Solar Energy is like a Gingko Plant –
Green, Long-lasting and Sustainable

20 years ago, Steca Elektronik’s management demonstrated great foresight in founding the Steca Solar Electronics division. Today, the medium-sized company is one of the leaders in the solar technology industry. The company is one of the few providers which develops and manufactures innovative products for the three areas of photovoltaic grid feeding, off-grid photovoltaic systems and solar thermal energy.

Focus on exports

In many European countries, including France, Italy and Great Britain, Steca has already established a good position in the grid feeding industry. "Many political measures for the promotion of renewable energies have started or are planned there," is Michael Voigtsberger’s explanation of the company’s sales strategy. The demand for grid feeding products was so great at the start of the year that vendors were unable to deliver some components required for manufacturing grid inverters on time. The material situation has relaxed somewhat, so that there are currently no supply shortages for Steca grid inverters. "We are well positioned in the German-speaking market for grid inverters. This is why we are focusing to a greater extent on exports." In off-grid systems, Steca has constantly kept an eye on the international market since its establishment. The aim is to supply people in rural areas who are not connected to the electricity grid with electricity from the sun. For this market, Steca develops and manufactures long-lasting products with low costs. The overriding aim is to supply everybody around the world with light. Further examples include supplying remote mountain huts with electricity or operating a solar-powered freezer for selling ice cream at the beach.

Idealism and growth are a good combination

All products developed at Steca, including solar products and battery chargers, bear clearly visible Steca logos. "We manufacture products customised to customer requirements for clients from the medical, household equipment or automotive industries, which do not bear our name," explains Voigtsberger.

While the two solar experts Michael Voigtsberger and Roland Burger focus on technology and markets, the importance they attach to social responsibility for the environment is unmistakeable. "We are not out to get rich quickly," says Voigtsberger. "We, and all of our employees, share a certain idealist goal to advance green technologies." Steca-Solar products actively contribute to climate protection and “supply the world's most remote regions with energy." At Steca, profit has largely been channelled back into the company to invest in new technologies and promote sustainable growth. The business figures support this statement: In three decades, the company has grown to employ a staff of over 650. Steca delivers to over 90 countries world-wide from its production facilities in Memmingen and Bulgaria. They also support international solar research projects.

Solar electricity for private homes

Steca’s management is not worried about the future: "The solar industry is an attractive industry for the future." For this reason, the company is constantly on the look-out for experts, in particular in the field of power electronics.

Michael Voigtsberger even views the location in Memmingen as an advantage in recruitment: "Anyone who comes here, stays. We have very low employee turnover." And what solar products do the Steca engineers have in the pipeline for 2011? Roland Burger is initially reluctant, but finally reveals his hand. "We are already excellently positioned in the commercial sector," he admits in the end. "We believe that decentralised power generation in private households has tremendous potential." Steca is sparing no effort in developing lower-cost, reliable solutions for photovoltaic systems on private roofs. The solar electricity can then be fed into the grid, or consumed where it is generated. And this, in turn, matches Steca's green philosophy of longevity and sustainability.

Further information: Steca Elektronik GmbH, Michael Voigtsberger, Mammostraße 1, 87700 Memmingen, Fon +49 (0) 8331 8558-0, Fax +49 (0) 8331 8558-132,
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