By Kari Williamson

The CIGS thin-film product line includes production-ready CIGS deposition tool sets, with machines for Molybdenum back contact, CIGS absorber layer and transparent conductive oxide (TCO) layers.

The product offering allows for roll to roll deposition on stainless steel substrates at 0.3, 0.6 and 1.0 m widths. In addition, a production scale CIGS thin-film glass process tool is in development.

As part of the technology purchase, Ceres Technologies has obtained the right to manufacture, support and further develop the CIGS thin-film equipment technology previously sold by Veeco.

Kevin Brady, President and CEO of Ceres Technologies, says: “Ceres intends to selectively collaborate with PV equipment suppliers, CIGS cell and module manufacturers and state and Federal agencies with the intent of expanding production worthy CIGS manufacturing tool sets to the PV market place. Ceres is well-positioned to facilitate near term and future CIGS module production capacity growth.”

Ceres Technologies is an outsource manufacturing provider of process equipment for semiconductor, solar and life science production equipment suppliers. It also offers high purity speciality gas and chemical handling products and measurement and metrology systems.