• The order volume exceeds € 15 million
• Leading Buffer Layer Technology
• First stage of major project
Kahl am Main, June 26, 2014 – SINGULUS TECHNOLOGIES (SINGULUS) signed an agreement with Apollo Precision (Fujian) Limited, China, a wholly owned subsidiary of Hanergy Solar Group (Hanergy). The signed contract includes the supply of a production machine with the brand name TENUIS II for buffer layer deposition. This machine is a central component for the manufacturing of CIGS thin-film modules. “Top quality, high reliability and the long experience of SINGULUS’ CIGS production equipment was the basis for this decision”, explained Mr. Jianjun Liu, General Manager of Apollo Precision (Fujian) Limited, China.
Buffer layer deposition from SINGULUS presents a promising development on the way to the efficient wet-chemical coating of thin film solar modules made of copper-indium-gallium-selenium (CIGS) on glass. The second generation of the TENUIS production line has a modular cluster build basis, which facilitates significant reduction in floor space and the simultaneous one-side coating of two substrates. Due to new and unique concepts in terms of dosing and temperature control, the developers at SINGULUS were successful in reducing the process time, which has a positive effect and a considerably higher output in production.
Dr. Stefan Rinck, CEO of SINGULUS TECHNOLOGIES AG: “This contractual agreement with Hanergy, which is the world’s No. 1 thin-film solar technology enterprise in terms of scale and technology, will serve as an excellent demonstration for our leading solar segment. Hanergy always believes that partnership with companies with top-quality technology is the key to excellent in today’s demanding market environment. We are proud of our co-operation with Hanergy and have full confidence that our machines will fulfill the high standard of Hanergy’s requirement in CIGS thin-film industry.”
In October 2013, the Hanergy Solar Group achieved an 18.7% PV module efficiency in using Solibro’s CIGS thin-film technology. Subsequently, the Group has taken a further step forward by achieving a conversion efficiency rate of 21% for its CIGS thin film solar cells of 1.0 cm2 in using Solibro’s technology in May 2014, which is one of the highest conversion efficiency of CIGS cells in the world. These achievements have been confirmed by Fraunhofer Institute for Solar Energy Systems ISE, an independent research institute located in Germany. Solibro’s CIGS process is using the SINGULUS buffer layer deposition technology. SINGULUS is cooperating with Solibro for a long time on the development on efficient CIGS production equipment.
On January 22, 2014, Hanergy entered into two sales and service contracts for the provision of a total 600 MW CIGS thin film solar manufacturing turnkey lines in Caofeidian, China. The entering into this 600 MW contracts marks an important development milestone of Hanergy in manufacturing and delivering to turnkey lines with advanced CIGS solar thin-film technology. The production machine with TENUIS II will be suited as the key components of the Caofeidian project and also represents a key milestone of SINGULUS to firm up the market position in CIGS solar thin-film business.
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 novel 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 its Optical Disc segment SINGULUS TECHNOLOGIES is the market leader for Blu-ray as well as CD and DVD 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 worldwide leading 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.
To strengthen and further develop the existing business areas the company pursued the targeted development of new products and application areas based on its core competencies in order to open new markets with this. This strategic further development of the existing product portfolio by internal measures is in the focus in the business year 2013. At the same time we are reviewing reasonable acquisition opportunities to strengthen the sustainable development at SINGULUS TECHNOLOGIES.
SINGULUS TECHNOLOGIES AG, Hanauer Landstraße 103, D-63796 Kahl/Main, ISIN: DE0007238909, WKN: 723890
