Heliatek, organic solar cell developer, will be building its first production site in Dresden, Germany. Construction will be carried out in co-operation with FHR Anlagenbau GmbH, a manufacturer of innovative vacuum process technology.
(July 16, 2010) — Heliatek GmbH, organic solar cell developer, will be building its first production site in Dresden, Germany. Construction will be carried out in co-operation with FHR Anlagenbau GmbH, a manufacturer of innovative vacuum process technology.
Heliatek is pursuing the goal of becoming the world’s first manufacturer of organic, oligomer-based solar cells and a supplier of efficient, stable, and productive organic solar cells.
“We have found a professional partner in FHR,” explains CEO Dr. Andreas Rückemann, “who has the capability to support us in our strategic long-term capacity expansion plan and with whom we are able to ensure the implementation of the organic-based PV-module production.”
The foil coating system developed by FHR is a highly integrated production line for organic solar cells with a very small footprint. For the engineers and the technologies of FHR Anlagenbau GmbH, combining the complex vacuum process technology used for depositioning organic molecules, the structuring of the molecule layers and the lamination of the plastic foil was a real challenge. Managing Director Dr. Reinhard Fendler: “We are very proud of the integrative work we have done here and are very happy to have found Heliatek, an ideal partner situated close by, which already has a top position within the OPV industry. Organic photovoltaic is a new business area for FHR and our roll-to-roll systems. Strategically it is very interesting and has a very promising future.”
Heliatek and FHR plan to have the new manufacturing facility set up by mid 2011. The first products to be produced by the new foil coating system are expected to be available at the start of 2012.
The manufacturing facility will be built at the Heliatek location in Dresden, close to the A4 highway and only 15 minutes from the airport. Heliatek moved into its new home there in May of this year, giving it the space to carry out everything from lab to fab. With a floor space of about 1,700 m⊃2; the modern hall provides enough room not only for production but also for the laboratories and research units to grow throughout the coming years.
Dresden has both an excellent infrastructure as well as highly qualified, experienced and motivated employees. These are the best possible prerequisites for Heliatek to produce and sell the high-quality, light, flexible and optionally even semi-transparent photovoltaic modules of the newest generation at highly competitive prices.
The construction of the first production site is being supported financially by the European Union.
FHR Anlagenbau specializes in the development of thin-film technologies and their application in innovative systems concepts, as well as services relating to thin-film technologies. For more information please visit www.fhr.de
Heliatek GmbH develops organic solar cells with the proprietary tandem technology made of so-called small molecules, organic pigments that are chemically synthesized out of hydrocarbons. For more information please visit www.heliatek.com
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