Heraeus Expands Production Capacity and Research and Development Worldwide

HANAU, Germany & WEST CONSHOHOCKEN, Pa.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--The Heraeus Photovoltaics Business Unit is in the midst of significant expansions to their production and research and development facilities worldwide to support the future growth of the photovoltaics industry. Expansions are underway in Singapore, Shanghai, Taiwan and Hanau, with all to be completed by the fourth quarter of 2012.

“We expect significant growth in the PV industry in the upcoming years. With the successful development and feedback that we are receiving regarding our new SOL9600 Series of pastes, it is critical for Heraeus to invest in increasing capacity, R&D and product innovation to meet our customers’ current and future needs,” said Andy London, Global manager of the Heraeus Photovoltaics Business Unit in West Conshohocken. The SOL9600 Series is a new front-side paste from Heraeus which improves cell efficiency, finer line printability and has a wider processing window for improved manufacturing yields.

The facilities in Shanghai and Hanau are currently being remodeled and are incorporating new equipment and layout to increase production and technical capacity.

Construction of the new facility in Taiwan, which will provide local production, sales and technical services, is scheduled for completion in the third quarter, and is expected to be fully operational in the fourth quarter of 2012. The Taiwan facility along with the Shanghai facility will produce back-side pastes, including the recently introduced SOL205S with a reduced solid content of about 55%.

The Singapore facility, completed in the fourth quarter of 2011, is expanding its production to join the US and Hanau in the production of Heraeus new SOL9600 Series.

To learn more about Heraeus’ expansion and metallization pastes for the photovoltaic industry, visit us at this year’s Intersolar Europe Exhibition in Munich, Germany June 13th - 15th, at the Munich trade fair center, hall A6, booth 270. You can also go to www.pvsilverpaste.com.

About the Heraeus Photovoltaics Business Unit

The Heraeus Photovoltaics Business Unit is an industry leading developer and manufacturer of silver metallization pastes for the photovoltaic industry. For over 40 years, Heraeus has built a reputation of innovation, extensive research and new product development for some of the most prominent companies within a variety of industries. In the field of photovoltaics, the Heraeus Photovoltaics Business Unit applies this history and its innovative technology to offer metallization pastes for solar cell applications. The Heraeus SOL Series of silver pastes is specially formulated to provide higher efficiencies and wider processing windows, resulting in better yields and higher output for cell manufacturers.

Heraeus, the precious metals and technology group headquartered in Hanau, Germany, is a global, private company with more than 160 years of tradition. Our fields of competence include precious metals, materials, and technologies, sensors, biomaterials, and medical products, as well as dental products, quartz glass, and specialty light sources. With product revenues of €4.8 billion and precious metal trading revenues of €21.3 billion, as well as more than 13,300 employees in over 120 subsidiaries worldwide, Heraeus holds a leading position in its global markets.