For the production of crystalline and thin film photovoltaic modules ACI-ecotec GmbH & Co. KG, located in St. Georgen (Germany), offers leading cutting-edge manufacturing equipment world-wide. The automation specialists, ACI-ecotec, have reached this top position in only 5 years, following the take-over of ecotec GmbH. The systems produced are also used to optimise production processes in the Automotive Industry and other sections of industry.
Founded in the 1980s ecotec GmbH was based on Black Forest clock techniques, but with the take-over of the company in 2004, a completely new strategic focus was created. The Shareholders, Professor Dr.-Ing. Wolfgang Schmutz and Dr.-Ing. Johann Dorner, together with Managing Director, Dipl.-Ing. Karl-Heinz Menauer envisaged the future of the newly founded company in the development and manufacture of turnkey production systems away from the usual core business of automated selective soldering.
Sales reached 16 million Euros in 2008, double the amount of revenue for the previous year. “Due to the current good order volume we anticipate a further growth for 2009,” commented the Managing Director.
On the sunny side with innovative developments
Since its formation, ACI-ecotec has worked quickly to optimise the manufacturing processes with innovative developments in the Photovoltaic Industry in the areas of wafer and cell production as well as thin film and crystalline modules. Amongst other products, this work has resulted in the patent-registered ecoSplit, the world’s first fully-automated system for wafer separation. It significantly increases the turnover of silicon wafer production by minimising wafer breakage.
The ecoCarrier improves process reliability during the manufacture, transport and storage of silicon cells and wafers. With ecoContact the automation specialist achieved another world-wide “First” development, the first fully-automated and highly flexible contact line for thin film modules. Commenting on one advantage of the patented system, Karl-Heinz Menauer said: “Through innovative technologies ecoContact allows the total contacting time of a module to be less than 40 seconds.”
In addition, the company located in the Black Forest, develops turnkey solutions together with various key partners. Today, it is not surprising that the customer base of ACI-ecotec, a company that is currently employing around 120 employees, includes the Who’s Who in the global Photovoltaic Industry.
More efficiency for suppliers in the Automotive Industry
ACI-ecotec has also become renowned for the development of optimising manufacturing processes in the Automotive Industry. “In this branch we develop and build customised automation solutions for a diversity of applications,” says Karl-Heinz Menauer. Well-known companies such as Beru, Schrader Electronics and Hechinger are amongst its customers.
Furthermore the automation specialist offers OEM solutions including the innovative workpiece pallet–transfer system ecoTrans. Based on standardised components, modular assembly and an effective drive concept, it is possible to equip manual, semi-automated and fully-automated production lines in a highly flexible and very economic way. With the ecoLoad you have a flexible loading system of parts from the standard ‘Europalette’ to inline processing cells using robotics and vision systems.
New capacities for new challenges
To be prepared for future new challenges, the automation specialist will move into a new office and production building located in Zimmern, in the autumn of 2009. “The direct connection to the motorway improves our accessibility to our customers compared to the current location, St. Georgen, which in parts will remain. This will further allows us to find qualified employees, who are needed for our future growth,” explains Menauer.
The Shareholders and the Managing Director not only see this new growth of further development and new solutions in the Photovoltaic and Automotive Industry, but also for other new and emerging technologies like fuel cells and plastic electronics.
Particular attention is paid towards training apprentices in administration and technology, as they are vital in guaranteeing the future of the business. “Our employees need specific knowledge and the best way to train them is with the help of an apprenticeship. That is why approximately 10% of our team are apprentices,” states Menauer.
Stronger and highly productive in the group
The Shareholders of the ACI-Group have created a solid company-network to react very flexibly to their customers requirements and to offer diversity in applications from a single group. In addition to ACI-ecotec, and as part of the ACI-Group, acp – advanced clean production GmbH concentrates on CO2 Snow-Jet Cleaning, micro dispensing systems and measuring technology; acp IT AG is focusing on IT solutions for planning and production; boraident GmbH is focusing in the technologies of laser marking and indentification of glass products using microstructures in glass; whilst AFT Automation & Feinwerktechnik GmbH is specialising in installation and handlings systems for micro-assembly.
For further information: ACI-ecotec GmbH & Co. KG, Bahnhofstraße 10, 78112 St. Georgen, Telephone +49 (0)7724 934-0, www.aci-ecotec.com
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We would be grateful to receive a copy of any publication featuring contents of this release.
Contact person for the editorial:
SCHULZ. PRESSE. TEXT.
