Heraeus Strengthens Commitment to the Future of Photovoltaics

WEST CONSHOHOCKEN, Pa., Sept. 20, 2012 /PRNewswire/ -- The Heraeus Photovoltaics Business Unit reaffirms its commitment to the industry in 2012 through significant investment in new products, new facilities, increased production capacity, R&D resources, and additional personnel.

While the photovoltaic market has slowed down in recent months, Heraeus stands by its mission to reduce the cost per watt of solar cells via silver paste technology to bring even greater value to customers in the future.  With new or expanded facilities and additional personnel in key photovoltaic markets across the globe,  Heraeus PV is now able to even better serve its customers.  At the end of 2011 Heraeus opened its Asian R&D Center and Production Facility in Singapore, which continues to expand its capacity for Southeast Asia customers.  In 2012 the company completed expansion of its German facility, established a new Taiwan production facility that will be fully operational by Q4, and commenced expansion of its Shanghai facility with scheduled completion in Q1 2013.

"Our confidence in the future of Solar Energy is reflected in the continued investment that we are making in the face of the current market situation," says Andy London, Global Manager of the Photovoltaics Business Unit.

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 in thick film technologies. 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 over 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 more than 120 subsidiaries worldwide, Heraeus was recently ranked #293 by the Fortune 500 and holds a leading position in its global markets.

SOURCE Heraeus