SMIT Thermal Solutions secures a big order from China

Netherlands-based SMIT Thermal Solutions received another big order from China shortly before the end of the year.

The €40 million contract relates to the supply of 15 vacuum coating systems for the production of cadmium telluride thin-film modules, with the first down payment already received by the company.

The equipment supplier told pv magazine the agreement was concluded after the successful start of a first production facility by the unnamed client last year. SMIT added, the manufacturer is planning to build a 500 MW cadmium telluride module manufacturing facility in China and the Dutch company will manufacture part of the equipment at its own factory in Wuxi, China.

The equipment should be delivered to the customer by the end of 2020, the company said.

“Thermal deposition processes are key to achieve competitiveness in this growing market,” said SMIT chief executive Wiro Zijlmans. “In order to stay competitive ourselves, we will be manufacturing some tools in our own Chinese assembly facility in Wuxi.”

The Chinese government last week gave a boost to domestic manufacturers, and potentially supply chain companies such as SMIT, by announcing a new push on solar projects to be developed without central government subsidies in China in the next two years.