The machine constructor from the Black Forest began marketing and distribution of their line concepts of the newly established business sector, photovoltaics, at the EU PVSEC in Milan, Italy in September 2007.
Sales of the new Ypsator and single-opening laminators commenced from the very beginning. Sales markets are predominantly Europe, North America and Asia. The latest order for 18 single-opening laminators of the e.a.sy-Lam brand is for a Chinese module producer.
By reaching the three-digit sales line, Bürkle has evolved "from pioneer of the multi-opening technology to an established manufacturer," states managing director Hans-Joachim Bender. Customers such as Bosch, Day4 Energy, Scheuten Solar, Jabil and many other well known firms are now using the laminators for the manufacture of solar modules in the crystalline and thin film sector.
The foundation for this successful product introduction was laid by company manager Bender in 2006. Bürkle started developing multi-opening Ypsator brand laminators after thorough market research, which supported managements opinion that the requirements for solar modules would increase drastically worldwide as markets moved toward a higher utilization of renewable energy. A "stacked" production system promised a high quality throughput capacity offering a low footprint.
Bürkle has already provided multi-opening lamination systems having 10 openings resulting in an annual manufacturing capacity of more than 100 MWp. Bürkles 90 years of experience providing lamination and coating solutions, particularly those using the multi-opening system approach, provided the core technology for the multi-opening laminator. This technology has been used in other industries such as the woodworking, plastic card and printed wiring board industries for many years.
