Futura and solar manufacturers

Futura Industries is the largest domestic supplier to the solar energy technology space. We manufacture and supply highly complex anodized aluminum extrusions and precision dimensioned products for both the panels and the mounting systems. Our customers are engaged in a wide variety of the solar energy technologies including:

PV: Photovoltaic

• Copper Indium Gallium Selenide (CIGS) - Its main use is for photovoltaic cells (CIGS cells), in the form of polycrystalline thin films. CIGS solar cells are not as efficient as crystalline silicon solar cells -- they are only about half as efficient, but they are expected to be substantially cheaper. CIGS can be printed directly onto molybdenum coated glass sheets. Solar cells made from crystalline silicon are made of slices of solid silicon and require therefore more expensive semiconductor material
• Monocrystalline - made from a single large crystal, cut from ingots. Most efficient, but also the most expensive. Somewhat better in low light conditions (but not as good as some advertising hype would have you believe).
• Polycrystalline - basically, cast blocks of silicon which may contain many small crystals. This is probably the most common type right now. Slightly less efficient than single crystal, but once set into a frame with 35 or so other cells, the actual difference in watts per square foot is not much.
• Amorphous - "thin film", here the silicon is spread directly on large plates, usually of something like stainless steel. Cheaper to produce, but often much less efficient, which means larger panels for the same power.
  

Solar Mounting and Accessories Systems - These are systems engineered for the maximum flexibility possible in planning, locating, and installing a PV array. On the roof or the ground, solar mounting components assemble into structures that support a variety of PV array configurations.

Concentrated Solar Power (CSP) - has been reliably used in the US for over 30 years. These systems have been engineered for desert locations covering hundreds of acres and producing power at grid parity costs. We supply components to the manufacturers that use CSP, producing cost effective and reliable renewable energy.

Concentrator Photovoltaic Arrays (CPV) - This type of system utilizes accurate 2-axis sun tracking systems to capture even more of the available sun energy.The high energy output from a more efficient system, and the savings in costly semiconductor area make the application of CPV technology economically advantageous. As Concentrator PV arrays advance on their projected learning curve (high volume manufacturing , increased cell efficiency to > 40%) this technology will continue to dramatically reduce the cost of generating electricity from solar energy.

Cellular manufacturing

Using Lean Manufacturing techniques such as cellular manufacturing, flow is critical to achieving the optimum price per unit during production. At Futura Industries, we have skilled in-house engineers dedicated to each value stream in our plant. Our engineers will make a custom cellular work area that will allow for the best flow of your product. We only design and build this process for high volume shapes such as our solar panel framing and automotive market customers. Solar Panel frames represent a product that usually requires precision mitering and hole/slot placement. Customers with large volumes need dedicated work cells that will create the efficiencies to keep cost down. Customers of Futura Industries can expect creative engineering and state of the art design in creating a manufacturing cell that is capable of producing both high volume and high quality products to meet your expectations. Solar panel manufacturers provide products that have a in use life expectancy of nearly 25 years in the field. Using Anodized Aluminum framing for solar panel outside applications is a good example of the benefits of using aluminum.