Unirac

#BETTERSOLARFORALL: THE MISSION CONTINUES

#BETTERSOLARFORALL: THE MISSION CONTINUES

SHARE THIS:

Share on facebook
Share on twitter
Share on linkedin
Share on email

It’s been several months since we brought you the article on the solar project we’ve been putting together for our friends at the homeless shelter Joy Junction.  We are almost to the finish line! While a few of you may have missed the project over the holidays last year, we are happy to see how many of you saw it and rose to the challenge. Several of our partners and customers stepped up to contribute, and for this, we are immensely proud and grateful. We could not have made it this far without them. Please join me in giving virtual “snaps” to our generous donors so far:

The generosity of individuals and businesses in the solar industry continues to surprise and delight all of us here at Unirac. We would be remiss in not recognizing members of the Unirac team who went above and beyond to help bring this project to fruition. Our thanks and gratitude go out to Klaus Nicolaedis and Todd Ganshaw. They brought us the project in the first place. Our inhouse solar design advisor, Jon Neal, and our solar permitting champion Sai Uppu were brilliant. They worked up the design and permitting packets that were needed and made several adjustments and edits along the way. Our west coast and central sales teams were instrumental in soliciting donors. Thank you for your tenacity. We also want to recognize Peter Lorenz, our CEO, and the Unirac leadership team that has supported “Better Solar For All” since inception. Thank you for your vision. If the COVID-19 pandemic has shown us anything about our industry, it is that we are resilient, we are tenacious, and we care about our fellow human beings. All of you are solar believers and—much more—you are solar heroes.

Joy Junctionis an organization here in Albuquerque, New Mexico, that provides critical assistance to the underserved and lends a helping hand up, not just a handout. The incredibly vulnerable homeless families and individuals that they serve have no means to self-quarantine or shelter-in-place. Although they are a faith-based organization, they do not discriminate based on sex, sexual orientation, race, color, age, national origin, or religion. No one is turned away and more importantly, families are kept together. This distinguishes them from other shelters in the area. The needs of the organization are even more pronounced than they were pre-COVID-19, and we can ease some of that burden through this solar project. Going solar will help the organization divert hundreds of dollars a month away from electricity costs and towards the important work they do in our community every single day.

We aim to inspire you to do more than just writing a check to Joy Junction. We want to make a tangible impact. We hope this project inspires you to reach out and help in your community. If you are in the greater Albuquerque area and are moved to do something for Joy Junction, please donate or volunteer directly with the organization. There are many ways that you can help. We will have onsite collection boxes the day of the install for non-perishable food items.

The installation is slated for October 20, 2020, barring any residual COVID-19 impact or delays.

During this global pandemic, we are reminded that there is still great need in our communities, and we encourage you to remember that we are in this together. If you are moved to do something closer to home, we would love to hear about it. How do you “do well by doing good?” How do you give with purpose? How do you embody the essence of #BetterSolarForAll? We would love for you to share your stories with us. Post about it on your social media and use #BetterSolarForAll and tag us @uniracsolar on Instagram. Stay tuned for more updates over the coming weeks as we continue to spotlight Joy Junction and our generous donors.

FT. WAYNE AIRPORT FINDS TURBULENCE-FREE CARPORT INSTALL WITH METALX

FT. WAYNE AIRPORT FINDS TURBULENCE-FREE CARPORT INSTALL WITH METALX

SHARE THIS:

Share on facebook
Share on twitter
Share on linkedin
Share on email

There’s a lot of covered parking out there, and it’s a market that’s expanding all the time. Unirac’s MetalX is making it easy to include solar in those plans, as a recent installation at the Ft. Wayne International Airport shows.

The airport, which has one of the longest runways in the country (11,981 feet), was doubling the size of six existing identical carports and wanted to add solar. They called what was then Ecolibrium Solar, now part of Unirac thanks to a recent acquisition, and ended up choosing MetalX for the project.

