SMA Canada Production Underway at Ontario Manufacturing Facility

April 14, 2011 - PRLog -- TORONTO—Production of the SMA Sunny Boy and Sunny Central solar inverters is underway in Ontario. These residential, commercial and utility-scale devices are being assembled by Celestica, a global leader in the delivery of end-to-end product lifecycle solutions, to meet Ontario’s microFiT and FiT domestic content requirements.

Celestica will initially produce the SMA Sunny Boy 3000-US, 4000-US, 5000-US, 6000-US, 7000-US and 8000-US inverters, as well as the Sunny Central 500HE model. Celestica’s operations will follow a flexible concept, with the ability to quickly adjust production to meet the needs of Ontario’s fast-growing solar market.

To comply with the area’s domestic content requirement, Celestica will assemble all of SMA’s products at its Toronto operation.

“SMA chose to work with Celestica at its Canadian operations based on its reputation for highest-quality manufacturing and ability to rapidly scale-up with growing demand,” said Scott Crabtree, managing director of SMA Canada. ”We are very pleased to be working with such a capable group and look forward to a successful collaboration.”

Crabtree, who leads SMA’s U.S.-based assembly in Denver, will also oversee the company’s Canadian efforts.

SMA’s 3,000- to 8,000-watt Sunny Boy models, which are ULC (Underwriters Laboratories Canada) Certified, are part of the world’s most popular line of solar inverters. Not only does the Sunny Boy line feature class-leading efficiency and reliability, but the longevity of these inverters is enhanced via SMA’s patented OptiCool™ active temperature-management system and rugged cast-aluminum, outdoor-rated enclosure. They include a 10-year factory warranty, with the ability to extend up to 20 years.

The utility-scale Sunny Central 500HE (high efficiency) features a maximum output of 550 kVA and integrated grid-management features. By connecting to an external medium-voltage transformer to accommodate long distance power feeds to distribution substations, the Sunny Central 500HE is ideal for utility installations. Its industry-leading maximum efficiency of 98.6 percent results in an outstanding energy yield. The Sunny Central 500HE is available with a 99 percent uptime guarantee.

“Ontario has taken an admirable leadership role in promoting renewable energy,” said Jurgen Krehnke, president and general manager of SMA America and president of SMA Canada. “SMA is pleased to support the Ontario Green Energy Act by bringing local production to Ontario.”

About SMA
The SMA Group, with sales of 1.9 billion euros in 2010, is the world market leader for solar inverters, a component that lies at the heart of every solar power system. Its headquarters is situated in Niestetal near Kassel and it also has 17 foreign subsidiaries situated on four continents. In 2010, the Corporate Group employed over 5,000 persons (including temporary staff). SMA produces a wide spectrum of inverter types, the optimal inverter for each type of solar module used and offers all the power classes required for solar power systems. The product portfolio includes both inverters for grid-connected solar power systems and stand-alone systems. Since 2008, the parent company SMA Solar Technology AG has been listed in the Prime Standard of the Frankfurt Securities Exchange (S92) and in the TecDAX. Over the past few years, SMA has received several awards for its outstanding performance as an employer and lately reached first place in the federal “Great Place to Work” competition. www.SMA-Canada.ca

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SMA Canada—a subsidiary of SMA Solar Technology AG, headquartered in Germany—provides Canada with the world’s finest inverter, control and monitoring products for renewable energy sources, primarily solar.