Solar Watch

company news

Glasstech Hosts Labor Secretary, Gov’t Leaders to Discuss Solar Energy

S. Secretary of Labor Hilda L. Solis and Ohio Governor Ted Strickland recently visited Glasstech Inc. in Perrysburg, Ohio, to learn more about the company’s recent move to develop systems specifically for the burgeoning solar energy market. Accompanied by Mark D. Christman, Glasstech president and chief executive officer, Secretary Solis and Gov. Strickland viewed a variety of the company’s bending and tempering systems in operation at its research and development facility.

“The visit focused national attention on Glasstech,” Christman says. “It also gave us the opportunity to discuss with Governor Strickland [our company’s] application for funding to enable us to produce systems for demonstration purposes here in our Perrysburg facility. The governor was attentive and indicated he would support our application.”

In 2008, Glasstech formed a new business unit to formalize its ongoing activities to meet the solar energy industry’s demand for flat and bent glass substrates. The firm’s systems can be used for the fabrication of bent glass substrates for concentrated solar power products (CSP) and extremely flat panels for photovoltaics (PV).

According to a company announcement, these systems are based on Glasstech’s production-proven automotive and architectural bending and tempering technologies. “Just like in the automotive industry, the glass substrates used in solar energy are sophisticated and require repeatability, tight specifications, innovation and cost effectiveness,” Christman says.
www.glasstech.com n

products

NORDSON® Offers Seal Solutions for PV Modules
Nordson Corp. in Duluth, Ga., says its photovoltaic (PV) side-seal/edge-seal systems automate and improve application of moisture barriers in module assembly. Use of VersaPail™ or VersaDrum® bulk melters in conjunction with the company’s gear metering dispense applicators enables use of liquefied butyl in place of traditional butyl tape. This results in accurate, repeatable placement of the PV module moisture barrier along with a faster production process, according to the company.

While configurable to meet specific requirements, the typical Nordson system consists of a bulk melter or two connected together with auto-changeover, feeding a gear metering dispense applicator. The applicator offers compact size and key-to-line operation to easily integrate into new or existing manufacturing lines. The dispensed material—whether butyl or virtually any adhesive or sealant—can be applied as round beads or flat ribbons in customizable widths and thicknesses.
www.nordson.com

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