Apr 8 2009
iTi Solar, a manufacturer dedicated to advancing the economics of clean, renewable energy through the use of industrial inkjet technologies, today announced that its Solar Materials Deposition System (MDS) was named as an IDTechEx Printed Electronics Europe Award 2009 finalist in the technical development manufacturing category. Announced at Printed Electronics Europe 2009, the IDTechEx Printed Electronics Awards recognize outstanding achievement and company innovation. iTi Solar's Solar MDS is a high precision materials deposition system that enables digital deposition of a wide range of fluids utilizing inkjet printhead technology for solar cell manufacturing processes.
As solar cell producers across the globe seek more cost efficient manufacturing techniques, inkjet is emerging as a key enabling digital production technology. By minimizing materials usage and waste through the use of non-contact, digitally-controlled and additive applications, inkjet technology offers considerable manufacturing process efficiencies. These efficiencies translate into considerable manufacturing cost savings for conventional silicon-based and next generation thin-film photovoltaic cells.
"We're pleased that our Solar MDS was recognized as a Printed Electronics Europe 2009 award finalist," said Bruce Morgan, chief executive officer, iTi Corporation. "We believe digital inkjet technologies combined with flexible, thin-film photovoltaics hold the greatest promise for reducing solar cell manufacturing costs and advancing the economics of clean, renewable energy. With our extensive inkjet experience and patented inkjet technologies, we have made significant advances in industrial inkjet manufacturing processes. The Solar MDS exemplifies the reliable, cost-effective manufacturing solutions iTi Solar is delivering to the solar industry."
iTi Solar's Solar MDS units are currently being used for solar research by a number of labs throughout the world, including the University of New South Wales in Australia and Printed Electronics, Ltd in Cambridge, England. The Solar Inkjet Materials Deposition System can also be utilized in pilot line production applications and production manufacturing lines.