News

ATS, SSP and ElkCorp to Develop PV Products

December 29, 2003 by Jeff Shepard

ATS Automation Tooling Systems Inc. (Cambridge, ON, Canada), its subsidiary Spheral Solar™ Power (SSP) and Elk Premium Building Products Inc. (Elk), a subsidiary of ElkCorp., announced they have entered into a memorandum of understanding to work together to design, manufacture, test and commercialize a new generation of fully integrated photovoltaic (PV) roofing products, primarily for use in residential buildings.

The new products will take advantage of Elk's knowledge and expertise in the residential roofing materials market and the qualities of SSP technology. The companies will bring expertise to developing building-integrated PV products, which have long been considered the ultimate solution for the photovoltaic industry because significant reductions in material and installation costs can be achieved by making the photovoltaics an integral part of a building.

SSP President Milfred Hammerbacher said, "Finding strong partners in the building materials industry is key to our commercialization plan. Elk brings to this relationship a wealth of experience, earned over the past 45-plus years, in the roofing industry and a proven track record of technological innovation. We are excited to have them involved in the development of truly innovative building products utilizing our new Spheral Solar™ technology."