DEK, the global mass imaging and assembly process specialist, has announced a new strategic business focus in the Solar Energy market and detailed some compelling initiatives for photovoltaic (PV) cell manufacture.
The directive brings solar cell processing into the mainstream at DEK, where it will sit alongside the firm’s other core activities in the semiconductor packaging and the electronics Surface Mount Technology (SMT) assembly sectors – where DEK enjoys a dominant market share in many regions of the globe.
DEK was at the forefront of solar cell manufacture in the late 1970’s, delivering systems to customers in India, Taiwan and China. The company’s thick film expertise was later transferred to DEK Japan, where equipment development and process refinement has continued. “We’ve never been out of the solar business,” explains John Knowles, Chairman of DEK. “DEK Japan maintained the continuity, and with renewed impetus in the solar energy sector we have stepped up a gear by investing in development resources, bringing photovoltaic back into DEK’s mainstream portfolio. This allows us to continue to deliver innovative solutions worldwide”.
DEK has developed a new range of highly modular PV cell manufacturing solutions to accommodate the demanding needs of the industry going forward. Based on the company’s multi-award-winning SMT platform philosophy, the systems offer exceptional accuracy, dramatically faster processing speeds and a much smaller footprint, while intrinsic modularity allows throughput scalability without requiring customers to source additional lines.
The company will leverage its comprehensive global logistics and applications support infrastructure to deliver a significant competitive advantage, along with its lean manufacturing procedures to slash equipment delivery lead times. “The industry accepts lead times of six months or more,” says Knowles. “We will mirror the book-to-ship timeframes of our SMT platforms, which is measured in weeks. For standard systems, it’s not unusual for DEK to ship in the same month as the order is placed.”
Knowles concludes, “The PV sector is growing rapidly and needs progressive manufacturing solutions. It’s a business we understand and know. Our global infrastructure, the small machine footprint, inherent scalability and fast delivery times make a highly competitive and compelling customer offer.”
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