Plextronics Marks the Opening of its New Development Line at a Ribbon-Cutting Ceremony

Plextronics, Inc. hosted a ribbon-cutting ceremony yesterday at its headquarters in Pittsburgh to celebrate the opening of the company’s first manufacturing development line (D-Line).

The D-Line is a small-scale manufacturing facility that will print solar demonstration modules for the purpose of developing its printable solar inks using commercially relevant manufacturing techniques. The modular design of the line will also permit the company to evaluate new processes that will maximize the performance of those inks.

“This line is focused on stimulating the broad market commercialization of our innovative ink systems,” said Andy Hannah, Plextronics’ president and CEO.  “Sometimes, especially in an emerging market like printed electronics, a company must be willing to take the initial steps to demonstrate to the marketplace what’s possible with new technology. That’s what the D-Line does. It allows customers and partners to witness what can be accomplished with the ink and process technology that’s developed right here at Plextronics,” Hannah said.

Approximately 150 guests and employees attended the event on Tuesday held at Plextronics’ facility at UPARC in Hamarville. In addition to Mr. Hannah, speakers at the ribbon-cutting also included Dennis Davin, director, Allegheny County Department of Economic Development; Gregory Fajt, Pennsylvania Governor Ed Rendell’s chief of staff; John Benner, manager of PV Industry Partnerships at the National Renewable Energy Lab, and John Lushetsky, manager of Solar Energy Technologies Program at the Department of Energy’s office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy. The master of ceremonies was Plextronics’ CFO, Sean Rollman.