Roots of the business date back to the late 1960's, to the former 'ecotec GmbH' producing Black-Forest clocks, and then later, selective soldering equipment for the automotive and electronics industries. In 2004 the company was reformed into the new ACI ecoTec GmbH & Co. KG with a new strategic focus.

Photovoltaics
Since its formation, ACI ecoTec has worked quickly to optimise manufacturing processes with innovative developments for the photovoltaic industry in the production of wafers, cells and modules for both Thin-Film and Crystalline technologies.

Amongst other products, this has resulted in the patent registered ecoSplit™, the world’s first fully-automated system for wafer separation to maximise the productivity of delicate wafer separation.

The ecoCarrier™ improves process reliability during the manufacture, transport and storage of silicon cells and wafers.

With ecoContact™ the automation specialist achieved another world-wide “First” development, the first fully-automated and highly flexible contact-line for Thin-Film modules and flexible cells.

In addition, the company develops turnkey and customised solutions together with various key partners.

Automotive
ACI ecoTec has also become renowned for the development of optimising manufacturing processes in the Automotive Industry. In this branch ACI ecoTec develop and build customised automated solutions for a diversity of applications.
Well known companies such as BERU, Schrader Electronics and Hechinger are amongst its references.

Furthermore the automation specialist offers OEM solutions including the innovative workpiece pallet–transfer system ecoTrans®.
Based on standardised components, modular assembly and an effective drive concept, it is possible to equip manual, semi-automated and fully-automated production lines in a highly flexible and very economic way.

The ecoLoad™ is a flexible loading system of parts from the standard ‘Europalette’ to inline processing cells using robotics and vision systems.

New Capacities for new challenges
To be prepared for future new challenges, the automation specialist will move into a new office and production building located in Zimmern ob Rottweil in the autumn of 2009. The direct connection to the motorway A81 improves accessibility to customers compared to the current location, St. Georgen, which in parts will remain. This will further improve access to a potential skill base of employees, who are needed for future growth.

The Shareholders and the Managing Director not only see this new growth of further development and new solutions in the Photovoltaic and Automotive Industry, but also for other new and emerging technologies like fuel cells and plastic electronics.

Particular attention is paid towards training apprentices in administration and technology, as they are vital in guaranteeing the future of the business.
Employees need specific knowledge and the best way to train them is with the help of an apprenticeship. That is why approximately 10% of the team are apprentices.

Stronger and highly productive in the Group
The Shareholders of the ACI-group have created a solid company network to react very flexibly to their customers requirements and to offer diversity in applications from a single group.
In addition to ACI ecoTec, and as part of the ACI-group,ACI ecoPower distributes high quality PV products, acp – Advanced Clean Production GmbH concentrates on CO₂ snow-jet cleaning, micro dispensing systems and measuring technology, acp-IT AG is focusing on IT solutions for planning and production, boraIdent GmbH is focusing in the technologies of laser marking and identification of glass products using microstructures in glass, whilst AFT Automation & Feinwerkstechnik GmbH is specialising in installation and handling systems for micro-assembly.

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