Companies join competences to strengthen the industry 

With this decision VDMA intends to address the entire value chain of photovoltaics production. VDMA follows  a specific request of industry for such an extension.

”After establishing a special sector dedicated to photovoltaics in 2007 and offering services for the German-speaking machinery community very quickly, it is time for VDMA to ignite the next stage now. We appreciate it very much that VDMA invests in this strategic area”, stresses Fath. ”The companies acting in this field expect a strong representation of the machinery sector within the photovoltaics landscape. Therefore we now open up an individual platform to the industry within VDMA, providing extended services ", adds Dr. Hannes Hesse, Executive Director of VDMA.

Focus on Supply Industry and Production    

The focus of the new VDMA Photovoltaic Equipment association platform will remain on the supply industry. ”We represent and support the economic, technical and scientific interests of  technology and service providers active in the production of photovoltaic products. The new association platform gives us the opportunity to admit companies and organisations outside the German machinery industry, too. Thus, we can expand our scope of activities on a European level", emphasizes Fath.

”The strategic upgrade enables us to consolidate existing activities and open up new fields”, says Dr. Eric Maiser, director of the current Photovoltaic Equipment Forum. ”We will further improve the awareness for the key role the machinery industry plays with regard to the progress in production and cost reduction. Although a lot of success has been reached, there remains an enormous demand to make production more efficient. This can only be achieved by an effective co-operation along the process chain. Networking, know-how regarding market and technology developments, roadmapping for the machinery industry and the substantial competence background of our members are important instruments to strengthen our industry”, Maiser is convinced.

On March 30th, 2010, the annual VDMA photovoltaic conference will take place in Frankfurt and is open to all manufacturers of photovoltaic equipment. In the afternoon the founding members of the new VDMA Working Group Photovoltaic Equipment will gather in order to formally found their new association platform and elect a board of directors.

Currently, approximately 100 VDMA member companies are active in the photovoltaic sector. The topic started in 2007 as a co-operation between the following VDMA divisions: Electronics Production (Productronics), Glass Technology, Energy, Organic Electronics, Robotics and Automation, Laser and Photonics, Surface Treatment, Vacuum Technology and Displays. With the foundation of the Working Group Photovoltaic Equipment activities for members will be extended and the visibility of the industry will be increased.

The German Engineering Federation (VDMA) represents more than 3,000 companies in the engineering industry, many of which are small and medium sized enterprises. With about 933,000 employees (as of September 2009) all over Germany and a sales turnover of 205 billion Euros (in 2008) the industry is the biggest employer and one of the leading sectors of the German industry as a whole.