Our beginning was a difficult one. In 1996 with a major shortage of silicon feedstock for the solar industry SRS was asked by (at the time) the largest solar manufacturer in the world to try to “clean” their pot scrap. We tried for 2 months until the first successful single crystal ingot was grown from un-etched pot scrap. This was a first for this industry.
With the tight market conditions for feedstock and this company’s worldwide relationships they were able to secure a large supply of pot scrap from all over the world and had it shipped to SRS in Oxnard, California. Now we had to follow up the success of our tests with the same quality for production. That was not an easy task, however we did it, over and over again with great success.
Now with over 3000 metric tons of SRS processed pot scrap in solar cells worldwide, we are the world leader in silicon feedstock processing for the solar industry.
A lot has happened since then.
| 1996 | SRS incorporates. |
| 1997 | SRS developed our own software (PolySortTM<) for testing pot scrap and tops & tails for type and resistivity. |
| 1998 | SRS moved into our current location in Camarillo, California. |
| 1998 | SRS began qualification on processing Poly Silicon. |
| 1999 | SRS expanded to 40 employees to handle the demand for our services. |
| 1999 | SRS was qualified for processed Poly Silicon for solar application. |
| 2000 | SRS was awarded the second largest loan of its kind from the Recycling Market Development Zone (RMDZ) for diverting pot scrap, quartz, graphite, and other related materials from landfills. |
| 2000 | SRS expanded once again, adding 10,000 sq.ft. for a total of 21,000 sq. ft. of production space. |
| 2000 | SRS started construction of our current facility. Adding an additional 2,000 sq. ft. upstairs for processing of wafers. Enclosing 1,500 sq. ft. for our etch line, clean room and waste treatment facility. 2000 SRS received its first Waste Reduction Award Program (W.R.A.P.) award from the State of California. |
| 2001 | SRS finished construction and hired our chemical engineer. |
| 2001 | SRS received its second W.R.A.P. award. |
| 2001 | SRS received its first Certificate of Recognition for the Governor’s Environmental and Economic Leadership Award. 2002 SRS started qualification for “Toll Etching” for semiconductor customers, breaking for poly silicon manufactures, and has been qualified for selling tested, etched, and bagged silicon feedstock for the solar industry. |
| 2003 | SRS receives its third consecutive W.R.A.P. award. 2004 SRS joint venture to build and develop a recharge system. |
| 2004 | SRS receives its fourth consecutive W.R.A.P. award. |
| 2004 | SRS qualifies to etch solar and semiconductor ingot. |
| 2004 | SRS opens office in Beijing and expands production capacity and sales in China. |
| 2005 | SRS begins ingot production and solar wafer sales. |
| 2005 | SRS receives patent for recharge system. |
| 2005 | SRS increases etching through put by 30%. |
| 2006 | SRS is purchased by ersol Solar Energy AG a German wafer and cell manufacturer. |
| 2007 | Obtains its ISO 9001: 2000 Quality Certification. |
| 2008 | Obtains its ISO 14001: 2004 Environmental and OHAS 18001: 2007 Health & Safety Certifications |
| 2008 | The Ersol Group is acquired by Robert Bosch GmbH. |
| 2009 | The Ventura County Recycled Materials Development Zone (RMDZ) chooses SRS to host the celebration of passing the $100 MM level with loans to the recycling industry. |
| 2010 | A Management Buyout is completed by Robert Bushman and Eric Baldwin and the company is renamed Solarsilicon Recycling Services, LLC. |
It is SRS’s core business to take unusable silicon and process it into usable feedstock for solar applications. Many poly silicon manufacturers have tried to sell this type of material into the solar industry directly without success, due to contamination and/or impurities.
These are not the only problems for suppliers. There are sales, support, handling, and claims. This is where SRS comes in. There is no hassle; we sell all of our products as just that, “Ours”.
We process and certify all materials in our plant with no disclosure of our supplier’s names. We sell it directly to solar manufacturers in our own proprietary boxes and assume all responsibility for the quality, with no repercussions to our suppliers.
Being qualified for “crucible ready” silicon is something that has been needed for the solar industry for years and SRS has and will continue meeting those needs. Under current market conditions it is difficult to continue to grow. However SRS has experienced growth every year since its inception.
Part of our success is from our aggressive approach to the solar industry. We will continue to look at the future of this industry and try to stay one step ahead of their needs.
