Manz Automation AG acquires orders worth millions at photovoltaic fair in Valencia

09/10/2008 07:43:00 CEST

New orders and declarations of intent worth more than EUR 20 million acquired

  • Further follow-on orders expected in the coming weeks
  • Successful transfer of expertise from LCD industry: First-time presentation of cleaning technology for thin-film sector

Manz Automation AG, one of the world's leading technology providers for the photovoltaic and LCD industry, has acquired a large number of new orders at the 23rd European Photovoltaic Solar Energy Conference and Exhibition in Valencia. This is the largest event in the solar industry, and during the fair the company acquired orders and declarations of intent with a volume of more than EUR 20 million. These will be recognized in revenues and earnings in the coming fiscal year. Manz Automation's stand at the fair enjoyed many visitors and generated great interest from the professional community. The international audience stemmed from Asia, India and the USA. Manz Automation's stand was one of the largest at the fair – and Manz enjoyed it's most successful presence at a trade fair in the company's history. The Managing Board believes that more orders are to be expected in the coming weeks thanks to the successful conference.

A particular highlight for Manz Automation AG was the presentation of a new line for the contact-free application of metallic front contacts to crystalline solar cells. This method is possible thanks to the M³D aerosol spray process provided by Optomec, a strategic alliance partner. This process allows thinner solar cells to be produced which are, at the same time, significantly more effective and lead to substantially lower production costs. Manz is the only provider on the market for lines for contact-free metallization for mass production, generating strong interest from solar cell manufacturers and also first orders.

In addition, Manz presented its innovative cell tester with integrated electroluminescence measurements which it developed in a strategic alliance with Basler. Manz also acquired an initial order for this line at the conference. Moreover, Manz offered a live demonstration of a complete back-end line for the production of crystalline solar cells, demonstrating its high-performance product range. In this regard, the company was able to secure several concrete declarations of intent from potential customers, and will thus be able to significantly reinforce its position on the market for crystalline technology in future.

In the thin-film technology segment, Manz Automation premiered a new line for wet-chemical glass cleaning, proving the successful transfer of tried-and-trusted cleaning technology expertise from the LCD to the photovoltaic sector. The machine met with very positive feedback from the professional audience, and will be produced by the subsidiary Intech Machines Co. Ltd. in Taiwan. The Reutlingen-based high-tech engineering company underscored its leading position on the laser process technology market by presenting a laser scribing system. Manz also leads the global market for this technology necessary for the production of thin-film solar modules, and the company is very pleased to have acquired additional new customers.

Dieter Manz, Manz Automation AG's CEO is delighted with events: "In Valencia we once again proved that we are one of the world's leading technology providers for the photovoltaic industry. Our market leadership for high-throughput automation for solar cells and laser scribing lines in the thin-film segment were particular highlights at the fair. Feedback from our customers and the professional community was very impressive: "The CEO also pointed out the new products' importance: "The innovative products that we presented set us even further apart from the competition and further expand our position on the market. We have also confirmed the trust that our customers and shareholders have placed in Manz Automation AG."

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