Meyer Burger

Meyer Burger, headquartered in Thun (Switzerland), is a globally active mechanical engineering company, which is primarily known for its production facilities in the photovoltaic industry. Meyer Burger develops and produces systems with which solar cells can be manufactured and electrically connected for use in solar modules. The focus is on heterojunction technology (HJT) and the exclusive SmartWire Connection Technology (SWCTTM). High-precision measuring systems for silicon wafers, solar cells and modules are also offered.[4] From spring 2021, the company will produce solar cells and solar modules itself at two locations in Germany.

Meyer Burger Technology AG
Public
Traded asSIX: MBTN
ISINCH0108503795 
IndustryPhotovoltaics
Founded1953 (1999 as holding)
Headquarters
Thun, Switzerland
Key people
Dr. Franz Richter, Chairman of the Board[1]

Dr. Gunter Erfurt, Chief Operating Officer[2]

Manfred Häner, Chief Financial Officer[2]
Revenue407 million Swiss francs (CHF) (FY 2018)[3]
Number of employees
1,267 FTE (Dec. 31, 2018) [3]
Websitewww.meyerburger.com

Meyer Burger also develops and sells industrial inkjet, plasma and microwave systems, primarily for the semiconductor and optical industries, in other divisions and through subsidiaries.[5]

History

The company was founded in 1953[6] as a manufacturer of watch stone processing machines and subsequently specialised in special sawing machines. In 1999, the company set up a holding structure with the foundation of Meyer & Burger Holding AG in Zug and launched the first band saw for the solar industry on the market in the same year.

In the course of the growing solar industry, the company began to open up the Russian, Asian and American markets in 2003 and continued its expansion with the establishment of subsidiaries in China and Japan.

In 2006, the Group was renamed Meyer & Burger Holding Ltd to Meyer Burger Technology Ltd and its headquarters moved to Baar. The company went public in November 2007. In 2012, the Group headquarters were relocated to Thun following the move into the new building.

Between 2010 and 2012, the Group was significantly enlarged through various corporate takeovers in order to be able to cover the entire value chain (wafer - cell - module) in photovoltaic production with its own production machines. The most important products were diamond wire saws for cutting ultra-thin silicon wafers, coating systems to build functioning solar cells from wafers, and systems for the manufacture of complete solar modules.

In the meantime, the corporate structure has been adapted and the focus has been placed on the areas of solar cell production and connection, i.e. on heterojunction cell coating and SmartWire Connection Technology (SWCTTM) for cell connection. In this context, the entire "Sawing and Cutting Technology" division was sold to Precision Surfacing Solutions in May 2019. While the company is still headquartered in Thun, Meyer Burger operates its main production site in Hohenstein-Ernstthal (Germany), where Meyer Burger acquired a majority stake in Roth & Rau in 2011.[7]

In 2019, Meyer Burger became the largest shareholder in Oxford Photovoltaics, a spin-off company from the University of Oxford in the field of perovskite photovoltaics and solar cells.[8] The company has developed new solar cells that extract more energy from sunshine.[9] Meyer Burger will also mass produce their perovskite solar cells on silicon heterojunction (HJT) tandem cells, under a strategic and exclusive cooperation agreement.[10][11]

On 1 April 2020, the former Chief Technology Officer, Gunter Erfurt, took over the position of Group CEO. He was previously Managing Director of Meyer Burger Germany Ltd and previously managed the main production site in Hohenstein-Ernstthal.[12]

In June 2020, a change in strategy was announced, which will transform Meyer Burger into a technologically leading manufacturer of solar cells and solar modules. Initially, a production capacity of 400 megawatts per year is to be started at production facilities in Freiberg in Saxony and Bitterfeld-Wolfen in Saxony-Anhalt. By 2022 the capacities are to be expanded to 1.4 gigawatt cell and 0.8 gigawatt module production. In the long term, the production volume of 5 gigawatts per year is targeted. Meyer Burger manufactures the production facilities in Hohenstein-Ernstthal. The plan is to create up to 3,000 jobs.[13][14]

