13.07.2011 – 11:42

centrotherm photovoltaics AG

EANS-News: centrotherm SiTec extends solar value chain to include two key plants for integrated solar production

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Company Information

Subtitle:     • Ingot squaring and brick cropping systems based on
state-of-the-art diamond wire saw technology

    • Equipment boasts high throughput, best product quality and low operating
      costs
    • Sales potential in double-digit million euro range
Blaubeuren (euro adhoc) - July 13, 2011 - With the introduction of ingot
squaring and brick cropping equipment, centrotherm SiTec GmbH is expanding its
range of products to include two key equipment items for integrated ingot and
wafer production. The automated ingot squaring equipment saws the
multi-crystalline ingots into bricks. The brick cropping equipment cuts these
bricks to precise corresponding lengths. Wafers are later produced from these
bricks. Both key equipment from centrotherm SiTec, a company in which the
centrotherm photovoltaics Group bundles its silicon expertise, deploy
state-of-the-art diamond wire saw technology. This ensures that
highest-precision cuts are matched by maximum productivity and optimized
production costs.

An ingot squaring equipment is set up for an annual capacity of up to 4,400
ingots, corresponding to annual production of around 110,000 bricks. The brick
cropping equipment that operates two bricks in parallel reaches an annual
capacity of around 40,000 bricks. Compared with the conventional slurry
process, the particular strengths of these equipments include significantly
higher production throughput, fully automated working processes, short loading
and unloading times, and low space requirements thanks to their compact design
and construction. The slurry process utilizes a mixture of liquid and silicon
carbide to cut ingots and bricks.

"We are pleased with the strong interest in both of these equipments, which we
presented to the global public for the first time at the Intersolar trade
fair", commented Dr. Albrecht Mozer, Managing Director of centrotherm SiTec, a
wholly-owned subsidiary of centrotherm photovoltaics AG. "Our customers and
other interested parties were impressed by their excellent technology, their
high throughput, product quality and - a factor that is especially important in
an intensely competitive market - low operating costs. With the market launch of
this new saw technology, centrotherm SiTec is expanding its product portfolio to
include a significant element towards its position as a complete provider for
the solar value chain." The annual sales potential for both equipments amounts
to a double-digit amount in millions of euros.


About centrotherm photovoltaics AG
centrotherm photovoltaics AG, headquartered in Blaubeuren, Germany, is the
world's leading technology and equipment provider for the photovoltaics sector.
The company equips well-known solar companies and new sector entrants with
turnkey production lines and single equipment to manufacture silicon, ingots
and bricks, crystalline solar cells and modules, and thin film modules. As a
consequence, the Group possesses a broad and well-founded technological basis,
as well as key equipment at practically all steps of the photovoltaics value
chain. centrotherm photovoltaics guarantees its customers important performance
parameters such as production capacity, efficiencies, and completion deadlines.
The Group employs over 1,700 staff members, and operates in Europe, Asia and
the USA. centrotherm photovoltaics achieved revenue in the 2010 financial year
of EUR 624,2 million, EBIT of EUR 75.4 million. The company is listed in the
TecDAX index on the Frankfurt Stock Exchange.

Contact:
Saskia Feil
Senior Manager Investor & Public Relations
Tel: +49 7344 918-8890
E-mail:  saskia.feil@centrotherm.de

Dr. Torsten Knödler
Manager Public Relations
Tel: +49 7344 918-8898
E-mail:  torsten.knoedler@centrotherm.de


Further inquiry note:
Dr. Torsten Knödler
Manager Public Relations
Tel.: 07344 - 918-8898
E-Mail:  torsten.knoedler@centrotherm.de

end of announcement                               euro adhoc 
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company:     centrotherm photovoltaics AG
             Johannes-Schmid-Str. 8
             D-89143 Blaubeuren
phone:       +49 (0) 7344 91880
mail:         info@centrotherm.de
WWW:         http://www.centrotherm.de
sector:      Energy
ISIN:        DE000A0JMMN2
indexes:     TecDAX
stockmarkets: regulated dealing/prime standard: Frankfurt, free trade: Berlin,
             Hamburg, Stuttgart, Düsseldorf, München 
language:   English