The tool, affectionately named Mr. Freeze, meets the hail impact testing requirements prescribed by IEC 61215, IEC 61646, and IEC 62108 for PV module certification.
Last year, Westpak contracted the Industrial Technology Department at Cal Poly San Luis Obispo to design and build the custom device and associated ice ball mold. The development of the tool was done as a part of a senior project; a great example of a joint student-industry project.
The tool has been successfully utilized by the solar, glass and roofing industries for research and development and pre-certification testing at Westpaks solar test lab.