At an Extraordinary General Meeting on July 10, 2020, the shareholders approved the transformation of the company from a supplier to a module manufacturer and the associated capital increase.[15] In this capital increase, just under 99 percent of the subscription rights were exercised, thus raising 165 million Swiss francs.[16]

Heterojunction & SmartWire Product

On May 11, 2020 Uwe Rau, German physicist and well-known photvoltaic scientist from Forschungszentrum Jülich confirmed in a radio interview in Germany‘s largest federal state North Rhine-Wesphalia that Meyer Burger‘s new technology in photovoltaics can be compared to the technological step from 4G to 5G in mobile technology. In addition, he said that compared to standard modules from China, Meyer Burger's technology enables to generate more electricity using less space.[17]

According to a company investor presentation Meyer Burger Heterojunction Module efficiency reaches similar levels compared to High Efficiency IBC Technology of Sunpower and LG (chart p. 11). Also, Meyer Burger Heterojunction/SCWT enables three to ten times higher gross profit margins compared to mono-PERC (p. 18). This is a result of the much higher ASPs/wp (chart p. 11) for high efficiency modules with similar performance specifications and the already low production costs of Meyer Burger Heterojunction/SCWT which is nearing levels of Mono-PERC (chart p. 17). In addition, Meyer Burger HJT/SmartWire modules not only enable much higher gross profit margins but also compare very favorably on average selling prices (ASPs) compared to HJT competition. Furthermore, Meyer Burger HJT/SCWT offers the lowest possible LCOE, which is key purchase criterion for utility providers (p. 15). Moreover, HJT has some inherent advantages over PERC: higher efficiency with more power (Watt) per m2, higher energy yield (more kWh per installed kW) due to better temperature coefficient etc., less degradation over lifetime.

Meyer Burger also states that while large scale manufacturers achieved significant efficiency gains by implementing mono PERC and could decrease ASP advantage of existing HJT producers to only ~2 cts/Wp over time HJT could not reap the benefits of large scale manufacturing so far. But the company adds that Meyer Burger’s proprietary HJT/SmartWire offers substantial additional advantages even versus HJT competition, e.g.

  • additional reduction of degradation over lifetime due to proprietary technology and
  • additional power per m2.

Therefore, an average selling price premium (ASP) of up to 12 cts/Wp for same LCOE of HJT/SmartWire vs PERC modules is estimated by Meyer Burger.[18]

Corporate structure

In 2010 Meyer Burger merged with the previously independent company 3S Industries. The former competence centres of 3S Industries (3S Modultec, 3S Photovoltaics, Somont and Pasan) were and are since then business divisions of Meyer Burger.

Meyer Burger (Germany) GmbH

Roth & Rau was renamed Meyer Burger (Germany) in 2014. The company develops and produces various systems and machines for surface treatment in the photovoltaic industry and played a key role in the industrialization of the so-called PERC (Passivated Emitter and Rear Contact) technology, which represents the current standard in solar cell production. The company also develops and builds mass production systems for the manufacture of highly efficient solar cells using heterojunction technology (HJT).[19]

Pasan SA

In the course of the merger with 3S Industries, Pasan became part of Meyer Burger in 2010. The company focuses on the development and manufacture of test and measurement systems for solar cells and modules. These include solar simulators, which are used by leading international certification bodies and numerous cell and module manufacturers thanks to their high accuracy and reliability. The company is headquartered in Neuchâtel, Switzerland. [20]

Muegge GmbH

As part of the takeover of Roth & Rau AG in 2011, Muegge GmbH in Reichelsheim (Germany), which had belonged to the Roth & Rau Group since 2008, also became part of the Meyer Burger Group. Muegge is one of the world's leading suppliers of industrial microwaves and plasma systems. Its portfolio includes microwave generators and components as well as plasma systems for a wide variety of applications in various industries such as the semiconductor industry, OLED and MEMS production and medical technology.

Oxford Photovoltaics Ltd.

