As a pioneer in the field of photovoltaic (PV) connectors, Multi-Contact looks back on many years of experience in the solar industry

What are your predictions for 2010?

We are expecting strong growth again for 2010. PV installations are becoming increasingly profitable thanks to higher degrees of efficiency and lower costs.

What do you consider your main challenges?

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The environmental conditions of PV installations are extreme, and put high demands on all components. Both customers and installers attach great importance to safety and reliability.

What are the characteristics of an outstanding product?

Take connectors, for example: UV resistance, IP67 protection and touch protection are standard. If you want to stand out, you need to provide additional advantages. In the case of Multi-Contact, the decisive factor is the quality of the electrical contacts. The basis is the unique MC Multilam Technology. It provides for high contact quality which increases the efficiency and the output of the installation.

What are Multi-Contact’s plans for the future?

The development of the PV connector is not finished yet – there are still many possibilities to increase the efficiency or to simplify the installation. In 1996, we were the first to introduce a PV connector to the market, the MC3, followed by the MC4 in 2002. The concept proved successful; our connectors set the trend and served as basis for the standardisation of PV connectors in general.

Can we look forward to new Multi-Contact products in 2010?

Of course we have something in the pipeline that we are planning to put on the market in 2010, but it is still too early to reveal any details. We take our time to test the products thoroughly. For nearly 15 years we have been running a test installation on our roof. When our products have successfully undergone laboratory testing, they are fit for the market.