Unirac
Encyclopedia
Unirac is one of North America's largest providers of infrastructure for solar power
systems for utility, commercial and residential installations. The company provides a wide variety of photovoltaic (PV) array mounting solutions for solar panels for ground mount, tilt and flush roof mount, and open structure applications.
With 30 percent share of the North American solar racking market, Unirac already has over 100,000 installations representing more than 700 MW. Major commercial customer wins include the Google
campus
, Mineta San Jose International Airport, BJ’s Wholesale Club, Universal Studios Hollywood
, the Orange County Convention Center
and the Minneapolis-St. Paul Convention Center
. Some of Unirac’s installation partners include BP Solar
, Canadian Solar
, Constellation Energy
, enXco, General Electric
, Johnson Controls
, Kyocera Solar, Pennsylvania Power, Signal Solar, Westwood Professional Services, Wise Power Systems and Vanguard Energy.
The company provides its products through distributors in California, New Mexico, New York, Vermont, Arizona, Rhode Island, and Australia, as well as Unirac Canada, a subsidiary.
Unirac designs and tests its solutions in Albuquerque, New Mexico, and manufactures them across the United States and in Ontario
, Canada. Unirac solutions meet "Made in America'
, "Buy American', ARRA
and Ontario Power Authority FIT (Feed-in Tariff)
and microFIT criteria. More than 90 percent of the company’s supply chain is US-based. Unirac uses a variety of manufacturing partners around the U.S. and Canada so products may be shipped from a facility close to the installation site. All steel infrastructure products are from Ohio, while manufacturing partners for aluminum rails are located in nearly a dozen states, including California, Florida, New Mexico, Pennsylvania and Tennessee, as well as in Ontario, Canada.
. The company was acquired in May 2010 by Liechtenstein's Hilti Group
, a global construction tool supplier, but continues to operate under the Unirac name and management structure.
Unirac has achieved International Organization for Standardization (ISO)
14001:2004 certification for Environmental Management Systems (EMS) and ISO 9001:2008 certification for Quality Management Systems (QMS). It was the first solar infrastructure company to secure both certifications.
Solar power
Solar energy, radiant light and heat from the sun, has been harnessed by humans since ancient times using a range of ever-evolving technologies. Solar radiation, along with secondary solar-powered resources such as wind and wave power, hydroelectricity and biomass, account for most of the available...
systems for utility, commercial and residential installations. The company provides a wide variety of photovoltaic (PV) array mounting solutions for solar panels for ground mount, tilt and flush roof mount, and open structure applications.
With 30 percent share of the North American solar racking market, Unirac already has over 100,000 installations representing more than 700 MW. Major commercial customer wins include the Google
Google
Google Inc. is an American multinational public corporation invested in Internet search, cloud computing, and advertising technologies. Google hosts and develops a number of Internet-based services and products, and generates profit primarily from advertising through its AdWords program...
campus
Googleplex
The Googleplex is the corporate headquarters complex of Google, Inc., located at 1600 Amphitheatre Parkway in Mountain View, Santa Clara County, California, United States, near San Jose. "Googleplex" is a portmanteau of Google and complex, and a reference to googolplex, the name given to the large...
, Mineta San Jose International Airport, BJ’s Wholesale Club, Universal Studios Hollywood
Universal Studios Hollywood
Universal Studios Hollywood is a movie studio and theme park in the unincorporated Universal City community of Los Angeles County, California, United States. It is one of the oldest and most famous Hollywood movie studios still in use...
, the Orange County Convention Center
Orange County Convention Center
The Orange County Convention Center is the primary public convention center for the Central Florida region. The center currently ranks as the second largest convention center in the United States . The OCCC offers of total space, of which is exhibit space...
and the Minneapolis-St. Paul Convention Center
Minneapolis Convention Center
The Minneapolis Convention Center is a large convention center located in downtown Minneapolis, Minnesota. It is located one block away from Nicollet Mall near Orchestra Hall. The Minneapolis Convention Center has a quadruple-domed roof and because of its volume can host multiple events on the...
. Some of Unirac’s installation partners include BP Solar
BP Solar
BP has been involved in solar power since 1973 and its subsidiary, BP Solar, is a solar power company with production facilities in India and the People's Republic of China, employing a workforce of over 2,000 people worldwide. BP Solar is worldwide manufacturer and installer of photovoltaic solar...
