Issue 05 / 2010

05 / 2010

Automation in motion
The quest for quality is driving demand for robotics worldwide

From the Editor

Be proud of yourself

Page: 3

Markets & Trends

“The market is picking up again”

By:  Ina Röpcke

Taiwan: The Taiwanese photovoltaics industry aims to turn its homeland into one of the top three PV producers worldwide. Last year’s financial crisis put the brakes on growth, but things are moving ahead again now.

Page: 14

The quiet after the boom

Page: 22

Goodbye to heavy metals

By:  Ralph Heinrich Ahrens

EU environmental guidelines: New environmental constraints loom for the photovoltaics industry. Members of the European Parliament are now discussing recycling systems and directives to govern the use of carcinogenic substances...

Page: 26

Undiminished optimism

Page: 30

Solar DIY

Page: 32

Growing end market demand

Page: 38

Spot market for PV panels: Lively demand

Page: 40

Industry & Suppliers

Enabling growth

By:  Valerie Thompson

Automation and robotics: Reducing the cost of labor is only one reason to further automate the processes of solar photovoltaic production. Currently, the quest for improved quality and increased production capacity is driving the...

Page: 64

We need to catch up in wafer manufacturing

Page: 68

PV production under the microscope

Page: 70

Less iron, more transparency

Page: 76

Targeting new markets

Page: 80

Applications & Installations

Pores and pyramids, yield increasers

Page: 82

On an east-west course

Page: 86

Research & Development

Stricter and more uniform

Page: 42

Preparing to move out of the niche

Page: 48

Uniting water and sun

Page: 54

Career & Recruitment

Manager for hire

Page: 106