Automation company launches solar panel manufacturing facility
December 1, 2010
By
Mary Del
ATS Automation Tooling Systems Inc. recently opened its Photowatt Ontario Green Wing production facility in Cambridge, Ont.
Photowatt Ontario offers turnkey solar project development, installation and solar products. Photowatt Ontario has begun production of Photovoltaic (PV) modules on a new 100MW line at the ATS campus in Cambridge. The "Made in Ontario" production will meet rapidly growing Ontario demand from residential, commercial and industrial markets, as well as large-scale solar fields. The line was designed and built by the ATS Cambridge Automation division.
ATS has made a significant investment to serve the Ontario solar market with module manufacturing and turnkey solar installations, and has initially created 150 jobs at ATS. The company expects to hire more as demand grows.
"I’m extremely pleased to welcome the ATS Green Wing production facility to Ontario’s growing clean energy economy," said Brad Duguid, provincial Energy Minister. "Photowatt Ontario is a great example of how the McGuinty government’s vision for a vibrant renewable energy sector is coming to life. Our new Long-Term Energy Plan will ensure we continue on this path, and that companies like ATS remain an important part of our plan to clean up our air and create thousands of clean energy jobs for Ontarians."
"This is an important new facility for Ontario and Waterloo Region," said John Milloy, MPP for Kitchener Centre and Minister of Training, Colleges and Universities. "This investment by ATS in clean energy is helping to bring the kind of highly-skilled jobs to our province that will help fuel the knowledge economy of the future. It will contribute to a strong and competitive Ontario, and will help keep our environment clean for future generations."
"The module line is one important element of ATS’ Green Wing," said Anthony Caputo, president and CEO, ATS Automation. "We have started with panel manufacturing, but are in numerous discussions with potential partners in many facets of the green energy industry. Industry seeks stability, predictability and steadfast application of rules and regulations. This type of environment will continue to attract investment, respect the competitive process, foster innovation and create new jobs."