MetalX is a direct-attach system for all metal roof types that uses a groundbreaking floating coupler to join row modules at their corners, increasing spans and reducing attachments. It also means fewer SKUs and a quantum leap in shipping density, with even megawatt-size systems arriving on just a couple of pallets, plus a streamlined installation process.

Jason Comstock, Field Support / Product Training with Unirac, went on-site in July to help the crew get up to speed. The lead contractor on the job was Johnson-Melloh  (part of Veregy), and C2 Solutions of Bloomfield helped with the install itself.

When Comstock arrived to show them MetalX, the expansion of the structures was still to be completed, so he helped the crews put panels on the existing carport roofs.

“It went great,” Comstock says. “I had no idea when I showed up at the jobsite that I had trained two of the installers on a different system (a flat-roof project) at Ball State University. They picked MetalX right up. It’s really simple–there aren’t a whole lot of parts. Once you get your first row of attachments and get them straight, everything just falls in.”

In fact, it was so straightforward that he didn’t end up using all the time he’d budgeted.

“I’d planned a second day on site,” Comstock says, “but by the end of the first day, they were rocking and rolling, so they didn’t need me after that. And we actually didn’t start until fairly late in the morning that day.”

The system when complete (construction on the expansion portion of the project is continuing) will be 552kW, of which half is finished. Tommy Mitchell of C2 says the team ended up putting in about 180 panels/day with a four-person crew but believed 240 modules/day was an attainable goal for the second half.

Mitchell said Phase 1 finished without a hitch.

The modules themselves are 400-watt Hanwha Q-cells, 1380 in total. They have a 35mm frame and are being installed in landscape. The rows were fairly long, ending up with 24 columns altogether.

The roof of the carports is a standing seam metal averaging about 16 ft. high with a slope of 3 degrees. Standard Solar Connections International 2-SS attachments were used and paired with MetalX panel clamps.

“MetalX makes for an easier installation because you can drop in as you lay the panels down,” Comstock explains. “They basically self align. From an install standpoint it couldn’t be much simpler.” (You can see a demonstration of a sample installation here, or learn more by visiting the MetalX Product Page)

Brandon Carrasco, Director of Customer Solutions at Unirac, says MetalX serves a market segment that many installers and contractors may not have considered before.

“Metal roof opportunities are everywhere now,” Carrasco says, “especially in commercial and agricultural settings. These tend to be great roofs, too—big, simple rectangles where the efficiency and speed of MetalX can really shine.”

These features mean MetalX can often offer the lowest cost per watt as an overall system of any product on the market.

“This is pretty much turnkey for an installer,” he says. “Easy to ship, easy to learn, easy to install, affordable—we think this is going to open up a lot of business for customers.”

If you missed our recent webinar on MetalX, you can view it here.

UNIRAC TRAINING GOING STRONG IN FLORIDA AND ACROSS U.S.

UNIRAC TRAINING GOING STRONG IN FLORIDA AND ACROSS U.S.

SHARE THIS:

Share on facebook
Share on twitter
Share on linkedin
Share on email

Especially in a down economy, every installer is hunting for ways to keep looking ahead and not lose momentum. Unirac’s Installer Sales Specialists have been adjusting to continue bringing our customers as much value as possible in the industry.

One of the services these specialists can offer (thanks to their own backgrounds as installers) is the ability to show products hands-on and answer questions only an installer might have answers to. It’s a role that Unirac takes seriously and encourages specialists in the company to offer its customers regularly.

Take Tom Talmage, Installer Sales Specialist for Florida, for instance. You can learn more about his background in the profile we did of him last month. He recently visited Optimus Solar, a Central Florida company based in Mount Dora, to meet with owner Ben Pauluhn and three of his lead installers.

Tom brought a portable mock roof and spent the morning showing the team in detail how Unirac’s SFM Infinity rail-less system looks, feels, and works in practice, sharing his tips and tricks along the way. He also brought along samples of the new SOLOBOX junction box, new universal flat-roof attachment, and E-Boss Solartrays. Later he’ll return with the team for a trial install on a live roof.

