block and Bekaert Axial Magnetron; plus the company’s sputter targets – AZO, High Purity Si, ITO, Mo, TiOx/Nb, and Al pure. The conference is taking place at the Congress Center and International Fair in Hamburg, Germany from September 21-25. Bekaert can be found at booth B2G/42.
Rotatable commitment to PV industry
Bekaert is a pioneer in the PV sector and has been instrumental in helping planar sputter technology move towards rotatable magnetron technology. The latter has enabled PV cell manufacturers to comply with an ever-growing list of demands, such as high-volume production and better cell performance, while at the same time reducing the cost of ownership.
Thin-film solar cells consist of an absorbing semiconductor and two thin-film electrodes (a transparent conductive oxide (TCO) layer and a back reflector metal contact), which can be deposited by PVD sputtering. The passivation and anti-reflective layer on crystalline silicon solar cells can equally be deposited by PVD sputtering. And this is where Bekaert comes in. The company has a wide range of sputter module solutions, consisting of rotatable magnetrons and cylindrical targets, power supplies, gas distribution and control systems. These can be introduced in new coater designs, or as a retrofit solution to replace existing planar cathodes.
The main advantage of rotatable magnetron technology is the lower cost of ownership: greater material inventory, higher utilization grade, better cooling and higher process stability. On top of that, the Bekaert magnetrons are renowned for their solid, robust design and are backed up by worldwide, local and efficient support and years of relevant experience. The Compact End Block (CEB) is ideal for medium-power applications in new or existing coaters. The Bekaert Axial Magnetron (BAM), on the other hand, occupies no space inside the coater and is the ideal solution for new coating lines.
Presenting rotating cylindrical magnetron concept
The successful introduction of rotatable technology in the PV industry is underlined by the availability of high-quality cylindrical sputter targets and high-end modular sputter hardware. To help PVSEC visitors understand Bekaert’s latest innovations, the company will be setting up a visual presentation at the show. On September 21, 2009, Wilmert De Bosscher, Process and Application Manager, Bekaert, will be at the Poster Area to introduce the rotating cylindrical magnetron concept in the PV solar cell market. He will use graphics to illustrate the many benefits Bekaert rotatable sputter solutions provide to PV cell manufacturers that want to reduce their cost per Watt peak.
Bekaert’s production process enhancements at European PVSEC
The European PVSEC is widely recognized as the world’s largest business-to-business and business-to-science event for the specialized PV solar sector. More than 780 exhibitors have already signed up to the event, and more than 1,000 presentations are expected.
Koen Staelens, Product Market Manager at Bekaert, considers PVSEC an ideal backdrop for Bekaert to showcase its solutions: "This event always challenges exhibitors and visitors to go the extra mile. We’re confident that our new target material establishes new standards, in terms of both technological performance and in delivering value in the production process. We can also provide our customers with appropriate sputter hardware for introducing the new Bekaert targets, while at the same time ensuring a reliable operation and offering accurate process control."
Bekaert contact details
For more information, please contact Mr. Koen Staelens, Product Market Manager Bekaert, at:
+32 (0)9 381 61 61, e-mail: koen.staelens@bekaert.com
Visit the website at http://bac.bekaert.com
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