SunFab Solution

Applied Materials SunFab™ is a fully integrated production line for manufacturing 5.7m² thin film solar panels. It combines low-cost materials with the industry’s most advanced fabrication technology. Combining the large panel design with manufacturing expertise, the SunFab factory solution is uniquely optimized for utility scale applications and driving down the cost of solar energy generation.

SunFab Speeds Time to Market

One of the advantages of choosing an Applied SunFab Thin Film Line is our experience in rapidly deploying and ramping up solar factories. Built on Applied’s extensive experience in providing high productivity equipment and technology for semiconductor and flat panel display manufacturing, we offer a complete and fully-integrated production line for solar PV manufacturing. The benefits are obvious: we not only provide a solution, we stand shoulder to shoulder with our customers as they ramp their factories to volume production, to deliver the lowest cost panel manufacturing.

Unique Benefits of the SunFab Factory Network

Applied has developed the tools to provide all stakeholders with access to critical information such as costs, timelines, project prioritization, and possible roadblocks. World class, repeatable project management enables rapid identification and resolution of problems.

As we develop best known methods of operation, we distribute them across our customer base, enabling all of the SunFab factories to operate at the highest possible level. In one recent example, Applied successfully increased a customer's panel efficiency through a series of modifications to the deposition process. Within 72 hours, this result was successfully replicated in another factory.

Applied has the right people, processes and technology to simultaneously deliver, install and ramp multiple factories around the world on time and on budget. This enables SunFab panel makers to rapidly enter the utility scale solar PV market with low cost, large size solar panels that drive down the cost of solar energy.

SunFab Factories Worldwide

There are 14 SunFab factories under contract, and Applied has shipped 9 complete lines around the world. Between October 2008 and April 2009, Applied successfully brought six customer factories to volume production while reducing factory ramp time.

The SunFab line is controlled by advanced intra-system and factory automation software derived from semiconductor and display manufacturing. This software enables SunFab lines to operate with very high productivity by managing all material flow throughout the factory in real time.

Advantages of an Integrated Approach

In the past, it was not unusual for a solar factory to begin volume production after double or triple the expected time. The SunFab integrated approach contrasts significantly with a factory owner who mixes and matches equipment from a variety of vendors. SunFab factory owners benefit from the wealth of expertise Applied has in building and ramping factories. We eliminate the risk of potential delays in factory start up time with proven system integration capabilities, getting factories from groundbreaking to volume production in the shortest possible time, and at optimal performance.