Laser edge deletion system for solar panel manufacturers

Newport Corporation introduces SolaryX Edge, a laser edge deletion system forthin-film solar panel manufacturing. The new edge laser processing system is an advanced solution for effective and efficient removal of all coatings on thin-film solar panels. This rugged system is designed for fast takt times, low cost of ownership, and maximum reliability in 24/7 industrial environments.

The SolaryX Edge uses high power, pulsed lasers to remove amorphous silicon (a-Si), cadmium-telluride (CdTe), copper-indium-diselenide (CIS), or copper-indium-gallium-diselenide (CIGS) coatings around the perimeter of thin-film solar panels. The unique optical design makes it a lower cost, higher throughput product while occupying a significantly smaller footprint than competing laser-based systems. It also eliminates consumables which are required for other methods, such as sandblasting, making it ideal for the global thin-film solar panel manufacturing market.

As the latest addition to Newport's broad portfolio of photovoltaic manufacturing and test solutions, it joins the SolaryX family of laser scribe tools, lasers for thin-film scribing and patterning, automated PV I-V test stations, and solar simulators. SolaryX Edge systems have shipped to customers in the U.S. and are currently operational in plants manufacturing thin-film solar panels.