New Laminator Process Machine

• Mondragon Assembly has acquired 60% stake in Chinese automation company QHD Visual to enhance its solar portfolio
• The duo through years of collaboration have developed a new membrane-free laminator that improves the OEE
• It also have an innovative hydraulic pressure-controlled system and 2 heating plates to improve lamination cycle time
• The tool is designed specifically for glass-glass modules and works well for BIPV, VIPV and Integrated Photovoltaics

Spanish solar PV production equipment company Mondragon Assembly has picked up a 60% stake in China's QHD Visual Automation Equipment Co, and adds to its portfolio a new laminator with enhanced quality of the lamination process for solar module manufacturing.

Mondragon said the acquisition, as part of its strategic plan to forge new alliances to create new business opportunities and bring it competitive advantage over competitors, will strengthen its position in the solar market.

QHD provides automation solutions for solar, glass and ceramic industries from its base location of Qinghuangdao city in China. For solar, it designs and manufactures PV module lamination equipment, automation and visual inspection systems.

The new lamination process was developed by both the companies during their 7-year collaboration. Calling it an innovative machine, Mondragon said the laminator provides a membrane-free solution that substantially improves the overall equipment effectiveness (OEE) by bringing down the downtime significantly.

It also incorporates an innovative hydraulic pressure-controlled system, explains the company, which helps avoid the 'edge-pinching' effect. The laminator has 2 heating plates to improve the lamination cycle time.

"This step (going membrane free) has been the key in the development of this new machine. With the Pad-Press Membrane-free system, we have combined the best laminating quality with a solution that will allow our customers to considerably reduce operating costs and increase machine availability," said Oier Aliaga, Process Manager of the Solar Business for Mondragon and responsible for the development of this new solution.

The new laminator is specially designed for glass-glass modules and new applications as building integrated PV (BIPV), vehicle integrated PV (VIPV) and Integrated Photovoltaics.

Not too long back, Mondragon introduced a high-precision Tabber & Stringer machine with Electrically Conductive Adhesive (ECA) technology to produce up to 2,600 heterojunction (HJT) cells per hour (see Mondragon Enhances HJT Efficiency).