Ceres Technologies, provider of branded process critical support equipment to the semiconductor and solar industries, has expanded its position in the photovoltaic equipment manufacturing supply chain with the recent purchase of certain technology and product assets of the CIGS system business formerly operated by Veeco Instruments Inc.

The CIGS product line acquisition adds to Ceres Technologies’ growing portfolio of products and services in the renewable energy space with production-ready CIGS deposition tool sets, including machines for Molybdenum back contact, CIGS absorber layer and Transparent Conductive Oxide (TCO) layers. The current product offering allows for roll to roll deposition on stainless steel substrates at 0.3, 0.6 and 1.0 meter widths. In addition, a production scale CIGS glass process tool is in development. As part of the technology purchase, Ceres Technologies obtained the right to manufacture, support and further develop the CIGS equipment technology previously sold by Veeco.

According to Kevin Brady, president and CEO of Ceres Technologies, “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. Our business model fosters strategic partnership with our customers to develop and fulfill pilot line and production scale requirements. Our CIGS equipment platforms, together with our full portfolio of gas and chemical handling products provide our customers with a production worthy supply of equipment infrastructure.”

According to Frank Reilly, vice president of the Ceres Technologies Solar Group, “Ceres Technologies’ “adaptive (CIGS) platform architecture is designed to provide readily available process tool sets to PV companies, allowing them to focus on development of their core IP by deploying it on a proven platform. Cell and module manufacturing companies can also rely on Ceres’ engineering and equipment manufacturing expertise to realize scaling of their unique development or pilot line methods and recipes.”

Ceres Technologies is a global outsource manufacturing provider of state of the art process equipment for the world’s leading Semiconductor, Solar and Life Science production equipment suppliers. Ceres Technologies also offers ultra high purity specialty gas and chemical handling products and measurement and metrology systems in support of these process critical applications. www.cerestechnologies.com