Manz Automation AG / Alliance
28.08.2008
Release of a Corporate News, transmitted by DGAP - a company of EquityStory AG.
The issuer is solely responsible for the content of this announcement.
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- New machine concept for the production of thin-film solar modules planned
- Integration of two new technologies in a single line to cut costs
- Cooperation starts in September 2008
Reutlingen, August 28, 2008 Manz Automation AG, which, together with its
subsidiaries, is by market share one of the worlds leading technology
providers for systems and components for automation, quality assurance and
laser process technology for the photovoltaic sector and for automation and
wet chemicals for the LCD industry, has entered into a strategic alliance
for development with the leading laser manufacturer Rofin-Sinar and the
thin-film solar module manufacturer Masdar PV.
The strategic alliance aims to develop a new type of equipment to produce
thin-film solar modules. The process Manz developed in the past for laser
edge ablation and the new process in the photovoltaic sector to cut glass
using a laser are to be integrated in a single line. An innovative machine
concept will allow these two successive production processes to be combined
in a single line. The strategic alliance partners believe that this will
result in high cost savings in production and far-reaching improvements in
the quality of the solar modules.
Edge ablation using laser technology allows greatly improved quality
compared to mechanical ablation, as well as high cost savings. The
ultra-clean laser process does not result in module impurities, compared to
the sandblast or grinding previously employed. This means that the
following cleaning stage is no longer needed thanks to the use of 'clean'
laser technology.
The laser cutting process for glass patented by Rofin and its development
partners also offers significant quality improvements compared to the
standard grooving and breaking of the substrate. 'Laser cutting' means that
there is no longer any mechanical damage to the glass edge. This
significantly improves the solar modules resistance to breakage. This means
lower breakage rates in both production and transport, during installation
and also in the later operation of the modules.
Together, the strategic alliance partners each benefit from their
respective competences. As the engineering partner, Manz Automation
develops the production system and integrates the laser technology.
Rofin-Sinar is responsible for developing the laser cutting technology,
which will be used exclusively by Manz in the photovoltaic sector. As a
thin-film module manufacturer, Masdar PV contributes its product expertise
and will then qualify the system in production as the first customer. After
the joint project starts in September 2008, the project is expected to take
12 months until the new machines are market-ready.
Dieter Manz, Manz Automation AG's CEO, is highly positive about the
conclusion of the strategic alliance: 'The key to success in such an
ambitious project is the individual partners' competence. That is why we
are delighted to have found two absolute professionals for Manz that we
will work together with.' The CEO went on to underscore the importance of
the new development: 'This innovative machine concept will set us even
further apart from the competition, further reinforcing our market
position.'
'This strategic alliance is a key step in our efforts to be the most
technically-advanced thin film PV producer. A 20-year product warranty
demands highly precise processing of substrates to yield the most reliable
modules. In addition, laser cutting technology will allow Masdar PV to
optimize workflows, thus cutting costs and providing an additional edge
over our competitors,' commented Dr. Rainer Gegenwart, Masdar PV's Managing
Director.
Company Profile: Manz Automation AG
Reutlingen-based Manz Automation AG (ISIN: DE000A0JQ5U3) is one of the
worlds leading technology providers in terms of market shares for systems
for automation, quality assurance and laser process technology for the
photovoltaic industry and for automation and wet chemicals for the LCD
industry. The Manz Group's core competences are in robotics, image
processing, laser technology, wet chemicals as well as control and drive
technology. The Manz Group's key strategic divisions are photovoltaic
(systems.solar), LCD (systems.lcd) and OEM systems (systems.aico) for
automation in various industrial sectors and the life science industry. The
Manz Group has sales and service branches in Germany, Taiwan, the USA,
China, South Korea, India and Spain. In addition, the Manz Group has its
own production facilities in Germany, Slovakia, Hungary, Taiwan and China.
The Manz Group recorded revenues of 71.2 million in fiscal year 2007 with
an EBIT margin of 14.1%. More than 57% of revenues were generated abroad,
in particular in Asia. The Manz Group recorded revenues of 101.6 million
and an EBIT margin of 11.8% in the first half of fiscal year 2008.
Company Profile: Rofin-Sinar
With operational headquarters in Plymouth, Michigan, and Hamburg, Germany,
ROFIN-SINAR Technologies Inc. (NASDAQ: RSTI), designs, develops, engineers
and manufactures laser sources and laser-based system solutions for a wide
range of applications. With production facilities in the US, Germany, UK,
Sweden, Finland, Singapore and Japan, ROFIN-SINAR is one of the worlds
leading designers and manufacturers of industrial lasers and currently has
more than 28,000 laser units installed worldwide and serves more than 3,000
customers. In its fiscal year 2007 the company generated revenues of $479.7
million. ROFIN-SINARs shares trade on the NASDAQ Global Select Market
under the symbol RSTI and are listed in Germany in the 'Prime Standard'
segment of the Frankfurt Stock Exchange under ISIN US7750431022. Additional
information is available on ROFIN-SINAR's home page: http://www.rofin.com.
Company Profile: Masdar PV
The Masdar Initiative is Abu Dhabis multi-faceted, multi-billion dollar
investment in the development and commercialization of innovative
technologies in renewable, alternative and sustainable energies as well as
sustainable design. Masdar PV is part of the Masdar Initiative and focuses
on the development, production and commercialization of large scale
photovoltaic modules, with initial manufacturing sites in Ichtershausen
nearby Erfurt, Germany and Abu Dhabi. Utilizing the latest thin-film
photovoltaic technology, Masdar will create one of the world's largest PV
companies, with further facilities sited in other regions around the globe.
Manz Automation AG
Birte-Christina Benecke
Phone: +49 (0)7121 9000-21
Fax: +49 (0)7121 9000-99
E-Mail: bbenecke@manz-automation.com
cometis AG
Ulrich Wiehle
Phone: +49 (0)611 205855-11
Fax: +49 (0)611 205855-66
E-Mail: wiehle@cometis.de
ROFIN-SINAR Technologies Inc.
Katharina Manok
Phone: +49 (0)40 73363-256
E-Mail: ir@rofin.com
DGAP 28.08.2008
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Language: English
Issuer: Manz Automation AG
Steigäckerstraße 5
72768 Reutlingen
Deutschland
Phone: +49 (0)7121 9000 915
Fax: +49 (0)7121 9000 99
E-mail: mhipp@manz-automation.com
Internet: www.manz-automation.com
ISIN: DE000A0JQ5U3
WKN: A0JQ5U
Listed: Regulierter Markt in Frankfurt (Prime Standard); Freiverkehr
in Berlin, Stuttgart, München, Düsseldorf
End of News DGAP News-Service
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DGAP-News: Manz Automation AG launches strategic alliance for development with Rofin-Sinar Laser and Masdar PV
| Source: EQS Group AG