Spire Receives Order For Second Turnkey Solar Manufacturing Line to Spain’s Fluitecnik S.A.
New 20MW Crystalline Module Line in Portugal Follows Completion of 12MW Factory in the Dominican Republic
Bedford, MA, March 12, 2008
Source: Spire Corp. press release / BusinessWire /
http://phx.corporate-ir.net/phoenix.zhtml?c=76421
Spire Corporation (Nasdaq: SPIR), a global solar company providing turnkey solar factories and capital equipment to manufacture photovoltaic modules worldwide, today announced it has received a contract from the solar division of Spanish renewable energy company Fluitecnik S.A., to provide a photovoltaic module assembly line for that company’s operations in Portugal. Spire will provide Fluitecnik with a semi-automated crystalline module manufacturing line capable of producing up to 20 megawatts (MW) of solar modules per year for sale into the European solar marketplace. Spire will supply the process technology and training to operate the factory, as well as assistance in qualifying the factory and its modules to meet rigorous International Electrotechnical Commission (IEC) standards and certification. The line will integrate Spire’s key stringing and tabbing, lamination, and testing machines along with intermediate tooling stations; it is designed to be easily expandable at a later date. Spire recently completed a 12MW crystalline cell module line, expandable to 20MW, for Fluitecnik in the Dominican Republic.
“One of the keys to success in our business model is repeat and add-on orders from customers for our turnkey solar factories,” said Roger G. Little, Chairman and CEO of Spire Corporation. “We’re delighted to partner once again with Fluitecnik and look forward to helping them expand into the dynamic European Union solar energy marketplace.” Mr. Alberto Madoz, General Manager of Fluitecnik S.A. said, “We experienced firsthand Spire’s superior design and engineering support services with our first solar module plant, completed recently in the Dominican Republic. Spire’s ability to deliver a turnkey facility and provide the support necessary to qualify the finished modules under international standards is unique and an important competitive advantage to our firm.”
About Fluitecnik S.A.
Fluitecnik S.A. is a company with over ten years experience within the renewable energies market. Initially with wind energy alone, they have now expanded towards photovoltaic energy, with which the company has great expectations. At the end of 2008, the advanced Fluitecnik facilities in Portugal and the Dominican Republic will produce up to 32MW of solar modules per year. The company strategy includes the set up of a new facility capable of assembling 50MW modules, adding up to 82MW total at the end of 2009.
About Spire Corporation
Spire Corporation is a global solar company providing turnkey production lines and capital equipment to manufacture photovoltaic modules worldwide. Spire Semiconductor provides processing technology for Spire’s silicon solar cell manufacturing lines and produces and sells custom gallium arsenide cells for solar concentrator systems.