Key takeaways:
XN Automation’s CHJ50 supports busbar layouts up to 30BB and is compatible with BC cell interconnection
The tool uses a low-temperature, flux-free soldering process and supports multiple sliced-cell formats, including half, 1/3, and 1/4 cuts
Maximum throughput reaches 10,000 half-cells per hour for TOPCon and HJT, with slightly lower throughput for BC cells
China-based XN Automation provided data for its CHJ50 combined tabber and stringer (CTS) model for TaiyangNews’ Market Survey on Solar Module Production Equipment. An eyecatcher among the listed specs for this product is its support for the 30BB layout, which is the highest among the CTS machines featured in this survey. It also supports BC cell stringing. Another key differentiator for this tool is its use of a low-temperature flux-free soldering technique. Like other Chinese vendors’ tools, it also comes with an integrated cell-slicing setup.
This double-lane processing model offers options for manual, semi-automatic, and fully automatic loading of the cells into the CTS. The tool has a provision for 12 cassettes to accommodate half-cells. The ribbon spools have a maximum outer diameter of 160 mm and an inner diameter of 16 to 25 mm.
The tool can support cell sizes between 181 and 230 mm, and a thickness range of 90 to 200 µm. The system is compatible with a variety of sliced cell formats, including full-cell, half-cut, 1/3-cut, and 1/4-cut. The CHJ50 uses both round and flat ribbon wires, with suitable round wire diameters ranging from 0.15 to 0.45 mm, and flat ribbon widths and thicknesses ranging from 0.4 to 0.8 mm and 0.15 to 0.3 mm, respectively. The incoming cells are inspected using CCD, PL, or an optional EL method, and aligned using an edge-positioning method. The ribbon is positioned using clamp fixation. Simultaneous tabbing and stringing are carried out using a flux-free soldering method at temperatures between 120°C and 160°C. Post-stringing inspection is performed using PL imaging, and again, EL imaging is offered as an option. The stringer supports a cell spacing of 1 to 6 mm, with a maximum string length of 1,250 mm. The busbar changeover time is 4 to 8 hours with 2 personnel, and it includes only hardware replacement.
The tool takes 2.8 seconds to complete a cycle with a maximum throughput of 10,000 half-cells per hour for TOPCon and HJT cell types, and 8,000 half-cells per hour for BC cells. The system has a footprint of 9,800 × 4,020 × 2,690 mm and weighs 19.6 tons.
The text is an edited excerpt from TaiyangNews’ latest Market Survey on Solar Module Production Equipment 2026, which can be downloaded for free here.