, Canadian Solar
Canadian Solar
Canadian Solar Inc. is a Canadian manufacturer of photovoltaic cells and panels. It was founded by Chinese Canadian Shawn Qu.Canadian Solar is ranked sixth largest producer in the world by PVinsights and seventh by Bloomberg New Energy Finance...
, Constellation Energy
Constellation Energy
Constellation Energy, headquartered in Baltimore, Maryland, is an energy producer, trader, and distributor. The company operates over 35 power plants in 11 states under its operating company Constellation Commodities Group and/or Constellation Generation Group...
, enXco, General Electric
General Electric
General Electric Company , or GE, is an American multinational conglomerate corporation incorporated in Schenectady, New York and headquartered in Fairfield, Connecticut, United States...
, Johnson Controls
Johnson Controls
Johnson Controls, Inc. is a company, based in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, USA. It was founded in 1885 by professor Warren S. Johnson, inventor of the first electric room thermostat....
, Kyocera Solar, Pennsylvania Power, Signal Solar, Westwood Professional Services, Wise Power Systems and Vanguard Energy.
The company provides its products through distributors in California, New Mexico, New York, Vermont, Arizona, Rhode Island, and Australia, as well as Unirac Canada, a subsidiary.
Unirac designs and tests its solutions in Albuquerque, New Mexico, and manufactures them across the United States and in Ontario
Ontario
Ontario is a province of Canada, located in east-central Canada. It is Canada's most populous province and second largest in total area. It is home to the nation's most populous city, Toronto, and the nation's capital, Ottawa....
, Canada. Unirac solutions meet "Made in America'
Made in USA
The Made in USA mark is a country of origin label indicating the product is "all or virtually all" made in the U.S. The label is regulated by the Federal Trade Commission .-Legal requirements:...
, "Buy American', ARRA
Arra
Arra is a census town in Puruliya district in the state of West Bengal, India.-Demographics: India census, Arra had a population of 19,911. Males constitute 52% of the population and females 48%. Arra has an average literacy rate of 66%, higher than the national average of 59.5%; with 59% of the...
and Ontario Power Authority FIT (Feed-in Tariff)
Feed-in Tariff
A feed-in tariff is a policy mechanism designed to accelerate investment in renewable energy technologies. It achieves this by offering long-term contracts to renewable energy producers, typically based on the cost of generation of each technology...
and microFIT criteria. More than 90 percent of the company’s supply chain is US-based. Unirac uses a variety of manufacturing partners around the U.S. and Canada so products may be shipped from a facility close to the installation site. All steel infrastructure products are from Ohio, while manufacturing partners for aluminum rails are located in nearly a dozen states, including California, Florida, New Mexico, Pennsylvania and Tennessee, as well as in Ontario, Canada.
History
Unirac, Inc. was founded in 1998 and is based in Albuquerque, New MexicoNew Mexico
New Mexico is a state located in the southwest and western regions of the United States. New Mexico is also usually considered one of the Mountain States. With a population density of 16 per square mile, New Mexico is the sixth-most sparsely inhabited U.S...
. The company was acquired in May 2010 by Liechtenstein's Hilti Group
Hilti
Hilti Corporation, Hilti Aktiengesellschaft or Hilti AG also known as Hilti Group develops, manufactures, and markets products for the construction and building maintenance industries, primarily to the professional end-user...
, a global construction tool supplier, but continues to operate under the Unirac name and management structure.
Unirac has achieved International Organization for Standardization (ISO)
International Organization for Standardization
The International Organization for Standardization , widely known as ISO, is an international standard-setting body composed of representatives from various national standards organizations. Founded on February 23, 1947, the organization promulgates worldwide proprietary, industrial and commercial...
14001:2004 certification for Environmental Management Systems (EMS) and ISO 9001:2008 certification for Quality Management Systems (QMS). It was the first solar infrastructure company to secure both certifications.
See also
- Photovoltaic systemPhotovoltaic systemA photovoltaic system is a system which uses one or more solar panels to convert sunlight into electricity. It consists of multiple components, including the photovoltaic modules, mechanical and electrical connections and mountings and means of regulating and/or modifying the electrical...
- Photovoltaics companies
- Hilti GroupHiltiHilti Corporation, Hilti Aktiengesellschaft or Hilti AG also known as Hilti Group develops, manufactures, and markets products for the construction and building maintenance industries, primarily to the professional end-user...