7 February 2012

OPEL announces management change

OPEL Technologies Inc of Toronto, Ontario, Canada, which makes high-concentration photovoltaic (HCPV) panels and solar tracker systems through its subsidiary OPEL Solar Inc and develops III-V semiconductor devices and processes through US affiliate OPEL Defense Integrated Systems (ODIS Inc) of Shelton, CT, has made changes to its management team.

Chief operating officer Francisco (Frank) Middleton came out of retirement six years ago to develop OPEL’s HCPV technology and universal solar tracking systems. Over the years, he has seen the rise of OPEL’s worldwide acceptance within the CPV and tracker businesses. Now that OPEL is experiencing continuing growth, especially with its solar trackers, Middleton is transitioning back into retirement.

On an interim basis, OPEL Technologies’ CEO Leon M. Pierhal will direct OPEL Solar’s marketing activities, with the support of the sales & marketing staff. The firm says that its management and board remain optimistic that its efforts will result in strong growth in both its solar and semiconductor lines of business.

“We are experiencing tremendous sales momentum in the area of our universal solar tracking systems,” says Pierhal. “At the Annual General Meeting, I discussed refocusing OPEL Solar to meet the increasing worldwide demand for tracking systems,” he adds. “Over the recent months, OPEL has been actively responding to numerous proposal requests for utility-scale projects requiring solar trackers for different types of PV technologies. In fact, our pivot to tracking systems has generated such activity that, to meet the demand, OPEL has shifted resources from our CPV business in order to devote the required attention to solar trackers.”

In addition, the ODIS group continues to grow to meet its goals. “ODIS continues to successfully forge ahead in its POET development program to achieve its expected milestones,” says Pierhal.

POET creates high-performance devices by fusing optical and electronic functions together on a single chip. Specifically, POET is a semiconductor manufacturing process that enables the monolithic fabrication of gallium arsenide (GaAs) integrated circuits containing both electronic and optical elements on a single wafer. OPEL says that, offering devices with dramatically lower costs and increased speed, density and reliability, POET could potentially impact a broad range of mobile and server applications with reduced power consumption compared with conventional silicon-based devices.

Dr Javier Berrios is taking on an expanded role as VP of engineering & new product development. He will continue in his current engineering capacity within the solar business, but his background in photonics will be of strategic importance to support the ongoing POET development and ODIS’ semiconductor business plan, OPEL concludes.

See related items:

OPEL raises $10m from Kodiak Capital

Tags: OPEL CPV

Visit: www.opeltechinc.com