Advanced Solar Photonics has announced that it has expanded production of its 400 Watt monocrystalline solar panels manufactured in Florida.

The capacity expansion includes an enhanced production line that features a combined tabbing and stringing machine and the use of robotics to reduce the handling time for solar cells.

The process has the latest vision alignment system and non-contact induction soldering to ensure a flawless process.

On the line, a string to glass layup system is matched to a stringer machine. An integrated optical monitoring function for cell and string defects helps to reduce any machine downtimes.

In addition, the line features a high capacity Meier laminator that encapsulates up to four 96 cell laminates at one time. ASP will be securing an additional high capacity laminator in the third quarter of 2012. The company's production capacity for 2012 is now 100 MW.

The ASP 400 Watt series is a higher efficiency PV module with 96 monocrystalline cells. In utility scale applications using 400 Watt modules, a project would require less modules, less connectors, less racking, less copper ground wire, and less weeb lugs - all in a smaller footprint. Reduced materials allows for less shipping, less labor and less cost.