Area Development
A Germany-based developer and manufacturer of silver metallization pastes for the photovoltaic industry, Heraeus' Photovoltaics Business Unit plans to enlarge its Research and Development organization at its site in West Conshohocken, Pennsylvania.

The expansion project involves expansion of lab infrastructure, relocation of R&D members from other Heraeus sites to Conshohocken, and also the hiring of new R&D specialists.

Dr. Weiming Zhang, Vice President Technology, said, "the PV industry is highly dynamic, so our rapid development and launching of new innovative paste products is a critical element for the success of our customers. By enlarging the team and performing core research activities in one site we will be able to continuously launch 2-3 new products every year. Through our Application and Technical Service Centers located in China, Taiwan, Korea, Japan, Singapore and Germany, we will continue working very closely with partners and customers."

Speed of development is a key success factor in the fast moving PV industry, the company said. This new investment in the Conshohocken site will keep Heraeus at the forefront of silver paste technology. Under the leadership of Dr. Weiming Zhang, a growing number of scientists have developed several generations of leading-edge silver paste formulations since their initial product introduction of the SOL9235 Series.