Strong Interest in Heraeus' New Singapore Facility for Metallization Paste during Intersolar North America

WEST CONSHOHOCKEN, Pa., July 21, 2011 /PRNewswire/ -- The Heraeus Photovoltaic Business Unit recently completed construction in Singapore of a new facility for the production of silver metallization paste used in crystalline solar cell applications.  Heraeus recently attended Intersolar North America and received a great deal of interest from customers about the opening of this new facility.  The site, which includes Manufacturing, R&D, Sales and Technical Service, began operations in June 2011.  The R&D lab in Singapore was completed in early July with qualification samples to be released to customers soon.  An official opening ceremony for the Singapore facility is scheduled for November 2011.

In December 2010, R&D and Production personnel were hired and received full-time training at the U.S. facility in West Conshohocken, Pennsylvania.  The qualified staff returned to Singapore to work at the new site located in Tuas.  The company is excited to expand its geographic presence in Asia to work closer with their customers in that region.

"This new site was built primarily to expand production capacity into the Asian market, as well as to create our third leg of our global R&D footprint," said Andy London, Vice President of Heraeus Materials Technology LLC in West Conshohocken.  "In the last three years the industry has moved to Asia and we want to remain dynamic and responsive to these industry changes."

Worldwide, Heraeus has more than tripled its technical staff, but aims to continue this expansion throughout 2011 as they look to hire additional employees this year.

To learn more about Heraeus' metallization pastes for the photovoltaic industry, go to www.pvsilverpaste.com.

About the Heraeus Photovoltaics Business Unit

Heraeus manufactures high volumes of thick film pastes for some of the most prominent companies within a variety of industries.  For over 40 years, it has built a reputation of innovation, extensive research and new product development.  The Heraeus Photovoltaics Business Unit applies its innovative technology to the field of photovoltaics, offering silver pastes for crystalline solar cells. 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 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 EUR 4.1 billion and precious metal trading revenues of EUR 17.9 billion, as well as more than 12,900 employees in over 120 subsidiaries worldwide, Heraeus holds a leading position in its global markets.

SOURCE Heraeus Materials Technology LLC