Meyer Burger Technology Ltd (SIX Swiss Exchange: MBTN) today announced the temporary introduction of short-time working from 2nd March until 31st May 2009 at the group company Meyer Burger Ltd in Thun. Short-time working will affect the employees from the production area only. Short-time working is limited to 90 days and needs to be introduced because of postponement of select customer shipments from Asia. Short-time working does not apply to the departments of Research & Development, Machine and Software Development, Services, Marketing, Sales and Finance.
Continuing high demand for innovations and new developments
Meyer Burger is expecting a normalised and good production capacity utilisation for the second half of 2009. The orders received in the last 6 months from well-known solar wafer manufacturers from the European, North-American as well as the Asian market confirm this positive development. Meyer Burger Ltd has no indications or announcements of further postponements of customer shipments for the second half of 2009 up the present point in time. The different stimulus and financial packages launched all over the world to promote renewable energies will also bring about a positive stimulating effect. On the customer side, the entire Meyer Burger Group is experiencing a continuing high demand for innovations and new developments of automated and integrated systems and machines for the solar industry.
Optimisation of production processes
Meyer Burger Ltd will use the current situation to continue to improve the manufacturing processes at its main productions site in Thun. Even today, the output of wire saws can be ramped up in the shortest space of time due to optimised production sequences. Our customers benefit from just-in-time production cycles and higher flexibility in the planning of their own production capacities.
For further information, please contact:
Werner Buchholz, Head of Group Communications
+41 33 439 05 06 - w.buchholz@meyerburger.ch
About Meyer Burger Technology Ltd
www.meyerburger.ch
Meyer Burger Technology Ltd is a leading and globally active technology group for innovative systems and processes for cutting and handling crystalline and other high-grade materials.
The machines, competences and technologies of the different companies in the group are used in the solar industry (photovoltaics), semi-conductor and optical industry. The thinnest wafers made from silicon, sapphire or other crystals are required in these three markets to manufacture solar modules, switching circuits or high-performance LEDs. The group’s core competencies are made up of a whole range of production processes, machines and systems that are used within the value chain in the manufacture of high quality wafers. The comprehensive range of products is complemented by a worldwide service network with wear and tear parts, consumables, re-grooving service, process know-how, servicing, after-sales service, training and other services. As a globally active company, the group is represented in Europe, Asia and North America in the respective key markets.
Meyer Burger has its headquarters and the production facility of Meyer Burger Ltd in Switzerland, while the group companies, Meyer Burger Automation GmbH, Meyer Burger Services GmbH, Hennecke Systems GmbH and AMB Apparate + Maschinenbau GmbH, have their headquarters and production facilities in Germany. The group also has subsidiaries in China and Japan, and service centres in Germany and the Philippines, which are all represented by its own staff on-site. In Taiwan and the USA, Meyer Burger works with independent sales and service partners that are part of Meyer Burger’s global service network. In other important countries the company relies on selected independent agents. Meyer Burger employed more than 470 staff worldwide by end of June 2008.
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