Meyer Burger

Swiss equipment supplier Meyer Burger has received a CHF 74 million (US$74.4 million) order for a 600 MW production line combining heterojunction and smart wire technologies. The order was placed by an unnamed manufacturer, with the line expected to begin cell and module production in the second half of 2019.

Meyer Burger’s largest single shareholder has requested the company change strategy. Sentis Capital has urged the Swiss technology company’s board to raise sufficient capital for it to set up its own GW-sized production facility for its heterojunction and tandem cell PV technology. Meyer Burger has responded that it is view of only one shareholder.

There may be a much-vaunted ‘solar renaissance’ in the offing for Europe, but it hasn’t come quickly enough for the Swiss PV equipment supplier, which wants to handle most of its sales and services from China.

The vertically integrated Swiss company has announced work on its 100 MWp heterojunction PV cell manufacturing plant in Hungary is back on track, following a successful company restructuring. Originally, it was set to be online in 2016.

For solar to survive in a world without feed-in tariffs, further innovation focused on cost reduction is necessary. In this white paper, scientists from Swiss equipment supplier Meyer Burger argue that high efficiency cell concepts, and in particular heterojunction, will be among the best technologies solar can bet on to achieve this.

The solar manufacturing equipment maker has posted an EBIT of US$15 million for the six-month period. It marks a return to profitability for the Swiss company, after major restructuring and cost optimization programs over the past 18 months.

The Switzerland-headquartered company has secured a contract for the delivery of its SmartWire solar module production line to an undisclosed customer in Southeast Asia.

In a preview of its half year financial results, Swiss equipment supplier, Meyer Burger has announced it is expecting a return to profit in the first half of 2018, recovering from a lengthy period of losses, including a major restructuring and the closure of multiple production sites.

Solartech Universal plans to expand its current 80 MW/year capacity by 180 MW/year. The company is seeking a facility in South Florida.

The Swiss PV equipment manufacturer will sell the division to Patrik Hofer-Noser. Both sides agreed to keep the purchase price confidential. Nevertheless, Meyer Burger assumes that the sale will result in a loss in the low single-digit million range.