Owens Design Introduces High Speed Automation Platform for PV ...

Press Release
For Immediate Release
1 P.M. EDT, Oct. 5, 2009
Contact Mark Danna | 510.659.1800
mdanna@owensdesign.com
Owens Design Introduces High Speed Automation
Platform for PV Wafer Inspection Applications
PV Wafer Handling Module combines Industry-Leading Throughput with
low Breakage Rate
Fremont, California: Owens Design Inc., a leading equipment design and build service
provider to the solar, semiconductor, and data storage capital equipment markets, today
introduced a c-Si Inspection Automation Platform optimized for use with productionvolume,
high-speed photovoltaic (PV) wafer inspection applications. The Owens c-Si
Inspection Automation Platform provides high speed, high reliability wafer handling in
customizable configurations to meet advanced factory automation requirements. Input
load modules can be configured for either cassette or coin stack input while the output
sorter module can be expanded from 6 to 18 output bins. Available for either 125mm x
125mm (5 inch) or 156mm x 156 mm (6 inch) PV wafers, Owens c-Si automation
platform delivers an industry-leading throughput of 3600 wafers per hour, coupled with a
low breakage rate of less than 0.2 percent. Designed to be customizable to the specific
requirements of any PV inspection tool, the module is ideal for volume-production
applications.
“We developed the c-Si automation platform to enable our OEM solar customers to
rapidly introduce their wafer inspection technology into high volume solar fabs,” said
John Apgar, Owens Design’s President. “The inspection of PV wafers is an important
step in maximizing yield for outgoing and incoming quality assurance. This automation
platform allows our customers to focus on their inspection technology while depending
on us to provide high wafer throughput at a very low breakage rate; both of which are of
critical importance to the solar fab.”
To learn more about the c-Si Inspection Automation Platform or more about Owens
Design visit us at Solar Power International 2011, Booth 4842, at the Dallas Convention
Center, October 18-20.
Owens Design offers capital equipment manufacturers a proven methodology to reduce
tool development costs, minimize technical risk and speed their time to market. By

working closely with an established design and build services company, such as Owens
Design, a capital equipment company can focus its internal efforts on its core
technology. In turn, Owens Design can focus on integrating this core technology into a
system level platform that has been optimized to meet the equipment manufacturer’s
performance specifications.
For more information about Owens Design’s products and services, please visit
www.owensdesign.com.
About Owens Design
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Owens Design specializes in engineering and manufacturing of capital equipment. Located
in Silicon Valley for over 25 years, they have been a strategic partner in the co-creation and
manufacturing process for many leading OEM capital equipment companies. Owens
Design engineers and manufactures customer's products from concept, through alpha,
beta, pilot and on-going production. Their development process results in a rapid design
cycle and concurrent manufacturing introduction. Owens Design has and continues to be
an innovative and reliable partner for equipment companies in the semiconductor, solar
and related industries.