Close cooperation between tesa and Oerlikon Solar

The intensive co-operation which has been in place between tesa and Oerlikon Solar for two years in the field of renewable energies, has now reached an important milestone. Just recently, the specifications for adhesion of the bus bar wires with an insulating double-sided adhesive tape were finalised. This means that Oerlikon Solar customers who purchase systems for the mass production of thin-film silicon solar modules can be assured, if they use tesa 4983 at the same time, that not only does the production process meet stringent quality standards, but the certification of the modules is also covered via the Oerlikon Solar IEC Master Certificate.

tesa 4983 is a transparent double sided tape based on polyester carrier and acrylic adhesive, and at just 30 µm is extremely thin. The best bonding results are achieved on smooth surfaces, and in addition, tesa 4983 features very high resistance to extreme temperatures and ageing. To enable optimum use of the tape, which comes in rolls 12 mm wide and up to 300 m long, tesa teamed up with Vulkan Technic to develop a special dispenser.

At present, tesa offers an extensive solar product range that not only includes double sided tapes for bus bar wire adhesion, but additionally for glass protection, cable and cell fixing, frame and box mounting, ribbon wire lining and module and solar glass labeling.


tesa SE: the company
With about 7,000 products, tesa SE is one of the world’s leading manufacturers of technical adhesive tapes and self-adhesive system solutions for industry, crafts, and end consumers. More than 100 years of experience in coating technology and the development of adhesive masses and innovative product solutions have taken the company to the top of the world market in many areas of application. The company earns nearly 80 percent of sales with applications for industrial customers. tesa SE, headquartered in Hamburg, employs approximately 3,600 people. It is a wholly owned subsidiary of Beiersdorf AG and the parent company of the 52 tesa affiliates.

The Oerlikon Group
The Oerlikon Group, headquartered in Pfäffikon, Switzerland, is one of the world’s most innovative, research-intensive industrial groups. The machine and plant engineering company’s operations encompass six business units and include the development and manufacture of production systems and equipment for thin-film silicon solar modules. End-to-end solutions from Oerlikon Solar offer rock-bottom module production costs, high-yield fully automated operations, high operational availability, and low service and maintenance costs. During the last fiscal year, Oerlikon’s staff of more than 16,000 earned sales of 2.9 billion Swiss francs across the company’s 157 locations in 36 countries.