Asteelflash, a subsidiary of China's Universal Scientific Industrial (USI), has started its US manufacturing line in California, to exclusively produce Nextracker's patented electronic components, in a multi-million-dollar joint investment that forms phase I of the partnership.
Asteelflash will produce self-powered controller (SPC) and high-voltage power supply at the fab with key components as printed circuit board assembly (PCBA), battery integration, among others, used by Nextracker in its solar tracking technology.
Nextracker calls the SPC controllers as the brain of its trackers such as NX Horizon, its flagship product.
Spread over 197,000 sq. ft. in Fremont, the fab adds to Nextracker's efforts to build its local supply chain in the wake of domestic content benefits promised under the Inflation Reduction Act. In May 2023, it secured 3 GW low-carbon steel supply from MSS Steel Tubes' Tennessee located fab (see More Local Steel For Solar In US).
"Nextracker is thrilled to work with Asteelflash/USI as we continue to put in place the domestic manufacturing capacity we need to serve the rapidly growing solar market," said Nextracker's CEO and Founder, Dan Shugar. "Our expanding product manufacturing footprint is bringing new jobs throughout the country and enables us to better serve customers."
The US tracker manufacturer has set up over 10 new US production facilities in the past year with its suppliers. The management says it is further building out the supply capacity to meet domestic and export demand for its products.