Quality is key for Sputnik

Biel (ots) - "First, we simulate new circuit topologies on the
computer," explains Pascal Felder, manager of SolarMax string
inverter development at Sputnik. "Not until everything functions in
theory and we are achieving high efficiency with the new switching
concept, do we construct the separate hardware groups." These include
the boost converter, the inverter and the auxiliary power supply for
the inverter. For the safety-relevant components, Sputnik selects
only those which have received the VDE (German Association of
Electrical Engineers) Institute's GS label for testerd personal
safety, which is recognised worldwide.

50 tests and 18 years' experience

"Sputnik has defined the type tests itself," says Felder, adding:
"Experience gained in 18 years' development work has gone into the
60-page test manual." It contains about 50 tests which take a Sputnik
quality engineer two to three weeks to perform. The collected
experiences from previous series feed into the internal type-test
requirements.

"The isolation test enables us to guarantee that the inverter is
safe before it is switched on for the first time," Sputnik's quality
manager, Andreas Hämmerli, explains. At this stage, the assembly of
the device is complete, apart from the cover. If it passes the test,
Sputnik's production staff put the device - with cover - through the
function and long-term load test. Here too the '100%-quality
principle' applies: Sputnik tests every single device.

"Our aim is that at least 98% of the devices pass the function and
long-term load test. And, thanks to the quality of our inverter
assembly, we are achieving this," says Hämmerli, delighted. "We
record all the assembly faults. They feed into the statistics." This
gives the engineers an outstanding overview of the quality of their
products.

Competent service team

Also in the field: Sputnik has deliberately not outsourced its
customer hotline, but integrated it into the 19-strong After Sales
team at the company's head office in Biel. Hotline staff find out
their customers' concerns on the telephone in German, English,
French, Italian and Spanish. They work with the service technicians
in the same department to evaluate the error reports. Information
from the hotline is stored in a database. This is based on open
source software and constantly updated by a broad spectrum of
colleagues working together. The hotline enters urgent problems into
a database developed by Sputnik. Staff involved in solving the
problems exchange information and files on this platform.

Safety and quality tested

Sputnik does not just test its products internally. In addition to
the extensive in-house tests, Sputnik has the inverters tested by the
VDE Institute and TÜV Rheinland (the German certifying body for
product safety). The two independent testing institutes carry out
type tests of new models. Each year they come to Sputnik's
manufacturing plants to see for themselves on the spot that the Swiss
manufacturer only markets products corresponding to the tested model.
The TÜV then awards the 'TÜV type approved' certificate and the VDE
Institute grants them the 'GS seal' for product safety.

Both TÜV and the VDE Institute certify that Sputnik's devices are
safe. On the other hand, the international ISO 9001:2000 standard
guarantees that Sputnik has adapted its processes for the development
and production of high-quality products. ISO 9001:2000 guarantees
that the main processes and procedures of a company are defined,
described and documented according to rules applicable worldwide and
are implemented accordingly. In September 2008 the Swiss Association
for Quality and Management Systems certified Sputnik according to ISO
9001:2000 for its management system.

"Our ISO 9001:2000-certified management system is structured in
such a way that even in this phase of rapid growth, it can be adapted
to the changing requirements particularly quickly and successfully.
The high quality of our products is the result of efficient
processes," explains Sputnik's quality manager, Andreas Hämmerli, -
from development to service provision.

About Sputnik Engineering AG

Sputnik Engineering AG was established in 1991 by Christoph von
Bergen und Philipp Müller. The company focuses on development, sales
and maintenance of inverters for grid-connected PV systems. With the
SolarMax series the company with headquarters in Biel (Switzerland)
offers a wide range of string inverter products for individual houses
and central inverters for solar power stations. Our products are
based on long-standing experience and continuous optimisation and are
characterised by cutting-edge technology, high quality, reliability,
maximum yields and an excellent price/performance ratio.

Sputnik Engineering currently has around 230 staff at the Swiss
company headquarters and in subsidiaries in Neuhausen (Germany),
Madrid (Spain), Milan (Italy) and Paris (France). This year the
company expects to produce SolarMax string and central inverters with
a total capacity of 420 megawatts.

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Sputnik Engineering AG
Höheweg 85 2502 Biel / Bienne, Switzerland
Tel.: +41 (0) 32 346 5600
Fax: +41 (0) 32 346 5609
sputnik@solarmax.com
http://www.solarmax.com

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