SINGULUS TECHNOLOGIES (SINGULUS), supplier of modern equipment and process technology for silicon and thin-film solar cells signed a “Letter of Intent” with M-Cells, a globally leading solar cell producer in China, on March 12, 2013.ith M-Cells, a llor silicon and thin-film solar cells signed a letter of the Mastering division in the Optical
SINGULUS and M-Cells agreed in this LOI to expand the technologic cooperation for the mass production of crystalline silicon cells.
The Chief Executive Officer of SINGULUS TECHNOLOGIES AG, Dr.-Ing. Stefan Rinck, and the Managing Director of M-Cells, Mr. Jian Li, affirmed the intention of both companies to cooperate in the area of solar production.
The declared goal of the cooperation is the use of SINGULUS’ photovoltaic production machines of the next generation for the passivation of cell rear sides with aluminum oxide including the solution for wet-chemical processes in M-Cells’ factory in China in order to improve the current cell efficiency offered by M-Cells by up to 1 %. The competitiveness of M-Cells in the solar industry will be improved considerably through the use of this equipment technology.
“The demand for solar cells with significantly higher efficiency grows and we are pleased to be able to combine the latest and up-to-date technology from Germany with the expertise of M-Cells towards a mutual success”, comments Dr.-Ing. Stefan Rink. Mr Jian Li, CEO of M-Cells, welcomes the cooperation with SINGULUS, “M-Cells today already has a good basis in the segment of multi cell efficiency with up to 18 %, and I firmly believe that – together with SINGULUS – there will be easily made progress and that M-Cells will have a leading role in the world.
Background PERC:
The trend in the solar industry towards ever thinner wafers for crystalline solar cells with higher levels of efficiency at the same time requires an improved surface passivation of the cell rear side. For the market of crystalline solar cells, the introduction of the new PERC cells is expected in the next years. In 2012, SINGULUS TECHNOLOGIES cooperated with the Institute for Solar Energy Research Hameln (ISFH) for the further development of the cell technology. In this cooperation it was possible to enhance the efficiency of screen printing silicon solar cells from the customary range of 17.0 % to 18.5 % in the PV industry to a record level of 20.1 %.
Profile SINGULUS TECHNOLOGIES:
SINGULUS TECHNOLOGIES develops innovative technologies for efficient production processes, which only make use of resources conservatively. New production technology combined with sustainable processes and the use of new materials can decouple the use of resources from economic growth in the long-term. SINGULUS TECHNOLOGIES’ innovative power and competitiveness are strengthened by these new technologic developments.
With the Optical Disc segment SINGULUS TECHNOLOGIES is the market leader for CD, DVD and Blu-ray Disc production equipment. As the only engineering company worldwide SINGULUS TECHNOLOGIES today already provides the machine technology for three-layer Blu-ray Discs with a storage volume of about 100 GB.
In the Solar division SINGULUS TECHNOLOGIES is a recognized supplier for new machines concepts and production processes for crystalline and thin-film solar cells, which increase the efficiency of solar cells and reduce their production costs. SINGULUS TECHNOLOGIES establishes itself as a development partner and machine supplier for technologies enabling a sustainable energy provision on the basis of renewable energies.
In the Semiconductor segment SINGULUS TECHNOLOGIES focuses its activities on the vacuum coating of wafers with ultra thin layers for the production of MRAM memory, thin-film write/read heads and other semiconductor applications.
SINGULUS TECHNOLOGIES continues to expand its know-how in vacuum coating, the automation and process technology as well as the integration of manufacturing lines in order to develop new work areas. To strengthen the existing business activities SINGULUS TECHNOLOGIES is currently reviewing concrete acquisition opportunities.
SINGULUS TECHNOLOGIES AG, Hanauer Landstrasse 103,
D-63796 Kahl/Main, ISIN: DE0007238909, WKN: 723890
Contact:
Maren Schuster, Investor Relations, Tel.: + 49 (0) 160 9609 0279
Bernhard Krause, Corporate Communications, Tel.: + 49 (0) 1709202924
