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Another solar company opening in Wood County
Wood County and Northwest Ohio is emerging as ground zero for the growing solar power industry. The former Delafoil plant along Ohio 25 here in Perrysburg was recently purchased by Spring Grove Trading Company LLC for $7 million. According to the Ohio Secretary of State’s Office, the agent for Spring Grove is Michael Cicak, a local resident with ties to the solar industry. [Cicak is] a Perrysburg Township resident and past president of Solar Cells, forerunner of the now-notable First Solar company which produces photovoltaic solar modules at its township plant in Cedar Business Park.

The Sentinel-Tribune on Friday reported on the purchase, and the possibility that the 250,000 square-foot manufacturing and warehouse facility could be home to a new solar company. Now a local economic development official has confirmed it will in fact be home to a new company specializing in the production of electricity-producing solar modules.

The name of the company is still not being released publicly. However, Tom Blaha, executive director of the Wood County Economic Development Commission, on Friday afternoon confirmed the Sentinel-Tribune’s suspicion that it’s a new solar firm. “They’re not ready to make an announcement yet,” Blaha said. “But I will confirm the answer to your question: It’s a solar company.” Blaha said this development is in keeping with the commission’s desire to attract alternative energy companies to Wood County.

The Perrysburg area already is home to First Solar, one of the world’s fastest growing solar module manufacturing and research firms with its sole North American plant located in Cedar Business Park in Perrysburg Township. And closer to home here in Perrysburg, there’s another solar company, Calyxo USA, part of a German-owned solar company Q-Cells AG. Calyxo is located along Eckel Junction Road, just a few miles north of the Delafoil plant.

Update: The new company, Willard & Kelsey Solar Group LLC, has filed a permit to install a steam boiler, scrubber and other equipment at 1775 Progress Drive, site of the roughly 250,000 square-foot former Delafoil plant situated on the east side of Route 25 just south of Roachton Road.


Local solar power related companies :

Also : University of Toledo Thin Film Silicon Photovoltaic Laboratory


About Delafoil :

Delafoil was a Pennsylvania-based manufacturer of television components that opened its $46 million Perrysburg facility in 1996. The company produced components used in TV picture tubes, including magnetic shields. It was the largest single industrial investment in Perrysburg at the time.

At its peak it employed about 250 workers. But the company fell on hard times when its main customer, LG Phillips, closed its TV production plant in Ottawa and moved to Mexico.

Delafoil attempted restructuring itself, closing its Pennsylvania facility and consolidating operations here in Perrysburg in 2003. The company cut its workforce, received numerous tax breaks, and attempted marketing its magnetic shielding for automotive and construction applications. Delafoil closed for good in 2005.
created by jr on Mar 02, 2008 at 02:28:08 pm
updated by jr on Mar 18, 2008 at 04:51:27 pm     Comments: 6

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tags: alternativeenergy   solarpower   

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Comments ... #

Here's some career opportunities at First Solar, http://tbe.taleo.net/NA3/ats/careers/searchResults.jsp?org=FIRSTSOLAR&cws=1. I would assume that this new company, if it specializes in photo voltaic technology will need similar skills. Anyone know if our local universities provide engineers trained in these various fields, or do our young people have to leave the region to train before returning for employement?

posted by oldsendbrdy on Mar 02, 2008 at 03:46:20 pm     #



Xunlight Corporation was formerly called MWOE Solar.

MWOE Solar, Inc., a technology spin-off from the University of Toledo, engages in the development, manufacture, and marketing of photovoltaic modules that convert sunlight into electricity. The company was founded in 2006 and is headquartered in Toledo, Ohio. MWOE is headquartered at 2600 Dorr Street, Toledo, Ohio. MWOE collaborates closely with the Thin Film Silicon Photovoltaic Laboratory at the University of Toledo.

Past Toledo Talk postings :


From the October 2007 Newsweek article :

Local companies First Solar and Xunlight [formerly MWOE Solar ] were prominently featured, as was the University of Toledo. Why Toledo? Glass is a key component in solar technology, and the University of Toledo has been doing hard-core solar-cell research for two decades.

Photo in the October 2007 Newsweek article :

Bright Lights: Ph.D. students at the Univ. of Toledo holding a solar module


From the December 2007 Wall Street Journal article :

In addition to First Solar, which in 1999 built a factory in Perrysburg that now employs about 600, the University of Toledo is receiving state grants to expand its solar research and incubate thin-film spinoffs. So far, the university has incubated four solar start-ups, including Solar Fields, Xunlight, Innovative Thin Films Ltd. and Advanced Distributed Generation LLC.


From the December 2007 Cleveland Plain Dealer article :

House Speaker Jon Husted was in a festive mood Tuesday as he met the statehouse scribblers for a 64-minute session that put a big ol' red ribbon on 2007 before sending it home for the holidays. He came bearing gifts for reporters, jokingly pulling out a lump of coal before handing out tiny solar panels to all those in attendance. (The back of the solar panel said it was from a University of Toledo program, which technically makes a Husted a "re-gifter." Just saying.)


