iFIX EAST-WEST to follow the sun
iFIX EAST-WEST is the youngest member of the iFIX family, offering solar power consumers better performance, generating more electricity and fewer CO2 emissions. The new mounting system for solar panels benefits from voestalpine Automotive Components Schwäbisch Gmünd know-how in solar power and high efficiency cold forming.
More from the sun.
At our latitudes it has long been regarded as essential for PV systems to face South in order to capture the sun’s rays at their greatest intensity. However, consumers wishing to use the electricity they themselves generate (prosumers) are better served when the panels can produce power throughout the day—which is possible with a so-called East-West orientation. This enables the panels to start operating sooner and for longer, and with a greater overall output, rather than focusing on a typical midday peak. Furthermore, the particular mode of construction for East-West orientations allows a greater concentration of PV panels to be installed on a single roof. That makes these installations the better solution for prosumers.
Less material.
The new version of the iFIX mounting system allows voestalpine Automotive Components Schwäbisch Gmünd to play to its strengths: high efficiency cold forming and many years’ experience in manufacturing PV systems. The team worked together with the sales partners for almost three years to create a new solution which could not only compete with, but also outstrip, competitor products: compared to the iFIX 1.0, the material used in its production was reduced by two-thirds, with no loss of functionality. Another plus for reducing CO2 emissions.
Weatherproof for green electricity.
Wind and snow are a heavy burden for solar installations. For that reason, the developers tested the mounted PV module by subjecting it to 4,800 kg of weight, demonstrating its ability to stand up to bad weather. This resistance is due to the construction material: sister company voestalpine Stahl gave the steel plate used in the new iFIX a zinc-magnesium coating. The constructors are now also provided with an app—an easy-to-operate online tool jointly developed with customers—to help plan the installations. Whether South or East-West, the path always leads to greater sustainability.
