PLA Solar Furnace0 pages

NEWS RELEASE
PBC Linear Actuator Gives Green Energy a Lift
Rockford, IL – March 27, 2009
In an economy that is gearing more towards green energy, PBC Linear is helping lay down the initial
framework. Utilizing the high-accuracy PLA linear actuator, a cutting edge US company that
manufactures silicon ingots from solar furnaces is able to sustain smooth, quiet and long-lasting
operation for the their specially designed furnace damper that controls temperature for the ingots
crystals. These ingots, in turn, are used in the production of electricity generating solar panels for
cleaner and renewable energy.
To create a solar panel, silicon ore needs to be
fused in a furnace similar to how glass is made
from sand. These furnaces are immense, and
require a multitude of precision components to
work in harmony for the succesful creation of
silicon ingots. The ingots are then sliced into
thin sheets for the fabrication of the solar
panels. If this delicate process is upset,
production time and cost would exponentially
increase as these furnaces are heated to
thousands of degrees and take days to cool
down for servicing. PBC Linear’s PLA actuator
was installed to control the furnace’s heat
damper during the process cycle. The damper provides precise temperature control during the process.
To control the critical lifting and positioning of the damper, the manufacturer required a linear system
that was low cost, precise and reliable in order to compete on an international level.