In 2019, Meyer Burger became the largest shareholder in Oxford Photovoltaics, a spin-off company from the University of Oxford in the field of perovskite  photovoltaics and solar cells.[21] The company has developed new solar cells that extract more energy from sunshine.[22] Meyer Burger will also mass produce perovskite solar cells on silicon heterojunction (HJT) tandem cells as part of a strategic and exclusive cooperation agreement.[23][24]

Former divisions

Meyer Burger AG (MB Wafertec)

With the development and production of cutting and sawing systems for the solar industry, Meyer Burger's rapid growth began in 2000. The diamond wire cutting technology used today in the PV industry was primarily developed by Meyer Burger and industrialized for mass production. The entire "Sawing and Cutting Technology" division was sold to Precision Surfacing Solutions (PSS) at the end of April 2019 for CHF 50 million.[25][26]

3S Solar Plus AG

The company 3S Industries with the divisions 3S Modultec and 3S Photovoltaics among others merged with Meyer Burger in 2010 and was initially continued as the 3S Photovoltaics division. Subsequently, the two brands 3S Modultec and Solar Building Technologies were created. This division developed and produced building-integrated solar systems. The frameless solar modules of the MegaSlate brand contain solar cells between two glass layers. As a result, the modules have the same properties as laminated safety glass and can be used directly as a building housing, replacing roofing with roof tiles.

The division was later integrated into the "Energy Systems" business unit of Meyer Burger and in 2018 outsourced to the separate company 3S Solar Plus AG and sold.

AIS Automation Dresden GmbH

Until 2019, AIS Automation Dresden GmbH also belonged to the Meyer Burger Group. As a system and software company, AIS has been developing software solutions in the field of automation technology and information technology since 1990. It acts as a full service provider from the conception to the realization and installation of the system on site. The business areas include plant and system controls, factory automation, system integration and railway technology.

At the end of 2019, the system was sold to S&T AG in Linz (Austria).[27][28]

Meyer Burger (Netherlands) B.V.

As part of the takeover of Roth & Rau AG in 2011, Roth & Rau Netherlands B.V. (formerly OTB Solar) in Eindhoven (Netherlands), which had belonged to the Roth & Rau Group since 2010, also became part of the Meyer Burger Group. They develop and build systems for industrial inkjet printing under the PiXDRO brand. The system size ranges from compact printers for the research sector to mass production systems for various applications and industries (e.g. printed electronics, displays, OLEDs, sensors, printed circuit boards, semiconductor assembly, etching techniques, photovoltaics, optics, life sciences). Meyer Burger (Netherlands) B.V. was sold in December 2019.[29]

Awards & achievements
  • 2011: Solar Industry Award 2011 in the category "PV Process Improvement“ for Somont GmbH, a company of the Meyer Burger Technology Ltd.[30]
  • 2011: Swiss Solar Award in the category "Personalities and Institutions".[31]
  • 2012: Intersolar AWARD for the cell tester SpotLIGHT 1sec for Pasan AG, a company of the Meyer Burger Technology Ltd.[32]
  • 2012: Solar Industry Award in the Photovoltaic Tool category for its DragonBack™ measurement method for high efficiency modules for Pasan AG, a company of the Meyer Burger Technology Ltd.[33]
  • 2014: IDTechEx Printed Electronic Award for “Best Technical Development Manufacturing” to Roth & Rau B.V. (The Netherlands), a member of Meyer Burger Technology Ltd.[34]
  • 2015: Solar Industry Award for the PCBTOUCH cell contacting solution.[35]
  • 2016: Technologie Highlight Award for Meyer Burger’s DW288 Series 3 diamond wire cutting technology for the production of high performance silicon solar wafers.[36]
  • 2016: Solar+Power Award for its DW288 Series 3 diamond wire cutting solution with the Diamond Wire Management System (DWMS).[37]
  • 2016: Solar Visualised in Europe Award of the European solar industry association Solar Power Europe.[38]
  • 2018: Solar + Power Award for the FABiA® Cell Deposition Equipment.[39]
  • 2019: pv magazine AWARD in the Photovoltaic Tool category for the CAiA® platform for the industrialized manufacture of solar cells with passivated contact technology for both n- and p-type wafers, which has produced cells with efficiencies slightly above 23%.[40]

