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Highlights From This Episode:

Teamwork Makes the Design Dream Work: (0:35 )

Say the name “PanelClaw” and Jason’s ears perk up! As Aaron reminds us, Jason’s first assignment at BayWa r.e. was to run point on PanelClaw’s clawFR hardware platform and clawOS software offerings. Aaron and Jason explain how solar installers can benefit from the special consultation process that BayWa r.e. offers with PanelClaw.

“This is a new level of service that BayWa r.e. is offering,” Aaron tells us. For contractors looking to design around PanelClaw components, BayWa r.e. will provide support for the initial design phase to develop the project. This hands-on review process makes it easier for our team at BayWa r.e. to interface with PanelClaw, so that installers can get the right design for their job, and BayWa r.e. can source the components called for.

“I’ve gotten to work with a ton of our installers doing system designs, getting approved for construction documents — pretty much everything from the initial workflow, doing a couple layouts, all the way through stamping. So it’s been a fun ride, and I’m looking forward to working with more of our customers,” says Jason. “If you need assistance, ping myself or reach out to your BayWa r.e. sales rep, and we can get in touch that way as well!”

Paul Bitterolf

Vice President

PanelClaw’s Eye on C&I: (2:58 )

Here today to give us the latest updates on PanelClaw’s hardware and software offerings is their Vice President of National Sales, Paul Bitterolf. Naturally, Paul leads off with PanelClaw’s clear value proposition for solar contractors tackling commercial projects of any size.

“We are the market-share leader in mid to large-scale ballasted racking. We’ve been around since 2008, focused exclusively on mid to large-scale commercial and industrial applications. We do a lot of school districts, stores, distribution centers,” Paul tells our listeners. “And over the last year or so, since announcing our partnership with BayWa r.e., we’ve been able to expand our product line into the small to mid-sized market. If you’ve got contractors that are looking at non-residential applications for flat roofs, our product is a great fit for it.”

PanelClaw offers its clawFR platform through BayWa r.e. in two different tilt angles: a 10-degree single-tilt with three row-spacing options and a 10-degree dual-tilt. “What’s great about it is that it’s the same platform, so the same essential components can be used in either configuration,” Paul says. That means contractors versed on designing one project using single-tilt can easily translate that knowledge to another project more suited for the dual-tilt.

Besides the ample design options, fewer parts and faster build speed is the other big headline here. Contractors build the grid prior to hanging the modules, then the entire grid is assembled with clawFR’s single bolt-hardware kit all to the same torque setting — and modules are hung via PanelClaw’s patent-pending, tool-less attachment engineering.

“It’s a rail-based system that lends itself to efficient load-sharing within the system — which translates to fewer ballast blocks, fewer attachments than you need with a non-rail-based system,” Paul tells the team. “The whole grid goes together with one bolt, and the modules are hung without any tools or hardware.”

Design-Order-Build with Speed and Ease: (5:50 )

A big leap over this past year has been the continued development of clawOS — PanelClaw’s cloud-based structural design platform. Designed specifically for flat-roof PV projects, clawOS lets users create simple array layouts; upload layouts from AutoCAD or Helioscope; generate multiple racking design versions for budgeting purposes; examine structural requirements; and export bill of materials. The platform’s proprietary layout tool, fully automated racking design engine, and index of design inputs allows users to truly experiment with design optimization — with nearly limitless roof and sub-roof level platform load and point load limits.

And now that simplicity and versatility is available to any solar contractor sourcing through BayWa r.e. “Get in touch with your BayWa r.e. salesperson and we can get you registered,” Paul Bitterolf says, adding that with our new BayWa r.e.-PanelClaw support partnership, our own Jason Burnett would provide added training insights, sharing his own do’s and don’ts from his own onboarding with clawOS.

Opening up clawOS access is a huge step for a design tool inspired by PanelClaw’s own in-house technical expertise — but now available to empower anyone without AutoCAD experience or seasoned engineering knowledge. Paul jokes that clawOS helps answer that age-old design question: “Can you do this project without attachments? And if you need to have attachments, how many of them are there going to be? How heavy is this system going to be?”

Now there’s no more speculating, Paul says, with clawOS providing perfect and complete structural information on the front end of the project, along with support ticketing for users whenever design challenges arise, and continuous updates pushed to improve the design interface and technical presets. “If there’s a project that’s not going to work out… you can figure that out in the front end before you spend resources and resources only to come to that conclusion six months down the road.”