“It’s a little different these days in that we’re wearing masks and maintaining separation, but we’ve been able to make it work,” he said. “We’ve expanded into some new virtual areas, but there’s still nothing like live, hands-on training to really get into the nitty-gritty, which helps to fully grasp the concept of a new racking system.”

The results of having a live expert able to speak to an installer’s questions are apparent. Soon after the training, Optimus posted the following on its social media:

“Thanks to Unirac for their (socially-distanced) training on many of their products today at Optimus. We are appreciative of quality manufacturers in the solar space, and Unirac has gone above and beyond on all of our projects with their components. Thankful to use this time to further train our teams and bring long-term value to clients.”

If you’re interested in hands-on training or would like more information, please contact us at: 505-242-6412. 

UNIRAC HELPS INSTALLER PIVOT QUICKLY WITH ROCKY GROUNDMOUNT INSTALL

UNIRAC HELPS INSTALLER PIVOT QUICKLY WITH ROCKY GROUNDMOUNT INSTALL

SHARE THIS:

Share on facebook
Share on twitter
Share on linkedin
Share on email

As much as we might wish jobsites could be standardized, we all know that every installation is unique. When unforeseen difficulties come up, you need a team that can help you get it back on track quickly. That’s what happened when Pennsylvania Solar Energy Company Inc. encountered a challenging site recently in the Pennsylvania hills and Unirac’s support provided a quick solution.

The project was going up on a residential property with grapevines and a winery near Pittsburgh. The spot chosen for the arrays had its south face looking uphill—obviously, an unusual situation to begin with. Further complicating the question, Pennsylvania Solar Energy wanted to avoid poured concrete foundations because of the mountainous terrain, and they also wanted to maximize panel density.

“This wasn’t just your average cookie-cutter site,” said Zachary Kushner, Installer Sales Specialist for the Northeast. “Besides the grade, we knew a lot of the ground contained fractured shale rock, so we were aware upfront that it wouldn’t be completely straightforward.”

Unirac’s ULA groundmount system was chosen for its flexibility and panel density and designed to be installed with ground screws, avoiding the need to pour concrete.

“There were four tables (arrays) total. One went in without any issues,” Kushner explained. (Ground screws normally install with nothing more than a Bobcat and a torque adapter.)

“We knew the shale might be a little challenging, so we sank pilot holes with a small auger, which worked for more of the screws,” Kushner said. “But the terrain turned out to be extremely rocky at some points, so we had to call an audible and get a drill.” With the drill, they were quickly able to install the remaining screws, thanks in part to Unirac Soils Engineer Jon Schermerhorn, who was able to consult with Kushner and Pennsylvania Solar via Facetime on the best approach.

“It was a very tough puzzle they had to figure out,” Kushner said. “But ultimately, ULA plus ground screws was still the right solution for this site because of the other constraints.”

Pennsylvania Solar Energy was pleased with how quickly Unirac was able to help it adapt.

“It feels great to be finished with such a great-looking array,” said Zachary W. Reedy, VP of Construction Management. “Really painless too. In three days, we had 170 (Canadian Solar) panels and micros up, with trunk cable run and minimal manpower. It is pretty good in my book!” The site will produce about 34kW of power.

Pennsylvania Solar Energy has been a Top-500 Solar Contractor award winner in 2014, 2015, 2017, 2018, and 2019. It has been working in the Pittsburgh area and throughout the state since 1999.

Unirac’s Installer Sales Specialists are unique to the industry. With a background in installation, they bring unique insights and efficiencies to Unirac’s customers, working alongside them on site.

“It’s these out-of-the-ordinary situations that give us the insights to take to the next customer,” Kushner said. “We learn something every time we’re out at a site, and being able to translate that into savings for our customers is what makes Unirac stand apart.” 

ZERO MEMBRANES, ONE SKU

ZERO MEMBRANES, ONE SKU

SHARE THIS:

Share on facebook
Share on twitter
Share on linkedin
Share on email

A WEBINAR ABOUT OUR NEW UNIVERSAL FLAT-ROOF ATTACHMENT

Unirac’s new single-SKU flat-roof attachment is changing the game in commercial solar. That may sound like a big claim, and so we welcome you to learn about it in detail with the insights of Chem Link, manufacturer of the sealant that helps make Flashloc™ RM unique.

