Global Market Leader for PV Connectors
Interviewee：Matthias Mack, Key Account Manager of PV business of Multi-Contact

　　Multi-Contact, the global market leader for the PV connectors, offers the whole product range starting from connecting systems to cables and junction box solutions, as well as the whole system solution to make the connection of PV panel itself. As a global company, Multi-Contact has global production sites in Germany, America and China. In China, Multi-Contact is located in Hangzhou, together with its mother company Staubli.

　　“Our main advantages compared to other competitors are quality and the capability to deliver, which is not usual in the PV industry overall.” said Mr. Mack. He mentioned the MC3 and MC4 connector lines, the new PV cables, and junction box solutions for cross-line PV panels, for automated assembly solutions like the foxbox, and also for thin-film panel solutions. “We produce them according to a very high quality level.”

　　MC’s key to success, Matthias said, is continuous improvement, which means to come with new products to the market year by year, to have innovative products and to keep the position as market leader.
　　China is becoming a very promising market for Multi-Contact. There’re now more than 10 sales people working on their customer relationship management. “Our goal is to develop special customized solutions together with our top customers.” To meet the market challenge, MC’s strategy is to have a whole product portfolio for all kinds of PV market. Second is to be closely together with system integrators, because finally the system integrators have big influence on the PV connector system which will be chosen for the installations.

　　“We see clearly in the market trend that the system integrators and PV companies focus more and more on quality. Only those makers who offer high quality can survive.” Mr. Mack said. PV panels have to stay at least 25 years or even longer out under rough conditions, so quality has to be an important topic.
MC also sees the importance of cost reduction. “So we improve our process. We invest in new production lines. We shorten our production time. And all these steps will have influence on our costs.” said Mr. Mack.

　　In the future, MC is planning to come with automated products to the market by strengthening more and more the relationship to its mother company Staubli, because the automations solutions which Staubli is very strong in is also one general request from the PV market.Reportor: Michelle

 　　史陶比尔集团主要生产和销售纺织机械、连接器、工业机器人，其制造、销售及维护服务遍布全世界，是世界上最重要的梭口形成开口机械（凸轮开口装置、电子多臂机和电子提花机）制造集团。史陶比尔（杭州）精密机械电子有限公司作为史陶比尔法国公司的全资子公司，是史陶比尔集团在欧洲境外设立的第一家制造工厂，公司选址于浙江省杭州经济技术开发区，总投资额732万欧元，一期工程于1998年竣工，1999年正式投产； 2003年又进行了二期工程的扩建，建筑面积达6600平方米。公司主要从事制造和销售高技术的精密机电设备，特别是用于纺织机械开口的机器和零件以及与此有关的各类服务活动。