Advancing Printed Electronics: Solar TAP Supports Industry Training at Solar Factory of the Future

Through the initiative of Solar TAP Network Member Automatic Research, a collaborative training session was held at the Solar Factory of the Future at the Energy Campus Nürnberg, part of the Solar TAP research infrastructure. The event supported Pietro Fiorentini, a customer of Automatic Research, in learning how to use sheet-to-sheet slot-die printing on various substrates and with different functional inks.

A technician from the Helmholtz Institute Erlangen-Nuremberg (HIERN) conducted the training and worked closely with the company to address several technical challenges encountered during the process. Expertise from the HIERN played a key role in solving specific tasks during the hands-on sessions.

A central asset of the Solar Factory of the Future is its Roll-to-Roll (R2R) slot-die printing machine, which offers cutting-edge capabilities for the production of organic and perovskite solar modules. Equipped with advanced slot-die coating and laser processing technology, the industrial-scale machine enables the production of flexible solar modules at speeds of up to 2 meters per minute. It is ideally suited for both large-scale prototyping and high-throughput materials research.

Solar TAP facilitated direct collaboration between Automatic Research and top-tier slot-die printing specialists, enabling focused problem-solving and efficient knowledge transfer. This engagement drives progress in printed electronics and paves the way for new market potential across the industrial network.

By fostering these hands-on collaborations, Solar TAP gains deeper insight into practical industry challenges and scaling barriers—reinforcing its role as a vital bridge between pioneering research and real-world application.