On July 29, 2020, at 10:00 a.m. Mountain Time, Tristen Foley of Unirac and Rick Berthiaume of Chem Link will present an in-depth webinar showing how you can save time and money with this simple, strong, easy-to-install attachment for any type of flat roof. You’ll also learn about Chem Link sealants and how to select and use attachments in general. (Register Here.)

Flashloc™ RM develops on the technology pioneered last year by Unirac in its Flashloc™ mount for rail-based systems. The RM product is a powdercoated cast-aluminum spoked disc for flat roofs with a host of benefits that make it unique, including:

  • No membrane heat welding and no adapters required.
  • Lightning-fast installation with reliable and proven Chem Link sealants, saving time and money.
  • 6,600 lbs. of ultimate uplift offset.
  • A new standard of affordability.
  • Included hardware.
  • Holes for up to eight fasteners.
  • Unirac’s standard 25-year warranty.

Chem Link was founded in 1990 and formulates and manufactures high-performance adhesives, sealants, coatings, and related products through three business units: construction & maintenance; private label; and industrial/OEM. Proactive environmental policies and safety policies meant to protect installers are among the company’s major focus areas.

Our experienced installers say the combination of the form factor plus the Chem Link sealant is a winner. Tom Talmage, Unirac Installer Sales Specialist for the Southeast, says the new Flashloc™ RM is something he wishes he’d had on the roof sooner.

“When I think about this product,” he says, “the first thing that comes to mind is versatility. It’s not something you can use only on a commercial racking system application or only on a residential racking system application—it’s something you can use on a wide array of racking systems. So, if you’re installing a ballasted system, you can attach this to your roofing surface and then thread directly through to your strut to attach your strut to it. And if you’re installing on a residential flat roof, and it’s a tilt leg system, you can attach this to it and then attach your L-feet and tilt legs directly to this.”

Talmage says adding in the 25-year warranty of Unirac products, combined with the elimination of the hassle of adapters, makes this a clear choice over existing attachments.

Flashloc™ RM will be shipping in the near future, but if you’d like to learn more about the product and try it out before then, please sign up for a sample. If you have a project that requires attachments, you can reach out to our Commercial Solutions team at CommercialServices@Unirac.Com for assistance.

“We’re definitely hoping everyone can make it to the webinar on the 29th,” says Foley, Associate Product Manager. “We think we have a tremendous value proposition for this product, so we’re really looking forward to telling everyone about it to help them start saving time and money.” 

ECOLIBRIUM LAB MANAGER BRINGS RACING SPIRIT TO UNIRAC TEAM

ECOLIBRIUM LAB MANAGER BRINGS RACING SPIRIT TO UNIRAC TEAM

SHARE THIS:

Share on facebook
Share on twitter
Share on linkedin
Share on email

The Ecolibrium Solar team—now working alongside Unirac as part of the recent acquisition—brings a depth of great new talent.

Take Lab Manager Gary Norman, for instance. He’s a born gearhead—literally.

“My family drag-raced,” he said, “and my mother’s water broke with me at the racetrack. She had to go to the stage lanes to get my dad in the tow truck to go to the hospital. The following weekend, we were back at the track.”

With that beginning, he grew up in Florida working in the family racing fabrication shop, which prepared him for the huge variety of jobs that come up in his current position in Boulder.

“It was basically a competition between me and my dad,” he said. “We’d come up with an idea and then try to one-up each other with ‘what if we tried this?’ or ‘what if we tried that?’ We built three cars of our own, and nothing is really off the shelf when you do that. Everything has to be made or adapted.” His father bought a lathe and a mill, and they worked on machine blocks, valves, chassis, body work and painting, upholstery, to name a few.

As a result, it makes sense when Norman describes his role as Lab Manager as “a very loose title—I’m the maintenance guy, the fab guy, the welder – the ‘can you fix this?’ guy.”

