Cognex has further expanded its range of inspection solutions for solar cell manufacturing processes. The new VisionPro Solar Toolbox includes pre-configured software tools for the most common vision alignment and inspection applications in photovoltaic (PV) solar production. With the addition of the Solar Toolbox, users have the option of working either with the basic VisionPro software library, or using the pre-configured tool set as a starting point for setting up vision inspection and alignment applications. VisionPro software's full range of industry-leading tools for location, identification, and inspection can also be leveraged throughout the value chain to help manufacturers achieve higher quality, faster throughput, and better process control.

"Efficient solar cell manufacturing needs very high-performance vision to handle tougher inspections, faster production speeds, and enable full wafer-to-panel traceability," said Markku Jaaskelainen, Executive Vice President and Business Unit Manager for Vision Software. "As the solar production process advances and becomes more automated, using vision will be a critical way for manufacturers to achieve process efficiencies, improve equipment performance and control production costs." Cognex offers a full range of vision products to help equipment makers, line builders and manufacturers take advantage of advanced vision technology at every step of the manufacturing process.

VisionPro software: Offers an affordable, flexible and powerful alternative to standalone inspection systems and can be used with any camera, frame grabber, or direct-connect digital standard.

In-Sight Vision Systems: Powerful, compact vision systems that can be easily retrofitted onto existing production lines to immediately enhance processes from inspecting bare wafers to verifying assembly of the final solar panel.

DataMan Industrial ID Readers: The industry's most powerful handheld and fixed-mount code readers enable high speed wafer handling and full wafer-to-panel traceability.

Checker Vision Sensors: Low cost, high performance options for dedicated part detection or measurement applications.

SmartView Web and Surface Inspection: Solutions for detecting and classifying surface defects in solar glass and plastic substrates.

In addition to inspection, alignment and ID solutions for PV production, Cognex also offers a wide-range of products for thin film solar production, including surface inspection solutions and ID products for traceability throughout the manufacturing process.