Other

On May 6, 2020, Meyer Burger CEO Gunter Erfurt suggested to think about constructing a gigantic solar park in the Hambach open-pit coal mine in North Rhine-Westphalia.[41]This would generate electricity with a capacity of around ten gigawatts, which would roughly correspond to the capacity of the Weisweiler, Neurath, Niederaussem and Frimmersdorf coal-fired power plants, which are currently dependent on the open-pit mines. Considerations for a later use of the gigantic area with an area of 50 square kilometres include flooding to form a lake landscape. According to Meyer Burger CEO Gunter Erfurt, it would be conceivable to cover Lake Hambach with solar modules. Up to 50 million solar modules with a capacity of 10 gigawatts could be installed as a floating solar park, as has already been realised in other parts of the world.[42]

According to Meyer Burger CEO Gunter Erfurt the construction of a state-of-the-art plant for cell and module production in Germany is currently being evaluated.[43]

German physicist Uwe Rau confirmed that such a project is feasible and that a major advantage of the Hambach open-pit coal mine is that power transmission lines are already in place and can be used because of the power plants.[17]

RWE Power AG announced in May 2020 that photovoltaic projects for the Sophienhöhe are conceivable.[44]

Andreas Pinkwart, Minister for Economic Affairs, Innovation, Digitisation and Energy of North Rhine-Westphalia, also expressed his support for the project.[45]