Doris Schulz
Martin-Luther-Straße 39
70825 Korntal / Germany
Tel +49 (0)711 854085
Fax +49 (0)711 815895
ds@pressetextschulz.de
ACI-ecotec GmbH & Co. KG
Daniel Declercq
Bahnhofstraße 10
78112 St. Georgen / Germany
Tel +49 (0)7724 934-127
Fax +49 (0)7724 934-149
d.declercq@aci-ecotec.de
www.aci-ecotec.com
Founded in the 1980s ecotec GmbH was based on Black Forest clock techniques, but with the take-over of the company in 2004, a completely new strategic focus was created. The Shareholders, Professor Dr.-Ing. Wolfgang Schmutz and Dr.-Ing. Johann Dorner, together with Managing Director, Dipl.-Ing. Karl-Heinz Menauer envisaged the future of the newly founded company in the development and manufacture of turnkey production systems away from the usual core business of automated selective soldering.
Sales reached 16 million Euros in 2008, double the amount of revenue for the previous year. “Due to the current good order volume we anticipate a further growth for 2009,” commented the Managing Director.
On the sunny side with innovative developments
Since its formation, ACI-ecotec has worked quickly to optimise the manufacturing processes with innovative developments in the Photovoltaic Industry in the areas of wafer and cell production as well as thin film and crystalline modules. Amongst other products, this work has resulted in the patent-registered ecoSplit, the world’s first fully-automated system for wafer separation. It significantly increases the turnover of silicon wafer production by minimising wafer breakage.
The ecoCarrier improves process reliability during the manufacture, transport and storage of silicon cells and wafers. With ecoContact the automation specialist achieved another world-wide “First” development, the first fully-automated and highly flexible contact line for thin film modules. Commenting on one advantage of the patented system, Karl-Heinz Menauer said: “Through innovative technologies ecoContact allows the total contacting time of a module to be less than 40 seconds.”
In addition, the company located in the Black Forest, develops turnkey solutions together with various key partners. Today, it is not surprising that the customer base of ACI-ecotec, a company that is currently employing around 120 employees, includes the Who’s Who in the global Photovoltaic Industry.
More efficiency for suppliers in the Automotive Industry
ACI-ecotec has also become renowned for the development of optimising manufacturing processes in the Automotive Industry. “In this branch we develop and build customised automation solutions for a diversity of applications,” says Karl-Heinz Menauer. Well-known companies such as Beru, Schrader Electronics and Hechinger are amongst its customers.
Furthermore the automation specialist offers OEM solutions including the innovative workpiece pallet–transfer system ecoTrans. Based on standardised components, modular assembly and an effective drive concept, it is possible to equip manual, semi-automated and fully-automated production lines in a highly flexible and very economic way. With the ecoLoad you have a flexible loading system of parts from the standard ‘Europalette’ to inline processing cells using robotics and vision systems.
New capacities for new challenges
To be prepared for future new challenges, the automation specialist will move into a new office and production building located in Zimmern, in the autumn of 2009. “The direct connection to the motorway improves our accessibility to our customers compared to the current location, St. Georgen, which in parts will remain. This will further allows us to find qualified employees, who are needed for our future growth,” explains Menauer.
The Shareholders and the Managing Director not only see this new growth of further development and new solutions in the Photovoltaic and Automotive Industry, but also for other new and emerging technologies like fuel cells and plastic electronics.
Particular attention is paid towards training apprentices in administration and technology, as they are vital in guaranteeing the future of the business. “Our employees need specific knowledge and the best way to train them is with the help of an apprenticeship. That is why approximately 10% of our team are apprentices,” states Menauer.
Stronger and highly productive in the group
The Shareholders of the ACI-Group have created a solid company-network to react very flexibly to their customers requirements and to offer diversity in applications from a single group. In addition to ACI-ecotec, and as part of the ACI-Group, acp – advanced clean production GmbH concentrates on CO2 Snow-Jet Cleaning, micro dispensing systems and measuring technology; acp IT AG is focusing on IT solutions for planning and production; boraident GmbH is focusing in the technologies of laser marking and indentification of glass products using microstructures in glass; whilst AFT Automation & Feinwerktechnik GmbH is specialising in installation and handlings systems for micro-assembly.
For further information: ACI-ecotec GmbH & Co. KG, Bahnhofstraße 10, 78112 St. Georgen, Telephone +49 (0)7724 934-0, www.aci-ecotec.com
- - -
We would be grateful to receive a copy of any publication featuring contents of this release.
Contact person for the editorial:
SCHULZ. PRESSE. TEXT.
Doris Schulz
Martin-Luther-Straße 39
70825 Korntal / Germany
Tel +49 (0)711 854085
Fax +49 (0)711 815895
ds@pressetextschulz.de
ACI-ecotec GmbH & Co. KG
Daniel Declercq
Bahnhofstraße 10
78112 St. Georgen / Germany
Tel +49 (0)7724 934-127
Fax +49 (0)7724 934-149
d.declercq@aci-ecotec.de
www.aci-ecotec.com
