3D-Micromac AG, a leading supplier of laser micromachining and roll-to-roll laser systems for the photovoltaic, medical device and electronics markets, today announced that it has received an order for three of its microCELL OTF laser systems from REC Group, a leading European brand of solar panels. The systems will be installed at REC Group’s production facility in Singapore to support the expansion of REC’s production volume of high-efficiency Passivated Emitter Rear Contact (PERC) solar cells, as well as support the development of next-generation PERC solar cells

PERC solar cells have the potential to deliver significantly higher levels of energy efficiency and production compared to standard solar cells. A critical step in the PERC solar cell manufacturing process is laser contact opening (LCO), which involves using a laser to create tiny pockets in the passivation film layer that is applied to the rear surface of the silicon wafer in order to allow more light to be absorbed by the solar cell.

3D-Micromac addresses this critical step with its microCELL OTF laser system, an industry-proven, high-productivity and low cost-of-ownership solution for mono- and polycrystalline silicon solar cells. Featuring “on-the-fly” laser processing and superior uptime (up to 97 percent), microCELL OTF enables throughputs of up to 4,000 wafers per hour with no laser damage to underlying silicon lasers. Contactless wafer handling enables processing without surface defects and microcracks, enabling maximum yields.