September to 1 October, 2010 at the Messe Düsseldorf, Germany. Visitors to these shows will have the opportunity to learn and understand how Bekaert’s advanced coating technologies continue to bring new innovative functionality to large area glass applications to improve overall quality – and how the same proven technology is now reducing the cost of manufacturing photovoltaic (PV) solar cells.
Technological innovation from planar to rotatable magnetrons
Over the last 20 years, Bekaert has worked hand-in-hand with the glass industry to develop a range of advanced coating technologies to meet the growing demand for improved aesthetics and functional comfort. Today, Bekaert’s innovative rotatable sputtering technology is used around the globe to coat a wide range of large area glass applications including architectural (low-emissivity, solar control etc.) and automotive glass (hydrophobic glass, anti-reflective glass etc.).
“Since we first introduced the cylindrical magnetron technology in the large-area glass markets, material utilization has improved threefold, and both throughput and layer repeatability have increased significantly,” says Koen Staelens, Product Market Manager at Bekaert Sputter Products. “It’s no surprise the technology has become the standard for producing high quality and low cost coating stacks on large glass plates. A similar trend is anticipated for the fabrication of efficient photovoltaic (PV) solar cells (mainly thin-film, but also c-Si),” continues Staelens.
“In the early days of solar cell fabrication, the focus was on achieving acceptable energy conversion efficiencies. The traditional approach of using a planar magnetron cathode for depositing a thin film on the substrate offered good performance but targets became exhausted very quickly in large production runs. With the current trend towards high volumes, rotatable sputtering solutions will achieve the same or better cell performance while reducing the cost of ownership considerably.”
The benefits of rotating magnetron technology over traditional planar technology are now well known and accepted in the marketplace. Higher target material inventory and utilization rates, higher deposition rates, increased process stability, higher sputter efficiency and reduced coater down time all contribute to a lower total cost of ownership.
With over 4 500 magnetrons operating around the globe, Bekaert takes a leadership role in this market. Its success has been based on combining the right target materials with the appropriate magnetrons. Today, Bekaert offers complete sputter solutions consisting of the magnetrons and the cylindrical targets – but also the magnet bars, power supplies, gas distribution, control and automation systems.
Product information sessions on the stand
Visitors to the Bekaert stand at PVSEC 2010 will have the opportunity to see the Compact End Block (CEB), which is ideal for medium-powered applications and is renowned for its reliability and outstanding performance. Also on display will be the Adjustable Magnet Bar (AMB), which enables optimization of layer thickness uniformity and improves target utilization efficiency. Rotatable sputter targets being showcased include AZO, High purity Si, Mo, Sn, TiOx and ZnAl.
Along with the CEB and AMB, visitors to the Bekaert stand at Glasstec 2010 will also have the opportunity to see the standard End Block, trimline End Block – and the Bekaert Axial Magnetron (BAM) which is ideally suited for webcoating lines as it occupies no space inside the coater. The range of targets on display will include AZO, High purity Si, Mo, Sn, TiOx and ZnSn.
About the shows
Billed as the world’s leading industry forum for the global PV Solar sector, the 25th European Photovoltaic Solar Energy Conference (EU PVSEC) and Exhibition brings together the key specialists of the industry from around the globe. The aim of the event is to highlight progress in research, technological development and production processes within the solar industry. The event takes place from 6 to 10 September, 2010 at the Feria Valencia in Spain and Bekaert will be present at booth L2/H4/A52.
Recognized as one of the leading international trade fairs for the glass industry, Glasstec 2010 draws engineers, manufacturers and business professionals from around the world. It takes place at the Messe Düsseldorf, Germany, from 28 September to 1 October, 2010. Bekaert will be present at booth 12/B29.