SMA Solar Technology (SMA) is investing in electronics production. Around €12 million will be invested in the expansion of PCB production at the Niestetal/Kassel site by the end of 2024 in order to meet growing demand for solar and battery inverters. A total of around 50 new employees are to be hired by the end of 2024.
"With the expansion and modernization of electronics production here in Niestetal, we are strengthening Germany as a location and creating attractive jobs in the region," says Klaus Petry, Executive Vice President Global Operations at SMA. "This is an important step in expanding our innovative strength and reducing dependencies in the supply chain in the long term."
In the expanded electronics production facility, employees manufacture and test PCBs for the new generation of SMA solar and battery inverters. The modern PCBs are equipped with significantly more components and electronic chips. Although the new inverters are equipped with larger components, their design makes them more compact and more powerful. This also makes it easier to assemble, install and service the devices. In electronics production, robot technology, among other things, ensures that the resulting workstations meet high ergonomic requirements and that the handling of the larger circuit boards is optimally secured.
SMA is currently experiencing increased demand for systems and solutions for PV systems and battery-storage systems. In addition to the expansion of electronics production, the company is also currently investing in a new production hall. The new SMA GIGAWATT Factory, which will almost double SMA's production capacity from 21 to 40 GW, will be used to manufacture systems for large-scale PV and storage systems from 2025. The topping-out ceremony has just been held for the shell of the building on the approximately 46,000 square meter site on the A7 freeway. In the coming weeks, the installation of the production's own solar system on the new roof of the new building will begin.
