Meyer Burger Technology Ltd (SIX Swiss Exchange: MBTN) is merging individual production locations as part of its current concentration programme, thus optimising the existing production capacities within the Group. The solar technology centre Thun is being sustainably strengthened with the inclusion of module technology. At the same time, the Company is expanding its marketing and sales activities in the new emerging markets.
Securing technology leadership in new markets
As was already announced at the half-year media conference on 16 August 2012, the Meyer Burger Group is convinced that, despite the current difficult market situation, the long-term prospects for photovoltaics remain positive. New photovoltaic markets in Asia, South America, in the Arabian region and also in Africa will ensure high demand-side growth in coming years. Various government programmes and initiatives for the promotion of renewable energy on a long-term basis will lead to further growth in the industry. Renewable energy has the potential to reduce the costs of energy generation. Meyer Burger today has a wide product portfolio encompassing the most important technologies along the entire photovoltaic value chain at its disposal. This enables the Group's customers to reduce their manufacturing costs for solar cells and modules and as a result to optimise their total cost of ownership. Meyer Burger aims to cover a significant portion of energy generation by solar technologies using robust and simple plug and play processes while positioning itself as an undisputed technology leader in the new markets.
Focussing on four main production locations and two solar technology centres worldwide
The planned concentration measures and the strengthening of Meyer Burger's solar technology centre in Switzerland will actively contribute to the current worldwide consolidation and adjustment phase in the photovoltaic industry. The Group’s strategic long-term technology approach of looking at the entire photovoltaic value chain and of coordinating the technologies along the various processes (wafer, cell, module, solar system) with one another in an optimal manner strengthens its market position and will become a clear competitive advantage during the recovery of the solar industry.
In a further step in its concentration and optimisation programme, Meyer Burger intends to integrate its location in Lyss into the solar technology centre Thun and at the same time to merge the two subsidiaries Meyer Burger Ltd and 3S Swiss Solar Systems Ltd. The new Meyer Burger Group headquarters in Thun offers room for a total of 650 employees and guarantees a job for all employees from Lyss. Even after the intended merger, the 3S Modultec and 3S Photovoltaics technology brands will remain within the Meyer Burger Group’s umbrella brand strategy and will be further developed. The inclusion should be completed at the end of March 2013. The Group’s other main production locations are located in Hohenstein-Ernstthal (DE), Zülpich (DE) and Colorado Springs (USA).
A solar technology centre will be created at the new headquarters in Thun focussing on the competencies of wafering and modules. The second technology centre is located in Hohenstein-Ernstthal where the development of innovative cell technologies in the field of high efficiency cells is being pushed ahead, striving for cell efficiencies of >21%.
Further information:
Werner Buchholz
Head of Corporate Communications
Tel: +41 (0)33 221 25 06
werner.buchholz@meyerburger.com
Ingrid Carstensen
Corporate Communications
Tel: +41 (0)33 221 28 34
ingrid.carstensen@meyerburger.com
About Meyer Burger Technology Ltd
www.meyerburger.com
Meyer Burger is a leading global technology Group. Our innovative systems and production equipment create sustainable value for our customers in photovoltaics (solar industry), in the semiconductor and optoelectronic industries as well as other selected industries which focus on semiconductor materials. The Group currently employs around 2,500 people across three continents. In our core business – photovoltaics – integrated systems and solutions which increase manufacturing performance and efficiency are the cornerstones of our corporate strategy. The Meyer Burger Group’s industry expertise and leading photovoltaic technologies along the entire value chain encompass all important production processes, systems and equipment for solar production from wafers to building-integrated solar systems.
The Group’s core competencies cover a broad range of production processes, machines and systems that are used for the production of ultra-thin, high quality wafers, for coating and optimizing as well as inspection and measurement of high performance solar cells, for laminating, soldering and testing of solar modules and for building-integrated solar systems.
A worldwide service network including spare parts, consumables, re-grooving services, process know-how, customer support, after-sales services, training and other services completes the Group’s comprehensive product portfolio. Meyer Burger Group is represented in Europe, Asia and North America in the respective key markets and has subsidiaries and own service centres in China, Germany, India, Japan, Korea, the Netherlands, Norway, Switzerland, Singapore, Spain, Taiwan and the USA. The company relies on selected independent agents in other important markets. The registered shares of Meyer Burger Technology Ltd are listed on SIX Swiss Exchange (Ticker: MBTN).
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This press release may contain “forward-looking statements”, such as guidance, expectations, plans, intentions, or strategies regarding the future. These forward-looking statements are subject to risks and uncertainties. The reader is cautioned that actual future results may differ from those expressed in or implied by the statements, which constitute projections of possible developments. All forward-looking statements included in this press release are based on data available to Meyer Burger Technology Ltd as of the date that this press release is published. The Company does not undertake any obligation to update any forward-looking statements contained in this press release as a result of new information, future events or otherwise.
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