It’s something Norman has always loved. “I started doing models at five,” he explained. “Anything I could build or touch or make, I did.” He was the head assembler at a pneumatic cylinder company and was getting restless, so he and his wife, their young daughter, and their dog and cat traveled the country for his wife’s nursing job, spending several months each in cities they thought they might like to live in. They traveled from New York to Washington State. Ultimately, they chose Boulder, and Norman joined Ecolibrium four years ago, around the time his daughter started kindergarten.

After joining with the company to assist with production on a project, he was eventually asked to stay at Ecolibrium. Soon, Norman discovered a passion and a talent for prototyping and design.

“Testing is the bread and butter, but I really like it when the apps team brings a problem,” he says. “I like trying to solve it.”

Norman said the concepts for three of the company’s upcoming releases were his.

*Before and after: Norman gave one of the forklifts the Ecolibrium livery.

“Jonah told me a year or so ago about what he was looking for,” Norman said. “And I’d start thinking about it and making something and he would say, ‘No, not like that’ or ‘I like that.’” Pretty soon the team had working prototypes that are translating into production as a direct result of Jonah Coles and Norman’s work. Coles is part of Ecolibrium’s Product Solutions team.

Coles calls Norman an “amazing fabricator,” and Sam Veague, former CEO of Ecolibrium, sums him up this way: “If you have an idea, Gary can make it!”

Since moving to Boulder, Norman hasn’t been racing hands-on anymore, but he and a cousin do meet up for a NASCAR race each year. It’s a tradition he said might have to give way this year for Covid—though they haven’t given up quite yet and are still holding out hope to attend.

He’s plenty busy, though. Last year, he and his wife had another baby—a son—and he says his job offers continuous challenges. UL testing is another big part of what he does, including mechanical load testing for new modules. Conducting the quick-turnaround tests and tracking the data generated require constant problem-solving.

According to Norman, this variety makes it the best job he’s ever had.

“I don’t mind getting up and going to work every day,” he said. “Besides working at a NASCAR race shop, this would be the next best thing. If I can find the best way—the neatest way—to fix something, I’m very happy. There’s a shirt my wife saw that she swears she’ll get me. It has ‘fabricator’ spelled out like in the dictionary with the pronunciation and under it, it says, ‘I build stuff you can’t.’” 

BETTER SOLAR STARTS TOGETHER

BETTER SOLAR STARTS TOGETHER

SHARE THIS:

Share on facebook
Share on twitter
Share on linkedin
Share on email

You may or may not have caught the news a few weeks back, but Unirac, has successfully completed the acquisition of Ecolibrium Solar. The acquisition represents a significant expansion of Unirac’s product portfolio, adding Ecolibrium’s commercial flat roof, residential rail-less and metal roof products to its product line, already recognized as a leader in the industry.
“We are excited about the Ecolibrium team and the products they have brought to the market. They share our passion for customer success and have a strong focus on distribution,” said Peter Lorenz, Unirac CEO. “Better solar starts with great partnerships. The increased scale in production, engineering services, and field support allow us to help customers reduce costs and grow their solar business, especially on commercial projects”.
“With a similar focus on customer experience, quality, and product development, the strength of our combined team enhances our ability to provide our customers with exceptional products and services” said Sam Veague, former CEO at Ecolibrium.

Watch the interview and learn more about what this acquisition means to the industry and our customers. 

UNIRAC ACQUIRES ECOLIBRIUM SOLAR, EXPANDING SOLAR MOUNTING OFFERINGS

UNIRAC ACQUIRES ECOLIBRIUM SOLAR, EXPANDING SOLAR MOUNTING OFFERINGS

SHARE THIS:

Share on facebook
Share on twitter
Share on linkedin
Share on email

ALBUQUERQUE, N.M., July 7, 2020 – – Unirac, North America’s leading manufacturer of solar photovoltaic mounting systems, has successfully completed the acquisition of Ecolibrium Solar, a prominent solar racking manufacturer headquartered in Athens, Ohio. The acquisition represents a significant expansion of Unirac’s product portfolio, adding Ecolibrium’s commercial flat roof, residential rail-less and metal roof products to its product line, already recognized as a leader in the industry.

