Dublin based solar cell equipment manufacturer, Nines Photovoltaics (Nines), has just launched their worldwide sales strategy, engaging merconics GmbH. as exclusive sales agent in the Central European market. The R&D tool (9s DE 100) is the first model to be available to the market.
The Nines technology is focused on dramatically changing the processes used to manufacture Solar Cells, reducing the production cost whilst also increasing cell efficiencies. Cost & efficiency are of the upmost importance to all solar cell manufacturers as they seek a competitive advantage within the PV Industry. Nines currently have two R&D tools in the field, one of which is in the pilot production line in Fraunhofer ISE, Freiburg, Germany.
Given the level of interest in these tools Nines have engaged sales agents in Central Europe and the USA. Edward Duffy, CEO Nines says:"merconics management brings a wealth of process equipment sales & sales management experience which will fast-track the introduction of our disruptive dry etch technology further into the European photovoltaic R&D and manufacturing markets; we look forward to a productive relationship."
The Nines tool is used to etch away layers of silicon from a crystalline silicon wafer to facilitate the creation of a solar cell (in conjunction with other process steps). This etching is currently done using a wet based chemical process. Nines has pioneered the use of a novel high throughput atmospheric pressure dry etching technology and is the first company to offer a solution which uses a fully dry process using only Zero Global Warming Potential chemicals.