See also

References
  1. "Board of Directors". Meyer Burger online.
  2. "Management". Meyer Burger online.
  3. "MEYER BURGER Bilanz GuV | Kennzahlen | Umsatz | Gewinn". finanzen.net.
  4. MarketScreener. "MEYER BURGER TECHNOLOGY AG : Shareholders Board Members Managers and Company Profile | CH0108503795 | MarketScreener". www.marketscreener.com. Retrieved 2020-05-16.
  5. "All Products". Meyer Burger online.
  6. "History". Meyer Burger online.
  7. "Solar-Maschinenbauer: Meyer Burger kauft Roth & Rau". www.handelsblatt.com.
  8. Imprint; us, About; Conditions, Terms and; Policy, Privacy and Cookies. "Meyer Burger Major Shareholder of Oxford PV | TaiyangNews". Retrieved 2020-06-21.
  9. "New solar cells extract more energy from sunshine". The Economist. ISSN 0013-0613. Retrieved 2020-06-21.
  10. "Oxford PV to collaborate with Meyer Burger | Oxford Photovoltaics". www.oxfordpv.com. Retrieved 2020-06-21.
  11. "Bloomberg - Are you a robot?". www.bloomberg.com. Retrieved 2020-06-21.
  12. http://taiyangnews.info/people/meyer-burger-ceo-to-retire-as-cto-assumes-charge/
  13. "Meyer Burger Technology Ltd aims to transform itself from a supplier of production equipment to a technologically leading manufacturer of solar cells and modules. Capital increase targeting gross proceeds of CHF 165 million planned". Meyer Burger online. Retrieved 2020-07-12.
  14. Editor. "Meyer Burger aims to establish its own production of solar cells and solar modules in Saxony-Anhalt and Saxony – Energy Northern Perspective". Retrieved 2020-07-12.CS1 maint: extra text: authors list (link)
  15. "Shareholders of Meyer Burger Technology Ltd approve capital increase". Meyer Burger online. Retrieved 2020-07-23.
  16. "Successful rights issue of Meyer Burger Technology Ltd - 99% of subscription rights exercised". Retrieved 2020-07-23.
  17. Rur, Radio. "Mega-Solarpark ist realisierbar". Radio Rur (in German). Retrieved 2020-05-16.
  18. "Fiscal Year 2019. Presentation for investors, analysts, media" (PDF). Retrieved May 16, 2020.
  19. "What are heterojunction technology (HJT) solar panels?". Solar Power World. November 4, 2019.
  20. "PASAN SA, Neuchâtel - Meyer Burger". Meyer Burger online.
  21. Imprint; us, About; Conditions, Terms and; Policy, Privacy and Cookies. "Meyer Burger Major Shareholder of Oxford PV | TaiyangNews". Retrieved 2020-06-30.
  22. "New solar cells extract more energy from sunshine". The Economist. ISSN 0013-0613. Retrieved 2020-06-30.
  23. "Oxford PV to collaborate with Meyer Burger | Oxford Photovoltaics". www.oxfordpv.com. Retrieved 2020-06-30.
  24. "Bloomberg - Are you a robot?". www.bloomberg.com. Retrieved 2020-06-30.
  25. "Meyer Burger divests its wafering business to Precision Surfacing Solutions". Meyer Burger online. Retrieved 2019-12-09.
  26. "Meyer Burger concludes divestment of wafer business to Precision Surfacing Solutions". Meyer Burger online. Retrieved 2019-12-09.
  27. "Welcome - AIS Automation Dresden GmbH". ais-automation.com. Retrieved 2019-12-09.
  28. "Closing of the sale of the Meyer Burger software business to S&T AG for CHF 14 million in cash". Meyer Burger online. Retrieved 2019-12-09.
  29. "Meyer Burger sells Dutch industrial inkjet business". eeNews Europe. December 20, 2019.
  30. "September 2011 – Page 7 – PES – Power & Energy Solutions". Retrieved 2020-05-17.
  31. "Schweizer Solarpreis 2011: Die Gewinner | Solar Agentur Schweiz". www.solaragentur.ch. Retrieved 2020-05-17.
  32. "Pasan wins industry-renowned Intersolar AWARD 2012 for its new cell tester "SpotLIGHT 1sec" | 14.06.12". finanzen.ch. Retrieved 2020-05-17.
  33. "DragonBack™ measurement method from Pasan awarded Solar Industry Award 2012". Meyer Burger online. Retrieved 2020-05-17.
  34. "Prestigious Idtechex Printed Electronic Award 2014 For Best Technical Development Manufacturing Awarded To Meyer Burger Group – PES – Power & Energy Solutions". Retrieved 2020-05-17.
  35. "Pcbtouch Cell Contacting Solution From Meyer Burger Wins The Solar Industry Award 2015 In The Category Industry Development Award – PES – Power & Energy Solutions". Retrieved 2020-05-17.
  36. "Meyer Burger's DW288 Series 3 diamond wire cutting solution selected as PV Magazine's 2016 Technology Highlight award winner". Meyer Burger online. Retrieved 2020-05-17.
  37. "Meyer Burger: Diamantdrahtsägelösung DW288 Serie 3 erhält Technology Highlight Award 2016. (ee-news.ch)". www.ee-news.ch. Retrieved 2020-05-17.
  38. Ekus, Bryan (2016-10-11). "Meyer Burger receives the „Solar Visualised in Europe Award"". Solar United. Retrieved 2020-05-17.
  39. "Solar + Power Awards 2018". solarinternationalawards.net. Retrieved 2020-05-17.
  40. moderator. "Innovation shines at pv magazine awards ceremony in Abu Dhabi | Kruda". Retrieved 2020-05-17.
  41. "Meyer Burger Plans 10 Gigawatts Of Floating Solar For North Rhine-Westphalia". CleanTechnica. 2020-05-04. Retrieved 2020-05-16.
  42. "Meyer Burger factory could equip 10-GW floating solar complex". Renewables Now. May 13, 2020. Retrieved May 16, 2020.
  43. "Floating solar park ideal future use for Hambach coal mine – researcher". Clean Energy Wire. 2020-05-12. Retrieved 2020-05-16.
  44. Abels, Jörg. "Tagebau Hambach: Sophienhöhe bleibt unangetastet". Aachener Zeitung (in German). Retrieved 2020-05-30.
  45. Rur, Radio. "An jüngere Generation denken". Radio Rur (in German). Retrieved 2020-05-30.
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