Ecolibrium’s suite of products includes Ecofoot, a polymer-based solution for flat roofs that integrates with Unirac’s recently launched FlashLoc RM attachment, as well as EcoX, a pioneering rail-less product line for residential customers. EcoX is a complement to Unirac’s market-leading SFM Infinity line, offering different features and a metal roof solution in its MetalX version.

“We are excited about the Ecolibrium team and the products they have brought to the market. They share our passion for customer success and have a strong focus on distribution,” said Peter Lorenz, Unirac CEO. “Better solar starts with great partnerships. The increased scale in production, engineering services, and field support allows us to help customers reduce costs and grow their solar business, especially on commercial projects.”

Unirac’s plan is to integrate Ecolibrium’s team and products over the next few months. “As we worked together to develop this partnership, the great fit between our teams became clear,” said Sam Veague, former CEO at Ecolibrium. “With a similar focus on customer experience, quality, and product development, the strength of our combined team enhances our ability to provide our customers with exceptional products and services.”

Tenex acquired Unirac in 2016 as a platform company with the goal to add on other solar companies. “Executing this strategic acquisition during the peak of the current pandemic speaks to our confidence in Unirac’s leadership and strong financial position.” said J.P. Bretl, Managing Director of Tenex Capital Management.

For further details on the acquisition, and to follow future product and service announcements, visit www.unirac.com.

A pioneer in solar racking, Unirac has been North America’s leading manufacturer of solar PV mounting systems for 20 years. The premier U.S. solar racking manufacturer with products that outlive their warranties, Unirac has more than 5GW of experience and 750,000 installations that back up their responsive customer service and supply-chain excellence. Unirac is launching the solar industry’s first racking certification program for installers with three tiers available to selected partners. Learn more at www.unirac.com.

Ecolibrium Solar is a manufacturer of complete solar racking solutions for commercial and residential rooftops, with more than 1 gigawatt installed across the United States, Canada, and Latin America. The company established itself as a market leader with its simple, cost-effective, and installer-friendly products that maximize solar installation efficiency and minimize costs. Ecolibrium Solar has provided proven solutions backed by industry certifications and validated by third parties. Learn more at www.ecolibriumsolar.com.

Tenex Capital Management is a private equity firm that invests in lower and middle-market companies. Tenex uses an in-house team of hybrid investment professionals skilled in operational leadership, investing and capital markets structuring to maximize long-term value creation. Tenex’s deep operating experience allows the firm to collaborate with management teams to capitalize on business and market opportunities. Tenex has successfully invested in a diverse range of industries, including industrials, manufacturing, automotive aftermarket, and health and business services. For additional information, please visit www.tenexcm.com.

Karen Paramanandam
Sales & Marketing Program Manager
T: 505-462-2179
Karenp@unirac.com

UNIRAC INNOVATION SHINES WITH NEW PRODUCTS

UNIRAC INNOVATION SHINES WITH NEW PRODUCTS

SHARE THIS:

Share on facebook
Share on twitter
Share on linkedin
Share on email

ALBUQUERQUE, NM – Unirac Inc. has announced two installer-friendly products that carry on its 20-plus-year history of innovation in solar mounting equipment, part of a raft of activity from North America’s leading manufacturer of photovoltaic mounting systems.
“We have a lot coming up for the rest of the year, but most immediately, we’re bringing our Flashloc™ sealing technology, with exceptional waterproofing and ease of installation, to several new applications,” said Ernest Gallegos, Director of Products at Unirac. “The first is a universal flat roof attachment that offers incredible installation speed and cost savings, and the second is a new junction box that will greatly simplify your time on the roof.”
Flashloc™ RM is set to upend the flat-roof attachment market. Requiring no membrane heat welding and a single SKU for most flat roofs, it promises installation speeds that meet or beat any of its competitors. What’s more, its price point makes it extremely attractive, Gallegos said. “When you throw in the strength of 6,600 lbs. of ultimate uplift offset, this product really becomes a no-brainer for the industry. This is a game-changer.”
Unirac’s new junction box solution is called SOLOBOX and is aimed at simplifying installations and reducing damage on roofs associated with prying shingles and nails.
“The versatility of SOLOBOX means a much better experience all the way around,” says Connor Morrison, Residential Product Manager. “We took the convenience of using the same box for composite shingle, rolled composite, or rail-mounted applications, added extra features and made it completely user-friendly.”
The ability to mount to rail using a simple tab gives contractors options when they can’t do attic runs. And when attic runs are possible, the SOLOBOX has room for two conduits with drill points on all four sides for maximum flexibility. The low profile of the SOLOBOX—just 3.5 inches tall—fits easily under panels where allowable, and the box contains mounting points for DIN rail or grounding blocks. A pre-installed DIN rail is also available.
“Best of all, a single captured screw and a hinge top make finishing a snap,” Morrison said. “You can get at the wiring quickly and easily. We know time is crucial for efficiency, and this is designed to meet that need from start to finish.”
As with all of Unirac’s products, SOLOBOX includes a 25-year warranty. It features a NEMA 3R rating, a UL1741 certification, and the same tested and trusted technology as in Unirac’s FLASHLOC™ COMP kit.
“The time and complexity of each aspect of a system add up, so streamlining this key part of the process with SOLOBOX is a great way for Unirac to add value,” Morrison said.
SOLOBOX is available for order now. Visit www.unirac.com for more information.
Gallegos added that this year will bring other major product and service announcements from Unirac.
“This is going to be a significant year for Unirac,” Gallegos explained. “We just added ground screws to our lineup, which extends the variety of groundmount sites open to designers, we’ve incorporated groundmount into our online U-Builder design tool, and our Flashloc™ mount for pitched roofs has been a huge hit.
“That said, there’s a lot more ahead. We’re going to have a lot of fireworks this summer and fall. We have a steady stream of new products in the pipeline and several big surprises coming. We’re thinking of it as a ‘summer of innovation.’”
Peter Lorenz, CEO, said this all adds up to proof of Unirac’s commitment to its customers.
“We say ‘Better Solar Starts Here,’ and that’s in large part because of our product development and innovation,” Lorenz said. “We know it has been hard this year for many of our customers, and we’re proud of what we’ve been able to do for them to keep adding value. Unirac is here for you.”

UNIRAC is a leading provider of PV installation products and services that enable residential, commercial and light utility solar installation. With more than 20 years of experience serving global solar markets, UNIRAC products have been installed more than 750,000 times and are helping to provide more than 5 gigawatts of clean, sustainable energy.  Proudly headquartered in Albuquerque, New Mexico, UNIRAC offers products that are installed by leading solar contractors worldwide. For more information, visit www.unirac.com, follow @Unirac on Twitter or @UniracSolar on Instagram, or connect on Facebook and LinkedIn.

Karen Paramanandam
Sales & Marketing Program Manager
T: (505) 216-4250
karenp@unirac.com

PANASONIC EXTENDS INDUSTRY-LEADING WARRANTY ON SOLAR PANELS TO COVER LABOR ON COMPLETE SYSTEM

Panasonic extends industry-leading warranty on solar panels to cover labor on complete system

SHARE THIS:

Share on facebook
Share on twitter
Share on linkedin
Share on email

Panasonic’s 25-year warranty previously covered solar panels and Enphase microinverters, and will now offer comprehensive labor coverage for its authorized, premium and elite installers

NEWARK, N.J. (June 16, 2020) – Panasonic today announced the expansion of its industry-leading 25-year warranty on solar panels to include labor on all components of the residential solar system, including the monitoring and interconnection hardware and racking system. This builds on the company’s recent warranty expansion to cover labor on Enphase (NASDAQ:ENPH) microinverters included in Panasonic AC modules.