So to answer the question : "Anyone know if our local universities provide engineers trained in these various fields ..."

I'd guess that UT is a player.

posted by jr on Mar 02, 2008 at 04:16:31 pm     #



It would be interesting to know if graduates are staying in the area, or moving to warmer climes while we get emigrants from other areas.

posted by oldsendbrdy on Mar 02, 2008 at 04:21:49 pm     #



Contact Dr. Xunming Deng, the co-founder of Xunlight Corporation. From the Xunlight Web site :

Dr. Deng, a recognized authority in thin film silicon based photovoltaic, has broad experience in the design, construction, and optimization of high-throughput photovoltaic manufacturing equipment. Dr. Deng received his PhD in physics in 1990 from the University of Chicago with a dissertation focused on amorphous silicon.

Dr. Deng is also a Professor of Physics and Professor of Electrical Engineering at the University of Toledo, and directs UT's Thin Film Silicon Photovoltaic Laboratory. He is currently on a leave of absence from UT to spend full time at Xunlight Corporation.

Prior to joining the UT faculty in 1996, Dr. Deng was Senior Scientist and Project Manager for Photovoltaic Development at Energy Conversion Devices, Inc.'s Machine Division, which builds roll-to-roll PV production lines for amorphous silicon PV module manufacturing.

posted by jr on Mar 02, 2008 at 04:26:25 pm     #



Based upon the 'Careers' Web pages for First Solar-Perrysburg and Xunlight, it's probable that local schools cannot meet the demand, and so people from outside the region relocate here. And not all the jobs require physics or engineering degrees.

Job openings currently listed at

Xunlight

Assistant to the President/CEO
CAD Drafter
Engineering clerk
Electrical Design Technician
Manufacturing Electrical Technician
Manufacturing Equipment Engineer
Manufacturing Equipment Technician
Manufacturing Facility Manager
MFG Operation Manager
MFG Operator
Mechanical Design Engineer
PV Roofing Products Engineer
Sales Engineer Solar Roofing Products
Senior PV Products Engineer
Sr Solar Cell & Module MFG Process Engineer
Thin Film Coating Process Technician


First Solar - Perrysburg Location

YIeld Engineer - Root Cause Engineer
Yield Engineer
Training Analyst
Supplier Quality & Development Engineer
Sr. Development Engineer (Controls and Laser Systems)
SOx IT Compliance / Continuous Improvement Manager
SOx Compliance / Continuous Improvement Manager
Senior Analyst, FP&A
Reliablity Engineer
Quality Assurance Engineer
Project Manager, Inventory Control
Project Manager, Continuous Improvement
Project Engineer III
Program Manager - Development Engineering
Production Material Engineering Manager
Portal Developer and System Administrator
Payroll Supervisor
MIS Project Manager - Replication
Materials Engineer
Manufacturing Engineer - Coater
Manufacturing Engineer
Manager, Process Development Engineer
Manager, Financial Planning & Analysis
Manager, Financial Analysis
Manager, Disruptive Technologies
Maintenance Technician
Key Supplier Account Manager (KSAM) – Wire and Metal
Key Supplier Account Manager (KSAM) - Substrate Glass
Key Supplier Account Manager (KSAM) - Polymers and Plastics
Key Supplier Account Manager (KSAM) - Logistics
Key Supplier Account Manager (KSAM) - Cover Glass
Helpdesk - Technician C crew
Global Purchasing Manager
Global Plant Controller
Global Infrastructure Manager
Financial Systems Manager
ERP Systems Analyst
ERP Developer
Equipment Project Manager
EHS Technician
Development Engineering Tech I - Front Contact Dev.
Development Engineer, Surface Chemistry
Development Engineer, Device Modeling
Development Engineer, Characterization Tools
Development Engineer Tech I
Development Engineer Finishing
Developer, Manufacturing Systems
Developer
Customer Operations Manager
Corporate Industrial Hygiene Manager
Controls Engineer II
Compensation Analyst
Commodity Manager, Wire, Connectors and Metal
Commodity Manager, Polymers and Plastics
Commodity Manager, Packaging
Commodity Manager, Cover Glass
Commodity Manager, Capital Equipment
Autodesk Systems Administrator
Application Engineer
Accounts Payable Analyst
Accountant

posted by jr on Mar 02, 2008 at 04:42:44 pm     #



"At its peak it employed about 250 workers. But the company fell on hard times when its main customer, LG Phillips, closed its TV production plant in Ottawa and moved to Mexico."
Another reason not to buy an LG TV.

posted by justareviewer on Mar 02, 2008 at 07:03:17 pm     #