News

Fronius now Producing PV Inverters in the U.S.

May 18, 2015 by Jeff Shepard

Fronius USA, subsidiary of Fronius International, has recently invested over $1.5 million in the development and integration of a full manufacturing and testing facility in their Portage, Indiana, 400,000 square foot headquarters. Fronius is known worldwide for its quality power electronics, including welding technology and solar inverters. Fronius USA recently hired over 30 people to staff the production.

The manufacturing line produces and tests over 200 Fronius Primo solar inverters per day. The Fronius Primo is part of the unique Fronius SnapINverter line, which is leading the solar industry with its innovations in easy mounting, highest design flexibility and outstanding communication capabilities. The available power classes for the Fronius Primo inverter reach from 3.8 to 8.2 kW, to serve typical residential solar installations.

“The Fronius Primo is a leader in the residential solar industry and, as such, is a clear reason for Fronius to invest in production in the United States,” says Thomas Enzendorfer, Director Solar Energy at Fronius USA. “Fronius USA is proud to offer a high quality product manufactured entirely in the United States.” Since quality is a top priority for Fronius, every inverter is tested under real-life conditions for full function and safety before shipping.

“Our inverter production line applies the latest lean production technologies. This allows us to achieve both, efficient production and elimination of any potential error source to assure highest quality,” explains Klaus Strassmair, Head of Production at Fronius USA. The production equipment for the new line was sourced locally from US suppliers, as a strong commitment to quality and the US market.

In a statement, Fronius commented that it appreciates Indiana as a manufacturing location for its ideal geographical location amidst the crossroads of America. It offers easy access to ground or air transportation for fast shipping to any of the fifty states. Furthermore, main suppliers of raw materials are located in the Midwest, which allows for short supply chains and good, long-lasting relationships with US suppliers.

This new production line is the first step towards more US manufacturing to come. Fronius USA plans to manufacture further products in Portage, Indiana, to better serve the high demand in the US. “As a family-owned company, we are thinking long-term and are dedicated to showing our commitment to the US for generations to come,” tells Thomas Enzendorfer.