The decision by Panasonic to move to a full-system labor warranty further demonstrates the company’s commitment to provide complete peace of mind to homeowners; by adding the labor coverage, customers have one less step to worry about in the warranty claims process.

The previous arrangement only covered labor for solar panels through authorized and premium installers, while the new, enhanced labor warranty now applies to the the full system. Under the new warranty, Panasonic will alleviate the labor costs associated with servicing valid warranty claims for the solar panel and certain other hardware components if installed with a Panasonic AC module. Such other hardware components are the Enphase microinverter, Enphase Envoy™ communication gateway, Enphase IQ™ Combiner and Unirac racking system.

This new Panasonic “AllGuard™” warranty applies to labor in addition to the product workmanship warranty provided by the equipment manufacturer when installed by a Panasonic authorized, premium or elite installer. Coverage under the AllGuard™ warranty applies to Panasonic solar systems purchased on or after June 16, 2020, and adds an exclusive perk in the suite of value-added tools and warranty offerings available to installers who meet Panasonic’s high standard of excellence.

“The AllGuard™ full-system labor warranty ensures homeowners have complete peace-of-mind, while making our valued installers’ jobs easier and more efficient,” said Mukesh Sethi, Director, Panasonic Life Solutions Company of America. “Panasonic listens closely to customer and installer feedback and is always striving to create products and solutions that meet their needs. The response was so positive from the warranty coverage extension of the Enphase microinverter announced last summer, it became clear that a more comprehensive claims experience is what customers and installers desire across solar system components.”

A long-term warranty is only as reliable as the company backing it. Homeowners and installers will have peace-of-mind knowing that labor on the entire system, regardless of the original parts manufacturer, is endorsed by Panasonic’s time-tested and proven reliability. Its 25-year warranty is one of the longest in the industry; in addition, it guarantees 91 percent of rated power for solar panels over the term of the warranty, which is higher than other solar modules on the market today. Backed by more than a century of financial stability, 40 years of solar power R&D and testing against rigorous quality standards, Panasonic has a well-earned reputation for unbeatable reliability and performance.

For more information about Panasonic solar technology, please visit https://na.panasonic.com/us/solar.

Newark, NJ-based Panasonic Corporation of North America is committed to creating a better life and a better world by enabling its business-to-business customers through innovations in Sustainable Energy, Immersive Entertainment, Integrated Supply Chains and Mobility Solutions. The company is the principal North American subsidiary of Osaka, Japan-based Panasonic Corporation. One of Interbrand’s Top 100 Best Global Brands of 2019, Panasonic is a leading technology partner and integrator to businesses, government agencies and consumers across the region. Learn more about Panasonic’s ideas and innovations at www.na.panasonic.com/us and @PanasonicUSA on all social media channels.

UNIRAC is the leading provider of solar PV installation products and services for residential, commercial and light utility solar installation. With more than 20 years of experience serving global solar markets, UNIRAC products have been installed more than 750,000 times and are helping to provide more than 5 gigawatts of clean, sustainable energy.  Proudly headquartered in Albuquerque, New Mexico, UNIRAC offers products that are installed by leading solar contractors worldwide. For more information, visit www.unirac.com, follow @Unirac on Twitter or @UniracSolar on Instagram, or connect on Facebook and LinkedIn.

Enphase Energy, a global energy technology company, delivers smart, easy-to-use solutions that manage solar generation, storage and communication on one intelligent platform. The Company revolutionized the solar industry with its microinverter technology and produces a fully integrated solar-plus-storage solution. Enphase has shipped more than 27 million microinverters, and over 1.1 million Enphase systems have been deployed in more than 130 countries. For more information, visit www.enphase.com and follow the company on Facebook, LinkedIn and Twitter.

Yessica Castillo
Panasonic Life Solutions North America
201.392.4193
Yessica.Castillo@us.panasonic.com

Lauren Camdzic
Porter Novelli for Panasonic
404.995.4500
Lauren.Camdzic@porternovelli.com

Kelsey Cunningham
Certified Installer Program Manager
505.462.2163
Kelsey.Cunningham@unirac.com