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Owens Design

Engineering, Technical Manufacturing and Program Management

CASE STUDIES

Optimizing Production Line for Assembly and Test

Owens Design enables our customers to optimize their production lines through careful selection and integration of process technologies and automating the right process steps. Our expertise in machine control and factory interface software ensures production implementation success. In one example, we were able to develop and deploy high speed production systems that processed raw stock into fully finished and tested thin film solar cell devices, reducing processing cost by 10x.

Business Proposition

The CTO at a large thin film solar manufacturer was under tremendous pressure to reduce their product cost. He believed it would be possible to insource the production of a critical electrical component which would reduce its cost by a factor of 10, but did not have the time or available staff to prove it out.

Working with a small team at Owens, the proposed manufacturing process was demonstrated by conducting multiple proof of process steps in parallel. Once the process risk was eliminated, Owens developed the overall manufacturing system which included web handling, die punching, heat staking, electrical test, metal cutting, and vision inspection. The process worked as expected and multiple systems were installed in low cost regions.

Assembling active components onto polymer strip

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Electrical device assembly

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In-line electrical test

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Heat staking and vision inspection

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Incoming polymer feed roll and die cut station

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Metal blank shearing station

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Off-feed station

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Assembly and test module

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Output pick table and vacuum end effector

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Polymer strip cutting mechanism

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Active components delivered via tray and vacuum pick

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Heat staking, vision inspection, and in-line electrical test

Technical Details

  • Processes
    • Web handling of polymer backing and metal interconnects
    • Die punching
    • Heat staking
    • Electrical test
    • Metal cut
    • Metrology and inspection
  • Automation
    • Roll infeed with tension control
    • Automated slitting
    • Tray handling
    • Final vision inspection

Testimonial

“Having worked with Owens Design on multiple projects in the semiconductor and solar industries, I have found they can quickly solve some of my toughest automation problems. They were a great help in meeting very tight deadlines when we had to quickly ramp manufacturing.”

Director of Engineering

Services

  • Product Design & Build
  • Difficult-to-Outsource Manufacturing
  • Factory Equipment Design & Build

Markets

  • Semiconductor and Display Capital Equipment
  • Medical Device
  • Solar and Energy Storage
  • Data Storage
  • Emerging Technologies

Applications Expertise

  • Laser Process Development
  • Materials Handling
  • Process Technology Integration
  • Control Systems and Software
  • Flexible Manufacturing

About Us

  • Our Team
  • Career Opportunities
  • Blog • News & Events
  • Contact Us
  • Privacy Policy
  • Home

Case Studies

  • Wafer Flipper Module for Manufacturing Processes
  • Wafer Heat and Cool Stations
  • Semiconductor Platform for Metrology and Inspection
  • Phased Automation Strategy for Emerging Technology
  • Rapid Production Ramp in Solar Cell Processing
  • Expertise in Medical Technology Manufacturing
  • Enabling Volume Manufacturing for Hard Disk Drive Media
  • Optimizing Production Line for Assembly and Test
  • Product Upgrades for Film Frame Handling

Contact Information

Owens Design
47427 Fremont Blvd.
Fremont, CA 94538
Get Directions ›

T: 510.659.1800
F: 510.659.1896
Sales: 510.770.8479
sales@owensdesign.com

Connect with us

Site Credit: Bright Bird Creative blank   :   Copyright © 2022, Owens Design, Inc. All rights reserved.

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