Hi-Tec Spray Teams Up With Solar Energy Company

Kent-based coatings specialist Hi-Tec Spray Ltd has been chosen to design, build and install equipment for the world's leading manufacturer of solar power generation systems.

Sharp Manufacturing Company of UK, which launched production of solar modules at its Wrexham factory, North Wales, earlier this year for use in residential systems, office buildings, solar power stations and beacons, among other things, commissioned Hi-Tec Spray to construct a mobile unit which de-gasses and dispenses a silicone compound to seal soldered connections inside the modules.

The system, which incorporates two stainless steel pressure pots fitted with air-powered agitator units, forces out any air bubbles trapped in the silicone solution and allows one batch to be prepared while another is being dispensed.

Hi-Tec Spray's managing director, Garry Dowling, said: 'Each pot has an automatic valve fitted to allow the operator to easily select material preparation or dispense modes.

It also means they can control the rate at which the material is dispensed.' Sharp placed the order with Hi-Tec Spray after seeing a similar Graco-supplied system in action at its USA plant in Memphis, Tennessee, last year.

Hi-Tec Spray then custom-built a unit to suit Sharp's requirements at the Wrexham production site.

Sharp senior project engineer Steve Perry said: 'Air inclusion into the silicone compound is an issue for us because it affects the quality of the final product.

Hi-Tec Spray's equipment enables us to de-gas the material in vacuum reservoirs prior to metering.' Hi-Tec Spray distributes spraying, finishing and pumping equipment for top international manufacturers including Graco, Wagner, ITW DeVilbiss, ITW Binks, Kremlin, Sames, Anest Iwata and Sagola.

The company is based in Kent and has a regional network of seven depots covering Manchester, Bristol, Stowmarket, Maidstone, Birmingham, Dartford and Southampton.

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