TATM3 photovoltaic tracker: Made in Italy single-axle tracker
From 1 July 2026, steel imported into the EU in excess of the quota will be subject to a 50 per cent duty, and from 1 January 2026, the CBAM will impose carbon-related obligations and costs on every structure arriving from outside Europe. TATM3 is the single-axis tracker designed and manufactured entirely in Italy: the performance of a tracker, with no customs duties, no CBAM paperwork, and direct support within 24 hours.
TATM3 at a glance
1P single-axis horizontal tracker
(one module per row in a vertical arrangement), up to 36 modules per tracker, rotation ±55°
100% designed and manufactured in Italy
hardware, electronics and software developed at a single site
On-site assembly up to 40 per cent faster
compared with other single-axle systems, according to the manufacturer’s data
Tested in a wind tunnel
and in accordance with CEI EN 62817, with extreme wind speeds of up to 40 m/s
Why the single-axis tracker on your ground-mounted system
At a utility-scale plant, the fixed structure leaves energy on the ground: in the morning and evening, the modules operate at unfavourable angles of incidence. TATM3 tracks the sun along the east-west axis using astronomical tracking, i.e. it calculates the sun’s position based on coordinates and time, without relying on light sensors that can become dirty or be poorly calibrated. The result is a flatter and broader output curve, which sells better even during the hours when fixed photovoltaic systems are saturating the grid.
The system manages uniformly distributed backtracking: at sunrise and sunset, the rows tilt in a coordinated manner so as not to cast shadows on one another, distributing any loss evenly across the entire field rather than penalising individual rows. If you’re already selecting modules for your ground-mounted project, you can start with the panel catalogue and the Tier 1 module guide to match the structure and modules in a bankable manner.
The ‘Made in Italy’ advantage in 2026: no tariffs, no CBAM
A tracker consists, by weight and value, mainly of steel. And non-EU steel became a customs issue on two fronts in 2026:
- EU steel safeguard measures: from 1 July 2026, duty-free import quotas will fall to 18.3 million tonnes per year, 47 per cent less than in 2024, and once the threshold is exceeded, the duty doubles from 25 per cent to 50 per cent. From 1 October 2026, the ‘melt and pour’ rule will also apply: the country where the steel was smelted and cast is what counts, so triangulation via third countries will no longer circumvent the duty.
- CBAM (Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism, the European carbon duty): from the final phase on 1 January 2026, importers of steel and metal structures must report embedded emissions and, from February 2027, purchase certificates linked to the ETS price (the European Emissions Trading Scheme). Administration is handled by the MASE CBAM register, and the administrative burden falls on the importer – that is, on you or your supplier – who passes it on in the price.
Key points for those purchasing equipment: the list price of a non-EU tracker is no longer the final price. Between over-quota duties, CBAM certificates, customs consultancy fees and the risk of goods being held up at customs, the price difference compared with a European product has narrowed or even reversed. A tracker manufactured in Italy leaves the factory with a single, fixed price, of course, and delivery times that are not subject to customs-related variables.
TATM3 Technical Specifications
| Characteristic | Value |
|---|---|
| Tracking type | Horizontal single-axis tracker |
| Module configuration | 1P, single module in vertical orientation |
| Maximum tracker length | 32 modules of 1,303 mm or 36 modules of 1,134 mm |
| Rotation angle | ±55° |
| Axis positioning error | ±2° |
| Foundation | Driven pile, adaptable to other solutions |
| Steels used | S350 GD ZM430 MAC / S355MC / S420 MH Z600 |
| Surface treatments | Hot-dip galvanising to UNI EN ISO 1461 |
| Fastening elements | A2 stainless steel |
| Wind load | 10 m/s in service, 32 m/s out of service |
| Maximum ground gradient | 10% |
| Compliance | Machinery Directive 2006/42/EU, Low Voltage Directive 2014/35/EU, Electromagnetic Compatibility Directive 2014/30/EU; structures in accordance with NTC 2018 (the Italian Technical Standards for Construction) and Eurocodes |
Control electronics
| Characteristic | Value |
|---|---|
| Motor | Rotary actuator (slew drive): operating torque 4,000 Nm (6,700 Nm max), static torque 28 kNm |
| Tracking | Astronomical referencing |
| Backtracking | Uniform distribution control |
| Power supply | 230 V single-phase |
| Motor control | With inclinometer feedback: an inclinometer measures the actual angle of the structure and corrects the position |
| Operating temperatures | from -20 °C to +70 °C |
| Communication | Wired RS485; Modbus TCP/IP over Ethernet (slave/server), Modbus RTU over RS485 and RS232 |
The PLC unit (the logic controller that manages the field) and the tracker controls are supplied pre-wired: on site, you simply connect them – no wiring is required. The software includes functions designed for the actual operation of the system, such as dedicated positioning for grass cutting and maintenance between the rows.
Integrated wind and snow protection
- Anemometer with adjustable thresholds in steps: when the wind exceeds the threshold, the vane rotates to 0°, with the option of intermediate safety steps
- Snow gauge: when the snow threshold is exceeded, the tracker tilts to 55° and clears the snow build-up
- Structure tested against extreme winds of 40 m/s (144 km/h) in the torsion test in accordance with CEI EN 62817
Further information on TATM3
The claimed performance figures have been verified through a testing programme that few manufacturers in this sector can document:
- Full-scale panel wind tunnel testing, equipped with dedicated pressure taps and mounted on the tracker’s end node using the standard mast, to replicate field conditions
- Computational fluid dynamics analysis (CFD) to support the experimental tests
- CEI EN 62817: deflection under static load (clause 8.4.3) and torsional resistance under extreme wind speeds of 40 m/s (clause 8.4.5)
- Durability testing with accelerated cycles and mechanical tests on individual components
- Structural calculations in accordance with NTC 2018 and the Eurocodes, the basis your structural engineer will require during the planning permission stage
According to the manufacturer’s data, on-site installation requires up to 40 per cent fewer hours than other single-axis systems on the market, thanks to pre-assembled components, pre-wired control panels and a design optimised for installation. On a multi-MW system, the labour cost for installation is one of the main areas where profit margins can be recovered.
The TATM3 is a proprietary product: the same company that designs and manufactures it is also responsible for dealing with faults. Direct support is provided within 24 hours of a fault being reported, covering both mechanical and electronic issues, without the need for back-and-forth communication between the structure supplier, the motor supplier and the system integrator.
Behind TATM3 lies a metalworking company based in Lombardy that has been in operation for 64 years, is UNI EN ISO 9001:2015 certified, employs 128 staff, has 23,000 square metres of covered factory space and processes 13,000 tonnes of material each year. It has been operating in the renewable energy sector for 19 years, with 240 MW of ground-mounted installations completed and a photovoltaic system on its own factory premises that produces 1.44 GWh per year. The entire process, from the initial concept to the production of every structural component, takes place in-house: this is what makes it possible to guarantee quality, spare parts and continuity of supply.
TATM3 with PVclick: a short supply chain, even when it’s Italian
PVclick distributes TATM3 using the same approach it employs to help you shorten the supply chain for modules: zero unnecessary intermediaries between you and the manufacturer. The Italian team supports you from the preliminary design of the site right through to delivery, and can integrate the tracker into a comprehensive wholesale supply of modules and components, supported by dedicated financing solutions for commercial and utility-scale installations.
Request a quote for TATM3
Send us the layout or basic details of your ground-mounted system: receive a quote for the trackers and a feasibility assessment, with no obligation.
