JPO Solar Solutions is in the process of developing automation equipment for the production of solar panels. Our machines will allow us to build solar panels with accuracy and precision, while passing on the savings to our customers.

The expertise of our automation engineering and support staff, combined with the resources of JPO vendors, will create the knowledge base that in turn will produce the level of service unmatched in the industrial automation industry. We will be able to use our resources to help you reduce risk and increase productivity through our factory automation.

The idea is an automated production machine that interconnects solar cells by soldering flat metal leads, or tabs, to cell contacts. This process will allow us too efficiently and effectively bond together approximately 800 cells per hour.

The machine loads solar cells from stacks and aligns their edges. The tab material is fed from spools, coated with flux, cut to length, and provided with the stress-relief bend.

Tabs and cells align as it goes to soldering. High-intensity lamps in the solder head assembly provide radiant thermal energy to the cells and tabs. Both front and back cell contacts are soldered in the single step, thereby reducing thermal stress on cells. This is particularly important for high yield processing on thin solar cells.

The number of cells per string, cell spacing, the ribbon length, the stress bend location, and the soldering parameters are all software programmable. Each completed string is automatically placed in the tray.

We will continue to develop these processes and add to the many products we can already provide. For updates and more information about our new developments and industry news, please click here.