Global electronics trade association IPC has formed a solar standards committee to work on standards for polysilicon PV solar panel assembly, citing the significant overlap in assembly processes.

August 20, 2009 - Global electronics trade association IPC has formed a solar standards committee to work on standards for polysilicon PV solar panel assembly, citing the significant overlap in assembly processes.

"As solar energy manufacturing takes on a global scale, it is critical that comprehensive assembly standards, including DFM, process materials, workmanship, test and inspection, are developed and adopted across the industry," said Dongkai Shangguan, VP of advanced technology at Flextronics, in a statement. Thomas Cipielewski, clean technologies technical director at Jabil, added that "many of the solar assembly processes, from tabbing and stringing to lamination, have some commonality with the manufacture and assembly of PCBs [printed circuit boards]."

Areas of focus identified include:

  • Acceptability guidelines for solar panel lamination
  • Tabbing and stringing: design guidelines, acceptability criteria, and materials specs
  • In-process test methods for solar panel/final module assembly
  • Guidelines for final test, particularly flash test

Participants in the committee represent Jabil, Flextronics International, Celestica, 3M, Bürkle North America, Christopher Associates, DEK, Indium, EFD, Vitronics Soltec, and Lincoln International.