Photovoltech, Manufacturer of Solar Cells, Will be Deploying Intercim Solutions to Boost the Efficiency and Output of Their Photovoltaic Products

PARIS, September 29, 2010 /PRNewswire/ -- Set up in December 2001 as a spin-off of IMEC, Photovoltech has the backing of its shareholders TOTAL and GDF SUEZ. IMEC (Interuniversity Microelectronics Center) is one of the world's leading research institutes, with a proven reputation in photovoltaic research. Using state-of-the-art high-tech equipment, Photovoltech started production of multicrystalline silicon solar cells in November 2003.

New expansion plans of Photovoltech are becoming reality. In 2010 a new factory was finalized and the first new fully automated production line started up. The factory has a total surface of 26.500 msquared divided into 3 floors. Together with the present production capacity in the other buildings, Photovoltech will be able to host over time a capacity of up to 500 MWp. From now on the capacity is already 155 MWp/year.

These new production lines will be equipped with a quality control tool that enables the company to monitor the wafer characteristics in real time, while they are being manufactured. Photovoltech has chosen a software solution by Intercim to ensure optimal performance.

Intercim's Process Rule Discovery, Operation Advisor and Performance Tracker modules will interface with the production management system. They will allow the company to constantly analyze and improve the wafers' various production phases in real time, by simultaneously tracking several hundred different parameters.

These tools will enable Photovoltech to create better operating conditions to increase the solar cell performance and adjust the parameters during production if, for example the raw materials change, without having to change the manufacturing process specifications.

More about Intercim

Intercim is among the world's leading suppliers of intelligent software solutions for Manufacturing Operations Management (MOM) with considerable added value and technologically advanced content. Intercim has offices in both the USA and Europe, notably in Paris (France), serving major international corporations such as EADS, Sanofi Pasteur, Areva, Boeing, BMW, Tenaris and Honeywell. In addition to providing the finest software solutions for Operational Excellence in Manufacturing, Intercim has established powerful partnerships with Dassault Systemes, SAP and Microsoft to bolster their offering and technical expertise. Free access to further information and customer success stories is available at http://www.intercim.com.

SOURCE Intercim