SPI 2014 - Unirac Partners with Enphase Energy to Eliminate Copper Wires and Grounding Lugs in Solar Installation Process

SolarMount enhancements featuring pre-assembled components and new grounding process launching at Solar Power International

ALBUQUERQUE, N.M., Oct. 20, 2014 -- Unirac, Inc., a Hilti Group Company, announces a new milestone in the continued evolution as the leading provider of high quality, competitive PV mounting solutions in North America. Today, Unirac's SolarMount system becomes the first residential PV mounting system in North America to provide a revolutionary grounding and bonding process listed to UL2703 that eliminates the need for copper wire and grounding straps from the installation process.


"In a market driven by cost, this method of grounding an array further simplifies installation, enhances safety, and saves on labor and materials costs," said Peter Lorenz, CEO of Unirac. "The partnership between Unirac and Enphase is a signal that, as leaders of the industry, we need to harness the full potential of cost savings by working together"

SolarMount's mounting technology when used with Enphase Energy M215 and M250 Microinverters, meets all grounding and bonding per UL2703. SolarMount's components feature integrated bonding from the top module clamps to the L-foot, creating a tested bond between the systems modules, racking and microinverters. The Enphase Microinverter's DC circuit is isolated and insulated from ground, eliminating the need for copper wire.

"Since Enphase introduced integrated ground capability for the M215 and M250 microinverter systems, solar contractors have benefited from shorter installation times, lower copper and other materials costs, and improved safety conditions," said Martin Fornage, chief technology officer of Enphase. "The UL-listed solution pairing Unirac's SolarMount with Enphase's integrated ground technology will provide even more cost-reduction efficiencies to our installation partners."

All SolarMount integrated bonding components have been extensively tested by TUV Reinland Group, a leading provider of technical services worldwide, and listed to UL2703.

Unirac is introducing new enhancements designed to get installers off the roof faster than ever before. SolarMount's pre-assembled and integrated bonding mid clamp provides module-to-rail bonding by utilizing patented top mounting technology to penetrate through the anodized finish of rail for a continuous bond through the array, eliminating additional hardware. An integrated bonding splice eliminates bonding jumpers or grounding straps to electrical bond rails across the splice, reducing installation steps and copper to shave total installed cost. Installers can seamlessly fasten the microinverter anywhere along the top of the rail while creating an electric bond.

Unirac is celebrating 15+ years of solar racking innovation at Solar Power International 2014. For more information about Unirac's full line of innovative PV mounting solutions, please visit us at Booth 306, October 21-23, 2014 in Las Vegas, NV.

About Unirac Inc.
Unirac, a Hilti Group Company is North America's leading provider of infrastructure for solar power systems. Recognized as an industry innovator on both the product and process side, we provide the best mounting solutions to our customers through high quality, competitively priced products, responsive customer support, industry leading engineering services and excellence in supply-chain management. Unirac has achieved certifications for ISO 9001:2008 for QMS, ISO 14001:2004 for EMS and OHSAS 18001:2007 for safety. For more information about Unirac, please visit www.unirac.com.

About Enphase Energy, Inc.
Enphase Energy delivers microinverter technology for the solar industry that increases energy production, simplifies design and installation, improves system uptime and reliability, reduces fire safety risk and provides a platform for intelligent energy management. Our semiconductor-based microinverter system converts energy at the individual solar module level and brings a systems-based, high technology approach to solar energy generation. Connect with Enphase on Facebook and follow us on Twitter. www.enphase.com

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