Start-up BrightView Successfully Reaches Evaluation Milestones at Signet Solar Thin Film Photovoltaic Production Facility

WAM In-line Process Metrology Tool Improves Efficiency and Productivity with Process Optimization and Control for the TF PV Manufacturing Process

PETACH TIKVA, Israel, and MOCHAU, Germany, Oct. 14 /PRNewswire/ -- BrightView Systems has announced the successful integration and validation of its WAM (Wide Area Metrology) process metrology and mapping solution for thin-film PV manufacturers at Signet Solar's production line in Mochau, Germany.

The WAM tool, developed by start-up BrightView Systems in Israel, has successfully demonstrated its contribution to both panel efficiency and line productivity via its unique in-line, true-cell-metrology and measurement capabilities and associated suite of control applications for excursion detection, chamber matching and process window optimization. Signet Solar recognized the value of improving line output and long-term panel reliability, and embedded the system into their production flow. They were able, for the first time, to implement fully automated continuous full-panel process monitoring and feedback on 100% of production panels and greatly reduced reliance on off-line measurements and special test panel cycles.

"The BrightView solution fills a major gap in the industry's transition from pilot to mass production, providing true 24/7 in-line process monitoring while saving long and tedious off-line cycles and test panels," said Gunter Ziegenbalg, Managing Director of Signet Solar GmbH. "The system has been embraced by our R&D engineers, who are finally generating the data they need for concrete process improvements and optimization, and by our production engineers, who are relying on the continuous automatic alerting of process issues, as well as much quicker turn-around following process tool maintenance."

Benny Shoham, CEO of BrightView added, "Signet Solar has put our system through rigorous testing, allowing us to validate our vision in a high volume production line using actual panel performance data. Their talented team, working with the BrightView state-of-the-art WAM solution, was able to deliver major improvements to line productivity in a very short time. We are excited by the excellent results they achieved, and look forward to continue working with Signet Solar on their next production milestone and process improvement roadmap, as well as accelerate efficiency and productivity gains for the thin film PV industry.

For more information about BrightView's WAM system, or to schedule a meeting at the upcoming Solar Power International 2009 Event in Anaheim, CA, please contact

    Ariel Ben-Porath
    VP Marketing & Products
    BrightView Systems Ltd.
    Email: ariel.benporath@brightview-sys.com
    Office    +(972)-3-929-1415
    Mobile   +(972)-54-314-1593

To learn more about the Signet Solar, Inc. please visit www.signetsolar.com

About Signet Solar

Signet Solar, Inc. is a global company established in 2006 to bring Clean Affordable Renewable Energy(TM) to people and countries worldwide. Signet Solar is the first mover in large-area silicon thin film PV technology that reduces total solar system costs and installation time. Headquartered in Menlo Park, California, the company designs, develops, manufactures and markets thin film modules for solar farms, large commercial installations, BIPV and remote habitation applications. For more information.

About BrightView Systems

BrightView Systems was founded in 2007 to develop and bring to market process and production optimization technologies for the thin-film photovoltaic industry to enable solar-cell manufacturers to maximize panel efficiency and reliability as well as attain high-volume productivity. Implementing BrightView's innovative WAM (wide-area-metrology) solutions will lower $/w production costs and accelerate the solar industry's roadmap towards grid parity. For more information, visit www.brightview-sys.com.

    Contact:
    Keshav Prasad                           Sharon Hess
    VP Business Development                 April (for BrightView)
    +1.650.289.0399                         +972 54 484 8828
    kprasad@signetsolar.com                 sharon@aprilbc.com

SOURCE BrightView Systems LTD

RELATED LINKS
http://www.brightview-sys.com