So much skill, in fact, that Keane started patenting those innovations--like how to aggregate thousands of orders into batches to trim costs, or how to make his Web site's design tool (which lets customers whip up their own brochures and business cards) communicate seamlessly with Web browsers.
Applied intends to trim the industry's costs in four ways: boost solar factory throughput, improve the productivity of every tool, cut materials costs by using photovoltaic materials more sparingly and raise solar cell efficiencies.