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Utilight

HardwareYavne, IsraelFounded 2009· One of 1708 Hardware companies tracked by AMPulse

Israeli developer of Pattern Transfer Printing technology for 3D laser printing solar cell metallization

CEO / Founder
Giora Dishon
Team Size
11-50
Stage
Acquired
Total Funding
$7.4M
Latest Round
Series A
Key Investors
Robert Bosch Venture Capital, I2BF Global Ventures, Shanghai Creation Investment, Waarde Capital, Israeli OCS

Technology & Products

Key Products

{"Pattern Transfer Printing Systems","Solar Cell Metallization Equipment","Non-contact 3D Laser Printing Technology"}

Technological Advantage

{"Non-contact 3D laser printing","Increases solar cell efficiency","Reduces PV manufacturing costs","Backed by Bosch venture arm","Israeli OCS R&D grants"}

Differentiation

Value Proposition

3D laser printing technology for solar cell metallization that increases efficiency and reduces manufacturing costs

How They Differentiate

Proprietary Pattern Transfer Printing vs traditional screen printing; higher efficiency at lower cost

Market & Competition

Target Customers

Solar cell manufacturers, PV equipment companies, clean energy producers

Industry Verticals

{Solar/Photovoltaics,"Clean Energy","Semiconductor Manufacturing"}

Competitors

{"Applied Materials",AMAT,"Meyer Burger"}

Growth & Milestones

Major Milestones

2009: Founded in Yavne, Israel; Developed revolutionary PTP printing technology; 2016: Raised $2.9M; Received $3M in grants from Israel OCS; Acquired by DRL Group (SZ:300776); Now operates in China, Singapore, and Israel as world leader in PV equipment innovation

Notable Customers

Solar cell manufacturers in China and Taiwan, PV industry companies, Clean energy sector

https://www.utilight.com

Why this company matters

Utilight develops Pattern Transfer Printing (PTP) technology, a non-contact 3D laser printing process designed specifically for photovoltaic metallization. The technology aims to replace traditional screen printing in solar cell manufacturing by depositing metal patterns with higher precision and lower material waste, which can increase cell efficiency and reduce production costs.

The company's core product is a metallization system that uses 3D laser printing to transfer conductive patterns onto solar wafers without physical contact. This approach addresses limitations of screen printing, such as line width constraints and substrate stress, and is backed by patents pending for the PTP process. Utilight has received R&D grants from the Israeli Office of the Chief Scientist and investment from Robert Bosch Venture Capital.

Target customers include solar cell manufacturers and PV equipment companies, primarily in China and Taiwan. The company was acquired by DRL Group (SZ:300776), a Chinese publicly traded firm, and now operates across Israel, China, and Singapore. Competitors in the PV metallization equipment space include Applied Materials and Meyer Burger.

A key open question is whether PTP can achieve the throughput and cost-per-watt required for mass adoption in the price-sensitive solar manufacturing industry, where screen printing remains deeply entrenched. The company's small team and reliance on grants and strategic investors suggest a focused R&D phase prior to scaling production.