Rofin-Sinar, Manz in thin-film solar alliance

Plymouth, Mich.-based Rofin-Sinar Technologies (Nasdaq: RSTI) announced today that it's entered into a strategic alliance with Hamburg, Germany's Manz Automation to develop new manufacturing equipment for thin-film solar production.

The two companies plan to combine laser edge ablation and laser cutting of thin-film solar modules within production. Rofin-Sinar said machine concept will allow two successive processes to be integrated into a single production line.

Rofin-Sinar said the combination of both process technologies using its laser systems will result in cost savings in production and improvements in the quality of the solar modules.

Last year, Switzerland's Oerlikon Solar, a supplier of thin film production equipment and a subsidiary of Swiss manufacturer Oerlikon, introduced a new transparent conductive oxide coating device for the thin-film solar industry (see Oerlikon introduces new thin film solar equipment).

Oerlikon Solar said the light-transmitting transparent conductive oxide layers act as electrodes and light traps, which it said are key components in thin film silicon modules.

Under today's deal, Manz Automation will serve as the engineering partner and will develop the production system and integrate the laser technology. Rofin-Sinar will be responsible for developing the laser cutting technology.

The joint project, to start in September, is expected to take approximately 12 months until the new machines are market-ready.