Creation of an automated production line to assemble photovoltaic cells

Actemium Toulouse Robotique & Automation assists Thales Alenia Space to set up a factory that will autonomously manufacture solar panels for satellites.

Actemium experts created automated production lines to assemble photovoltaic cells (cells that generate electrical energy on solar satellite generators). The photovoltaic cells in the solar panels will be used to provide energy for the satellites in space. 

The objective of these production lines is to prepare the photovoltaic cells and attach them to composite substrates that serve as a basis for solar panels. The assembly capacity is 100,000 – 200,000 cells per year, as needed. All the processes created by Actemium are tracked to ensure traceability on Thales Alenia Space’s sensitive products.

“The first manufactured automated production line for photovoltaic cells will be for the Indonesian telecommunications satellite SATRIA, which will be developed under the supervision of Thales Alenia Space,” explains Davy Vrancken, Director of Thales Alenia Space’s Flemish sites.