Meyer Burger

The Swiss solar PV equipment manufacturer has signed a cooperation agreement with Spanish competitor, Mondragon Assembly. Following the closure of the Meyer Burger production site in Thun at the end of the year, the latter will manufacture Smartwire Connection technology going forward. However, patents and sales of the technology will remain the property of Meyer Burger.

Meyer Burger Technology Ltd has secured a CHF 16million (US$16.3 million) order from an unidentified Asian customer for its MAiA and FABiA cell coating equipment. It is the first industrial order for the latter platform, says the company.

Meyer Burger (Switzerland) Ltd has said it will appeal the decision by a Chinese court to dismiss claims that Wuxi Shangji Automation Co. Ltd has infringed on its patented wire wrapping system.

The Swiss PV equipment manufacturer recorded a loss of around €68 million last year. Although Meyer Burger was able to slightly increase sales, the EBITDA margin was below 3%. This year, the company is aiming for an EBITDA margin of 10%, in order to return to profitability.

Switzerland’s Meyer Burger to deliver and install its SmartWire Connection Technology at REC Group’s production facility in Singapore at the start of Q2, company confirms.

The Swiss PV equipment manufacturer has filed a patent infringement lawsuit in China against Wuxi Shangji Automation Co, Ltd for the protection of its patented wire winding system for the cutting of solar wafers, the Diamond Wire Management System (DWMS).

According to preliminary financial figures released today, Swiss equipment provider Meyer Burger has registered a slight increase in sales for the full year 2017, improving on its 2016 net result. Nevertheless, the company is still reckoning with a significant loss for the year.

Interview: Following the announcement earlier this month that Swiss production equipment supplier Meyer Burger has increased the power output of its HJT SmartWire module to 335W, pv magazine caught up with company CTO, Gunter Erfurt to understand more about the process, as well as the company’s longer-term tech roadmap.

Following a consultation process with employees, Meyer Burger has announced 100 jobs will definitely go as part of the closure of its Swiss manufacturing site. Another 60 positions are dependent on strategic alternatives being found.

Equipment manufacturer Meyer Burger plans to end production at its headquarters site in Thun, Switzerland, as part of an updated cost efficiency program. All production activities in Thun will be discontinued by the end of 2018, though the site will continue to serve as Meyer Burger’s headquarters.