Centrosolar Glas: full capacity of 6 million sqm/ year reached

Market-leading nanocoating process making inroads

The Fürth-based solar glass specialist Centrosolar Glas GmbH & Co. KG, a fully owned subsidiary of the listed CENTROSOLAR Group AG, Munich, has increased its annual capacity to 6 million sqm. The acquisition of new customers in Europe, North America and Asia has prompted the company to double its production output over the past two years. The best-selling product is anti-reflective coated solar glass, which the company launched 8 years ago and is now the market-leading product worldwide. A new feature is that the patented nanocoating can now also be applied on one side only, and across the entire surface, making the production process for this internationally sought-after solar glass even more efficient. The new process is set to go into volume production before the end of 2009.

Centrosolar Glas is the world market leader for nanocoated anti-reflective solar glass, which boosts the annual output of a solar module fitted with it by between 4 and 7 %. Ralf Ballasch, Managing Director of Centrosolar Glas, remarked: "At times like the present, where everyone looks very closely at the efficiency of a plant, solar glass with anti-reflective properties represents a growth market. Solar cell manufacturers are boosting the efficiency of energy conversion within the cell itself, and with our ultra-transmissible solar glass we are playing our part in getting even more energy out of the entire solar module." That is why many high-profile manufacturers in Europe, the USA and Asia want to use solar glass made in Fürth in their high-performance modules. Two major American solar companies and a Chinese solar module manufacturer were recently added to this steadily growing, international portfolio of companies.

In response to the steady rise in demand for Centrosolar Glas products, EUR 10 million has been invested in expanding production capacity at Fürth over the past two years with the support of the parent company in Munich. Dr. Alexander Kirsch, Chairman of the Management Board of CENTROSOLAR Group AG, remarked: "The preferential subsidies available for roof systems in many countries have also directly benefited our subsidiary Centrosolar Glas. Roof area is limited, so the efficiency of the modules installed there consequently is all the more important. We have responded to this trend by promptly extending our production capacity for highly transparent anti-reflective solar glass." Following two phases of expansion, the overall capacity for solar glass at the Fürth plant is now 6 million sqm per year. Thanks to the recovery in demand from module manufacturers, this capacity is now being utilised to the full. Further plans for expansion to increase capacity are already in the pipeline.