Wet process equipment eases PV manufacturing

Baker Solar Inc. has unveiled an inline wet bench that targets R&D and pilot-scale operations of today's wafer and cell fabs. The FlexTool, as a highly flexible tool, can handle a range of wet chemistries in process development, the company stated.

With a small system footprint and wide process window, FlexTool offers batch-size testing in an inline environment. This provides the PV company with a scalable, reproducible result that is production-ready but with low chemical consumption, intelligent process control and attractive CAPEX. Sumps are sized and configured for rapid chemistry changes, allowing one tool to be used as a platform for testing many different processes.

Currently installed FlexTools in the U.S. and Europe operate both single- and double-sided processes with patent-pending Touchless transport technology. Rinsing and drying is achieved with Baker Solar Baker's proprietary high-volume, low-pressure ViaHead module, the company noted.