In response to the growing demand for PV modules, Grenzebach upgraded its production technology for solar glass in 2020. Since 2020, the company has distributed around 280 systems in the Cold End for the production of patterned glass on the worldwide market. The systems are either already in use by customers, are in the process of being delivered and installed or are still in production.
“We listened to the market and learned from our experiences,” said Markus Gruber, Senior Vice President of the Business Unit Glass at Grenzebach. In 2020, Grenzebach made extensive updates to its portfolio of systems for patterned glass.
Gruber continued, “We set out to optimize our production facilities for patterned glass so that we could keep meeting the needs of our customers and fulfilling the requirements that are placed on solar glass. Every aspect of the technology is designed with output and cost efficiency in mind, as well as the specific requirements of the Chinese solar glass market.”
This upgrade was the result of close collaboration between the Grenzebach sites in Germany and China. “Because we had a facility in China, which placed us in close proximity to the market, we had an excellent understanding of what our customers wanted and needed. This, combined with outstanding technological expertise from Germany, enabled us to precisely tailor our offering to meet customer requirements,” said James Shang, CEO of Grenzebach Machinery Ltd. at Grenzebach’s Chinese facility in Jiashan.
Grenzebach offers manufacturers not only robots with high stacking accuracy, but also conveyor and automation technology for transporting the raw glass for further processing, with a commitment to ultra-precise and gentle handling of the delicate substrates. First and foremost, the cutting technology, conveying technology, handling equipment and control system have been specially developed for the manufacture of patterned glass.
“We are seeing a trend for thinner glass and larger pane sizes due to lightweight applications for solar modules,” added Shang. Grenzebach is responding to this apparent shift by facilitating glass thicknesses of just 1.5 to 6 mm. The panel sizes range from 1,200 x 2,400 mm to 2,650 x 2,800 mm – perfectly matched to the dimensions of Chinese solar panels. The capacity of one line usually varies between 125 and 300 metric tons per day.